Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War boasts a particularly short campaign, even by the standards of the series. However, the short burst of story is still brimming with characters, both old and new. The following list divides the ten most notable characters into two categories; five we love, and five we can barely stand.
Personalities do not make it into the latter column necessarily because they are bad people, because in the Black Ops game everyone is morally questionable. Usually, they are thinly written or they did something particularly egregious to the protagonist. At the end of the day, there is something to appreciate about every character. Additionally, the mention, because they are more fan service than an integral part of the narrative.
10 Best: Sims
Sims is one of the supporting characters helping out the main cast during the mission to track down Perseus. He does not go out into the field, but players fight alongside him in the flashback mission in Vietnam. Because of the trauma of that day, he no longer goes out into battles. Seeing a character who is not all gung ho about going into a firefight is fairly unique for Call of Duty.
9 Can't Stand: Perseus
This entry shies away from direct spoilers, but we will tell players not to expect any huge revelations about the actual character of Perseus. It suffers from a similar villain problem as last year's entry, Modern Warfare. He's more of boogeyman players have to stop than a real personality with substance. Villains do not have to be sympathetic, but they should at least have some content to their character.
8 Best: Lazar
Another minor character, players talk to Lazar while in the safe house between certain missions. While not a particularly special personality, it is fun to see the rapport between him and Sims. He also has a crush on Parker, something which comes up during levels to comedic effect. Despite the serious narrative, the game is generally funnier than past Call of Duty games, though it never feels distracting.
7 Can't Stand: Adler
Players spend most of their time on missions with Adler. He seems like a great guy, and is fully dedicated to completing the mission. This might be a light spoiler, so anyone who has not beaten it should move on to the next entry, but Adler has a house of secrets he hides from the player, and they all significantly impact the player. While the character has his reasons, one cannot help but feel betrayed by Adler.
6 Best: Bell
Bell is the main character, and the player customizes several aspects of the protagonist, including their background and perks. While they lack any definitive personality, the game deserves commendation for trying something new with the campaign by letting players have some agency over the protagonist. Bell's look is not customizable however, since they are never seen over the course of the game anyway. The player customization is also smarter than most other created characters, since it ties into the story.
5 Can't Stand: Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan only has one scene, but his voice is heard in several other moments.
Regardless of where the story goes, most of his dialogue involves damage control, always trying to find ways to avoid the US taking blame or responsibility for any of their mistakes during these Black Ops operations. All countries have skeletons in their closet, but trying so hard to cover them up is especially egregious.
4 Best: Woods
Woods has always been a favorite in the Black Ops games. While he has a new voice actor, it is the same old wisecracking Woods. It is difficult to imagine how someone could so nonchalantly crack jokes during the heat of combat, but one has to remember he spent four years as a POW, an experience that no doubt has warped his views on the world. Players spend plenty of time with him, and he always livens up the missions in which he takes part.
3 Can't Stand: Hudson
Hudson returns once again, and similarly hides a host of secrets from the player and the other protagonists. He would insist there was no reason for the main character to know the info he keeps from them, but everyone else disagrees. Those experienced with the series know to expect lies from Hudson. At the end of the day, he is always dedicated to his country and mission, so one can bet their bottom dollar that, despite him being untrustworthy, he would never betray the team.
2 Best: Parker
Parker is an MI6 agent who Adler brings on to the team. She plays a big part in many missions, and is always dependable, if not entirely trustworthy.
Talking to her between missions reveals many tidbits about Adler, her, and the general lore of the Black Ops universe. A certain moment in the game forces the player to choose between assisting her or assisting Lazar, and it is hard to pick Lazar over her.
1 Can't Stand: Mason
Mason is the main character from the first Black Ops, and was originally played by Sam Worthington. It is weird to see him pushed so far to the side in this game. Save for a few references to the first game regarding his arc, he could have been a new character with a new name and no one would have known the difference. Players learn nothing new about him during the campaign.