I think you hit the nail right on the head, he definitely was already cheating with Elsa… I just got to that part lastnight and I was shocked and didn’t want to believe it and typed in Cole Phelps has sex and lead me here….your answer makes the most sense

But in my opinion, Cole and Elsa were already having an affair before it was revealed to us that they were. I think Rockstar might have been trying to hide it a little to much, so that it was easy to overlook. When you go back and look at the scenes where he’s watching her sing, it kind of implies that something’s going on. Why else would he go by himself, without his wife? And also, if you recall, when Rusty is trashtalking Cole’s wife, all Cole has to say to defend her is “She’s the mother of my children.” That right there implies that he’s with her for the kids, not because of love. That in itself could have been cause for an affair. Maybe they wanted the players to pick up on it on their own.

Having just completed the game, I think what we really needed to see was a little of the emotional scars the war left him with. The wife and kids couldn’t have understood that side of him, and feeling existentially alone, Cole seeks comfort elsewhere. …this would make sense, if only it were included in the story.

Actually I forgot I’ve seen my wife in the intro so I was under the impression I didn’t have one. Until in the car someone was talking at me and Cole responded with “I got a wife”. I was like, Huh?

Why didn’t they add some scenes where Cole ate with his wife and kids, tuck them too bed? Why didn’t we have “home” on the map? Even just to sleep, read the latest newspapers and see my family?

Instead Cole Phelps didn’t come home for weeks (all those cased….) but after this weirs German fling, my wife had compromising pictures? That was too easy!

I JUST passed this part in the game, and I’m horribly disappointed… Phelps is far from the “justice by any means”, hardass, awesome character that John Marston is, but like you said, he was genuine. A real good guy. These days, protagonists no longer have to be “good people” (i.e. Marston), they just have to be less evil than the other guy. It was refreshing to meet Cole Phelps. Until this… Just one of those blemishes we’ll have to live with because some asshole thought he had to make the character a sleazebag.

You’re right. If you look at it from Saverin’s point of view, then it does seem so. But The Social Network takes the point of view of the Zuck, thus essentially making him the progatonist, although he is somewhat of an antihero. But if the view was shifted to that of Saverin’s, then it would be as you said. Good observation 🙂

Anyways, I found the romance in this game to be incredibly interesting. You’ll notice that throughout the game, they very rarely go into details about the mushy stuff, and I find that leaves much more room for viewer interpretation and insight. You may argue Cole is simply a glory loving cop with a taste for German “ingenuity”, but in my eyes he is a man tormented by his burdens, insecurities, and vices. Cole didn’t mean to be a jerk and cheat on his wife. He fell in love, which I think would be obvious if he stuck with Elsa for so long even after the break up.

I find Cole to be an extremely sypathetic character, yet another protagonist Rockstar aced.