StarCraft II: Nova Covert Ops - Mission Pack 1 Image
Metascore
73

Mixed or average reviews - based on 14 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
7.0

Mixed or average reviews- based on 76 Ratings

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  • Summary: As Nova, you awaken in an unknown military facility with no memory of what brought you there. You've got to escape and learn the truth before it's too late-for you and the Terran Dominion.

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Starcraft II Official Movie 1
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 14
  2. Negative: 0 out of 14
  1. Apr 6, 2016
    84
    The first out of three single-player mission DLCs for Starcraft 2 provides a promising story which may be an improvement on Blizzard’s recent stale storytelling.The duration of this pack is somewhat short for its price, but the production values are still top notch. If you want a little bit more of single-player fun on SC2, you may want to give it a try.
  2. Apr 13, 2016
    80
    With around 2 hours of gameplay, maybe a bit more if you pace yourself, Nova Covert Ops is definitely a must have add-on for all fans of StarCraft 2.
  3. May 5, 2016
    80
    This first slice of the Starcraft 2 DLC scheme left us wanting for more, as it always happens with Blizzard's strategy games. Even short, this is as polished and fun as any other "big" campaign in Starcraft 2, though we'd prefer if the upcoming missions could arrive sooner.
  4. Mar 29, 2016
    75
    StarCraft II: Nova Covert Ops doesn't deliver anything that you haven't seen before, but it does it in an engaging way that sufficiently supplements the universe. If you aren't big on the massive time investment that a typical StarCraft campaign warrants, this is a nice little alternative.
  5. Apr 1, 2016
    75
    So, even though the first Mission Pack for Nova Covert Ops can be boiled down to two great missions and one average introduction, the future is bright for StarCraft II story-based content.
  6. Apr 21, 2016
    70
    A good start to Starcraft II’s DLC, Nova Covert Ops delivers a fun and tense opening chapter, but suffers from a lack of story content.
  7. Apr 5, 2016
    62
    Nova Covert Ops Mission Pack 1 stumbles by being too timid to fully flesh out some of its more interesting ideas.

See all 14 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 11
  2. Negative: 2 out of 11
  1. Mar 30, 2016
    10
    First of all, Cover OPs felt just GREAT. When I went to sleep at 3 AM I felt full of awesomeness, and remembering the disappointment I feltFirst of all, Cover OPs felt just GREAT. When I went to sleep at 3 AM I felt full of awesomeness, and remembering the disappointment I felt over LotV that felt double great.

    The story felt very logical, realistic and believable. There were no pianos in the bushes, no deus ex, no invulnerable super heroes, just very mortal opponents shooting and hating each other. What I hated in LotV (and SCII in general) was the feeling of kids bedtime story, filled with incognizable gods, unneeded unexplained entities (like the Void, what is that and why do we even need it, good old endless Universe not enigmatic enough?), lack of logic (like where was the Spear of Adun when the zerg sacked Aiur?), all-powerful artifacts that can change your DNA, kill unkillable, ignore laws of nature and probably make you coffee too. The general feeling you are being fed a fairytale with dragons, knights and magic did not leave me through LotV playthrough. But SC is not a fantasy.

    Covert OPs got it all right - I had a feeling I was reading something like Heinlein's Starship Troopers with black ops twist, it was just so good. I can but only hope that Covert Ops will stick to that style and SCII plot will be redone in the same manner some time. Because in my mind, SCII story stopped just before the assault of Char, when magic started happening.

    The missions, units and Nova's loadout were simply on a very good level. I would lie to say I was astonished, after hundreds of games I played, but all felt good and solid.

    The game felt a bit short, as many people would agree here. I would definitely prefer awesomeness over length, but well, I did the pack in about two hours, looking up at my steam account I see the games I like have 30 hours of playing at least. Might be the only small flaw I would point out at the moment.

    As a conclusion, I would like to praise Blizzard for their good job. I was highly doubting as to whether to preorder the game or try it from the torrents first. Given that LotV story felt extremely un-starcrafty and out of place, and even though it might be decent by itself, but for sci-fi universe it felt like a disaster. Given that another Blizzard game - Heroes of the Storm - is struggling with basic balance and matchmaking still (and these slikes also keep Nova underpowered and not competitive). I had high doubts that modern Blizzard is able to produce decent product. I am just happy to be proven wrong now.
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  2. Mar 30, 2016
    10
    Fresh look on RTS campaign continued from previous Starcraft 2 episodes, interesting plot, log and engaging missions. Nova is very coolFresh look on RTS campaign continued from previous Starcraft 2 episodes, interesting plot, log and engaging missions. Nova is very cool character, also it's really interesting to see what happend after epic Starcraft 2 LotV conclusion. Can't wait episode 2 and 3! Expand
  3. Nov 24, 2016
    9
    Battle Toads racing reference in the first mission is hilarious. Overall, I like how well-balanced are classic strategy missions and tacticalBattle Toads racing reference in the first mission is hilarious. Overall, I like how well-balanced are classic strategy missions and tactical stealth missions. You don't get bored of gameplay as it changes at just the right moment. Expand
  4. Dec 19, 2016
    7
    Five Word Review: RTS good, Nova not so.
    Favorite Thing: More Starcraft is always a good thing.
    Least Favorite Thing: The story was very
    Five Word Review: RTS good, Nova not so.
    Favorite Thing: More Starcraft is always a good thing.
    Least Favorite Thing: The story was very bland, generic, unexciting.

    Playtime: ~ 5h
    Enjoyment: 7/10
    Recommendation: It'll likely be a long time before you get more Starcraft so yeah.
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  5. Aug 30, 2022
    7
    These are high quality missions using the Starcraft 2 engine that have more of a single unit focus. I actually had more fun with this than IThese are high quality missions using the Starcraft 2 engine that have more of a single unit focus. I actually had more fun with this than I did with the main campaigns. There are 9 missions in total, but they can get quite elaborate with multiple levels and different game modes. Expand
  6. May 14, 2016
    6
    I'm a huge SC2 fan and I'm trying to like this expansion but I just can't. It's got a generic plot, doesn't offer anything really new inI'm a huge SC2 fan and I'm trying to like this expansion but I just can't. It's got a generic plot, doesn't offer anything really new in gameplay experience or units and is over in a breeze. I guess that last one is the intention by releasing it in 3 parts but I can't help but think it would have served the experience better if they just released it all in one go. For a blizzard game this is disappointing. Expand
  7. May 28, 2016
    0
    I like games like StarCraft: Brood War, Command & Conquer: Generals,Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars, Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2, II like games like StarCraft: Brood War, Command & Conquer: Generals,Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars, Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2, I don't like Command & Conquer 4: Tiberian Twilight, StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty. Graphics are too detailed.

    I don't like that there are too many units. It's disgusting. It is like there are many insects, rats or bats. Specially aliens units are gross.

    What I like about StarCraft: Brood War is character's voice, Ghost, Medivac Dropship, Siege Tank. I don't like Protos and Zerg. They are disgusting. And I hate the blood.
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See all 11 User Reviews