StarCraft II: Nova Covert Ops - Mission Pack 1

 PC
Metascore
73

Mixed or average reviews - based on 14 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 14
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 14
  3. Negative: 0 out of 14
  1. Ragequit.gr
    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. PLAY! Zine
    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.
  3. Impulsegamer
    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.
  5. Atomix
    Apr 8, 2016
    80
    The Nova Covert Ops is a great addition to Starcraft II. This first mission pack leaves us with a good feeling, but it is in inevitable to think that Blizzard should launch this expansion in a single product.
  6. Gamers' Temple
    Apr 25, 2016
    78
    It's hard to judge the overall quality of an expansion just a third of the way in, but Mission Pack 1 is a good enough of a start to make me look forward to the next installment.
  7. GamingTrend
    Apr 2, 2016
    75
    Although I wish there were more missions and that some new mechanics had been introduced, there’s some fantastic Starcraft narrative and gameplay here. The price to content ratio is fair, and this is the closest we’re likely going to get to experience what Starcraft: Ghost could have been. If you enjoyed the Terran, Zerg, and Protoss campaigns you’ll get a great kick out of Nova Covert Ops.
  8. 4P.de
    Apr 1, 2016
    75
    A short but worthy trip with Nova, thanks basically to the gorgeous mission design.
  9. AusGamers
    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.
  10. Destructoid
    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.
  11. God is a Geek
    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.
  12. Softpedia
    Apr 13, 2016
    70
    Starcraft 2 - Nova Covert Ops Mission Pack 1 is not a great package because of the limited number of missions that gamers get access to, but that will not make too much of a difference for the most determined fans of the franchise.
  13. High-Def Digest
    Apr 10, 2016
    70
    It has some fresh ideas and enjoyable missions within the framework of the successful 'Starcraft II' recipe. It’s a bit lighter on story than I would like, and stingy with Nova’s upgrades, but I’m quite happy to try the next one as soon as it’s here - especially considering that this is probably as close to 'Starcraft: Ghost' as we’ll ever get.
  14. GameOver.gr
    Apr 14, 2016
    65
    Some nice ideas in level design can’t hide the fact that this overpriced episode offers just a couple of hours of single player content only, with no replayability and no multiplayer.
  15. IGN
    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.

Awards & Rankings

40
#40 Most Shared PC Game of 2016

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
7.0

Mixed or average reviews- based on 76 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 49 out of 76
  2. Mixed: 12 out of 76
  3. Negative: 15 out of 76
  1. atr577
    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.    … Full Review »
  2. Awanka
    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.… Full Review »
  3. Nepen1he
    Mar 10, 2022
    0
    games out of politics, juegos fuera de la politica, jogos fora da política
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