Extinction - What we know so far & How it ties into Ghosts

[GRILL]

SPOILERS AHEAD.

Extinction - the very end of human beings. To understand how this all started, we must look into the campaign of Call of Duty: Ghosts.

The Middle East has been devastated by a Nuclear attack, all their oil resources along with it. The remaining oil-producing nations of South America form the Federation in response to the ensuing global economic crisis and quickly grow into a global superpower, swiftly invading and conquering Central America and the Caribbean.

The Federation hijack and gain control of the Orbital Defense Initiative (ODIN), an orbital space station superweapon that utilizes kinetic bombardment, and use it to destroy several cities in the southwestern United States.

A kinetic bombardment is the act of attacking a planetary surface with an inert projectile, where the destructive force comes from the kinetic energy of the projectile impacting at very high velocities.

The Aliens:

"Extinction: Point of Contact" takes place 2 weeks after the kinetic bombardment.

The Ghosts campaign takes place 10 years after the kinetic bombardment.

The aliens themselves appear to be hybrid/mutant forms of insects - resembling beetles, scorpions, etc. but almost crossbred with mammals. Couple that with the fact that the ODIN strikes unearthed the aliens from the ground, and the whole things just screams "alien bugs" to me (ala Starship Troopers).

It bares mentioning that not all the aliens come from the ground, they have some sort of communication system - as they are able to hail giant meteor "nests" from outer space, in which explosive bug-like aliens will emerge after crashing into the earth.

and now for the question on everyone's mind...

Why Don't People Talk About Aliens in the Ghosts Campaign?

+ Throughout the campaign, there is no mention of aliens, "killer bugs", or anything out of the ordinary. This can lead us to several scenarios in relation to the events of Extinction (I only list 2 but I imagine you all can come up with much more):

Scenario 1 (The Realist Approach) - Extinction mode has no relation to the campaign. The only linking factor was ODIN's kinetic bombardment, and the connections end there. The story, however, does not end - and it will be revealed in DLC. The universe is separate from the campaign universe. This scenario is the more plausible.

Scenario 2 (The Conspiracy Nut Approach) - Extinction mode happened unbeknownst to the general population that survived the strike. Remember that the kinetic bombardment only occurred in several cities in the Southwestern United States. Most of the population in those cities were probably killed in the ODIN attacks, and the few survivors were evacuated in the following days.

"Point of Contact" occurs 2 weeks after the strikes, so this would give the government time to evacuate people before they realized the aliens were emerging from the ground. I'd be inclined to believe that any survivors that hadn't been evacuated within 2 weeks would either be dead from exposure, or dead from the aliens themselves.

Dead men tell no lies.

The government covered up the aliens from the mass public. There was enough hysteria as it was with the kinetic bombardment, the last thing people needed to worry about was an ensuing attack from subterranean aliens. Plus the USA was weak after the ODIN attacks, if news spread of the aliens then that could be "the straw that would break the camels back" (i.e. send the US further into chaos).

No one talks about the aliens 10 years later, because no one KNOWS about them. The only people that know are elite government officials, and the extraction unit involved with "Point of Contact". Perhaps they also know that the problem is widespread, worldwide. Time will tell. This scenario is the more extreme.

That ^^^ is what I believe. I'll be looking over the facts more closely and adding to this thread as information presents itself, and DLC becomes available. Thanks for reading, and please let me know what you think - if you agree, disagree, or if you just want a hug. :mrgreen:

[Boom115]

Very nice thread you have here Mr. Grill. Also the most well thought out and plausible extinction theory I have heard yet. The entire cross over idea would be epic. The only down side I could foresee would be putting a cap on the story line. Although the past is wide open for backstory. Maybe this isn't really the first time we humans contacted these beings. Although I suppose that's another theory for another thread. Oh and for the hugs, that's a hard yes.

[InfestLithium]

So we either look at Extinction as "there are no ties", or "there was enough time to create a cover up and send military teams to investigate/clear the areas". Sounds pretty good to me so far. Thanks for giving background on ODIN, friendo. Now I wonder whether the storyline of Extinction (given there is one) will pan out within the 10 years prior to Ghosts actually starting via Campaign.

+1 to the Grilling machine.

[Flammenwerfer]

So, I got this in an email from Call of Duty about Extinction.

Here’s the deal. After the O.D.I.N. strikes (Not familiar? You really should play the campaign), aliens have surfaced from deep underground. And their pulsing, alien-breeding hives are just begging to be eradicated. (Here’s where you come in.)

Seems like it does ties into the campaign, after all.

[Undead]

^ Not necessarily though, could simply be a nod to say "Dude, if you don't know what ODIN is, go play the freakin campaign already" or something.

Either way, I'd like to capitalize on this some more since even though this may not be zombies, there's one thing this community does best that I came to love in the first place; theories and story.

So, lets look at what we're given (bare in mind this is my interpretation so far, feel free to correct me):

- "First Contact" (Chapter 1): Suggests this is where forces first go toe-to-toe with the *unearthed Alien race.

- "ODIN" missle strike: Suggests the impact of the missiles triggered and woke up these "hives" of the Aliens.

* It's specifically mentioned that these aliens were "unearthed", yet we're given what looks to be like some sort of meteor or remains of some kind of ship in space in the loading screen. Which brings me to my first question:

How intelligent are they?

- In combat, they approach you and fight pretty sloppy and wrecklessly. Much like a typical savage large land predator such as a Tiger or Lion. Are they communicating from space to each other? How would this be possible? Perhaps we will find out.

Who came first?

- In the trailer for Extinction, the woman narrating says "This is our home, and they are trespassing" Well, this brings us to "What came first? The chicken or the egg?" type of question. When you start talking about a race that was supposedly unearthed, how long have they been there? (here) It's one thing if they really did crash land here recently, but that one word (Unearthed) just screams at me otherwise.

[InfestLithium]

They probably gain more intelligence - at least certain groups of the alien race - the longer into the missile's aftermath. That being said, it's no doubt that they will become more challenging in the upcoming chapters.

The latter question is actually very thoughtful, Undad. To unearth something is to say that the aliens were underground for quite some time. You could assume the alien race hibernated under the surface long, long before the strike yet not before mankind's homage on Earth. At the same time, however, you could easily say that they were indeed on the planet before man came around.

[TheNathanNS]

Nice theory, though personally I think it's like zombies, little to no ties to the main campaign.

[GRILL]

thanks for the feedback, guys.

I finished up the campaign, and couldn't find any further ties to Extinction other then ODIN/events involved with ODIN. We'll have to wait until the next DLC to find any new information.

I'm really interested to see where these bugs came from, and as someone said above - if they were here before us.

[Flammenwerfer]

Even if this isn't related to the campaign, there's still the fact that the ODIN missiles struck the Earth. Why did the ODIN missiles strike in the first place if this isn't related to the campaign? It wouldn't be because of the aliens, because they were unearthed from the strikes, which implies that these aliens weren't a problem originally.

I'm leaning more so towards this being an isolated set of incidents after the prologue mission in the campaign.

[GRILL]

annnnnnnd the DLC names have officially been released.

Put together each first letter, and it spells ODIN.

Like it or not, we're getting more and more evidence that ODIN is super important - and that perhaps it hasn't played it's full part.

[XLORDXSITHX]

I do have to say threads like this is what actually made me register to become a member after being a guest for so long.

Id just like to say for sure, that these publishing companies selling "us" these games ALWAYS market them in a way for us to mold and enhance these titles, by ways of letting us create our own theries via slow release of these DLC. so anything is possable.

I do like the idea of this whole cover up thing :D

[GRILL]

I do have to say threads like this is what actually made me register to become a member after being a guest for so long.

Id just like to say for sure, that these publishing companies selling "us" these games ALWAYS market them in a way for us to mold and enhance these titles, by ways of letting us create our own theries via slow release of these DLC. so anything is possable.

I do like the idea of this whole cover up thing

hey thanks man, glad to see that some people still enjoy a conspiracy theory from a conspiracy nut lol.

really interested to see where Extinction goes - and quite hoping that it's got more to it than meets the eye.

[Undead]

^ Indeed.

As I've said before, Extinction has loads of potential here to become just as great as Zombies in its own unique way. I'd like for that to happen.

[GRILL]

Should be able to update this today with more extinction storyline info.

[Hells Warrrior]

Right, so for the Extinction noob among us (me being one of them). Is this gamemode any good, is the potential for a decent storyline available, has nightfall added anything to the gamemode? Does it feel like it has longevity, is it round based on boss round based (i.e. kill the boss and the game ends) or is the rounds unlimited just as in zombies. Do the waves of aliens just keep coming, do they have any "wonder" weapons.

 

How about the dialect from the characters, are they adding enough to the game, are they given you hints and tips on what should be done and where to find things and what to look for?

 

Overall, is it worth buying just for extinction? I do not care for mulltiplayer anymore.

[GRILL]

Hm, is it worth buying full price just for extinction?  I'd say no.  But do keep in mind that there are various other game modes asides from MP.  You've got safeguard (which is like survival against increasingly difficult waves of terrorists), you've got squad games (basically you vs AI), and then you've got the campaign.  The XP gained in Safeguard & Squad Games contributes to your MP XP - and I think that's a really great move by IW.

 

Now, if you can find a discounted version of the game - then yes, I'd say it's worth it for extinction.  Many sales have been happening with Ghosts, so I don't think it would be too hard for you to find a copy at a fair price - used or brand new.

 

Onto your more specific questions:

 

- Yes, the game mode is good - it gives you the frantic feeling of zombies, but with more customization.  You can choose from several roles (Weapons Expert, Tank, Engineer & Medic) which allows for strategic fun, as long as you have good team members.  Communication is key, you need people to drop ammo, drop protective vests, drop equipment - you need to be in constant communication or else y'all will perish.

 

- The potential for a decent storyline is there, but keep in mind that at the time of Verrukt's release the storyline was still very fledgling.  A lot of people say we shouldn't compare extinction to zombies, which I agree with to a degree - but I think it's fair to assess the timing of the maps release in relation to how much story we get.  Nightfall clearly strives to flesh out the story A LOT more then PoC, and I think that's a very positive sign that the storyline will carry well across the DLC packs and probably into the next IW game.

 

- Nightfall has added "intel", in game quotes very similar to radios that you would find in zombies.  Nightfall has also added a few new types of aliens.  They also added customization to your character, to change appearance (which was not needed, but certainly welcomed).

 

- Longevity is still up in there air.  With the first map, PoC, after you beat it - you were pretty much done.  Sure, they have relics that make the game harder and give you more XP, but there is no REAL reward for using them.  I still have not beat Nightfall yet, so I can't comment as to the longevity of it.  Regardless, if you get into extinction, you WILL want to play it until you beat it.

 

- Waves/boss rounds go like this.  You start off, and it is your job to destroy several lesser hives before you either encounter a massive hive or a boss.  The more hives you destroy, the more difficult aliens start to emerge.  At first it's just aliens that run at you and bite you, then it turns into nova 6 like aliens, then there are scorpions which can lob acid at you, then larger aliens, then giant aliens like rhinos, and finally in nightfall, they introduce a megalithic sized alien.  Pretty intense.

 

- The game is not infinite, once you complete the last task, you'll be picked up by a helicopter - but not before having to run back to your starting point while a wide array of aliens are literally hot on your toes.  It makes for quite a climatic experience.

 

- Apparently there is some sort of special ammo or weapon that you can use in Nightfall.  Haven't gotten that far yet.

 

- The characters are meh.  You don't know much about who you are, but with Nightfall - it's clear that 3rd party protagonists and antagonists are being introduced into the story.

 

Anyway, hope that gives you an idea and answers your questions.  If you are interested, go for it - just don't pay $60 for it.

[Hells Warrrior]

$60USD = £36GBP

 

It's retailing for £52GBP = $86USD

 

Two words, F*** that - even 2nd hand it's going for £40GBP - I'll leave it.

[GRILL]

$60USD = £36GBP

 

It's retailing for £52GBP = $86USD

 

Two words, F*** that - even 2nd hand it's going for £40GBP - I'll leave it.

 

That's absurd.  I take it that you'd have to get a region specific copy, eh?

[Hells Warrrior]

Not really, Xbox one isn't region locked - I could get someone to buy it and ship it over as a gift lol

[Flammenwerfer]

Alright, so I'm going to do a little write-up on this based off of the Intel gathered from the map. If I miss anything, or incorrectly state anything, let me know.

 

So, basically, our "alien" friends aren't actually aliens at all. They have actually been on this Earth for over three million years. After a catastrophic collision with a meteor, the "Cryptids" retreated into the depths of the earth, being able to sustain themselves with the natural heat of the planet's core. It wasn't until about six months prior to the ODIN missile attacks that Captain David Archer discovered these creatures.

 

Archer is a former soldier who is wanted by the U.S. government for treason. After he discovered the Cryptids and their origins, he took the specimens to his research lab, dubbed the "Nightfall Project" up in Alaska. He also recruits Dr. Samantha Cross, a top-grade university graduate with an amazing ability to decipher languages. Her purpose in coming to Nightfall wasn't clear until Archer presented unto her the "Ark", an ancient, three million year old stone slab with strange engravings on it. This intrigued Cross, who devoted countless days and sleepless nights attempting to decipher what this pre-human language was trying to say. 

 

Slowly, Archer seemed to be going mad with these experiments. After the Colorado incident (aka Point of Contact), he secretly smuggled more Cryptids to Nightfall. When he hatched the Breeder, the giant spider-like monstrosity, he showed Cross the fruits of his labours. He made her watch as the Breeder devoured a terrified horse, all the while celebrating "like a proud father". This disgusted Cross, who by this time somewhat sympathized with the Cryptids for their unruly experiments. When she finally deciphered what the Ark said, she unleashed the Cryptids from their captivities, perhaps unknowingly or in a trance. She directed where the Cryptids should go, and who to attack. When Archer saw this, he became infuriated and panicked. However, he had a back-up plan.

 

While Cross was obsessed with the Ark, Archer tried to obtain a boat and loyal crew for unknown reasons, possibly for further experiments and secret transportation. Multiple contacts either turned him down, or made an offer that Archer was not interested in. About two weeks after the Colorado incident (aka the setting of Nightfall), he was finally able to get what he needed from an unknown contact, after showing him photos detailing strange and mysterious places. 

 

Now that the Cryptids were running wild inside the Nightfall base, the U.S. government decided to send in a team of four elite soldiers to take care of the job (it is unknown if these are the same soldiers from Point of Contact due to the player customization feature). After finding out that Archer was still at Nightfall, though, their primary mission was changed to take him back, dead or alive. However, upon temporarily subduing the Breeder and reaching the facility, the soldiers discovered that Cross was alive as well, and had secured herself inside a small room. Because she managed to decipher the Ark, she decided that Archer should never know what it details. She tried to kill herself, but she was taken away by Archer.

 

After the soldiers exited the facility, they witnessed Archer driving away, with Cross in tow. Before they could stop him, though, the Breeder showed up once again, this time with a bloodthirsty revenge. Although the soldiers defeated the Breeder, Archer had still escaped, and their fate at this time is unknown.

 

Meanwhile, Archer had taken Cross to his hidden boat, where he and a group of doctors/scientists performed a surgery on her. Her brain was seemingly attached to an unknown Cryptid on an operating table. While she screamed, the camera pans below the deck into the ocean, where various fish-based Cryptids are seen, with a larger whale-size Cryptid emerging from the darkness.

 

----------

Based off of this, I can make a few assumptions.

1. Extinction does take place within the Ghosts campaign's ten year gap. The mention of the ODIN missiles again, the "serious" undertone of everything, and the fact that Archer calls them Cryptids make it seem like this is happening in secluded locations in the real world. (Cryptid is a general term for creatures that have been claimed to have been seen, but have no scientific proof to prove their existence, ie. Bigfoot, Yeti, the Loch Ness Monster, and aliens.)

 

2. The next map will take place on a boat, freighter, or island. The epilogue pretty much sets this up by showing the underwater Cryptids at the end.