WinBack: Covert Operations

 PlayStation 2
  • Publisher: Koei
  • Release Date: Mar 27, 2001
User Score
7.8

Generally favorable reviews- based on 23 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 16 out of 23
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 23
  3. Negative: 6 out of 23
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  1. [Anonymous]
    Jul 4, 2001
    3
    Terrible! I can't believe I spent $50 on this game!
  2. ChadS.
    Jul 4, 2001
    9
    Yum.
  3. [Anonymous]
    Jul 4, 2001
    4
    Terrible! I can't believe I spent $50 on this game!
  4. Might
    Aug 4, 2001
    10
    This game is incredible. I still play it today on the N64, its hard and long. Now its on PS2! How much better can the game get. I get bored of these first person view games.
  5. P.O.
    Jul 27, 2002
    10
    Great game. I can't stop playing it.
  6. ThundakuS.
    Jun 23, 2001
    7
    Fun, addictive game.
  7. Jason
    Jul 11, 2001
    10
    Best game ever. Any one who isn't good at this game just sucks at video games altogether.
  8. JasonT.
    Jul 4, 2001
    10
    Everything... it was a masterpiece... a work of art!!
  9. VinhT.
    Jul 4, 2001
    10
    Spectacular!! Best game I have played yet! Quenches your thirst for action-espionage
  10. VinhT.
    Jul 4, 2001
    10
    Spectacular!! Best game I have played yet! Quenches your thirst for action-espionage
  11. Serge
    Aug 18, 2001
    10
    Umm..can i rate it 11?
  12. AdW.
    Jul 11, 2001
    10
    Best game in it's genre!
  13. wesker2012
    May 27, 2012
    10
    One of my favorite games of all time. I played the 64 version. Put so many hours into this game.
  14. AmadeusE
    Feb 1, 2021
    4
    This game is badly designed and horribly flawed almost to the point of unplayable. It's not an unenjoyable game. But it has too many crippling flaws.

    First thing is the aiming. Which is very unreliable and untrustworthy. Manual aim is of course out of the question in most combat situations, because it's too slow. And lock-on aim is very bad. You can't really trust it. You never know if    This game is badly designed and horribly flawed almost to the point of unplayable. It's not an unenjoyable game. But it has too many crippling flaws.

    First thing is the aiming. Which is very unreliable and untrustworthy. Manual aim is of course out of the question in most combat situations, because it's too slow. And lock-on aim is very bad. You can't really trust it. You never know if you're going to lock on under pressure, since the enemy may be out of range, too much to the side or a number of other problems. Also, if an enemy is out of range, they can still shoot you. There is also this weird thing that if an enemy is slightly to the side and your character aims straight ahead but then locks on, he aims the gun towards the enemy very slowly and you'll miss the first few shots and can get shot yourself first.

    Second is the overwhelming amount of laser traps in this game. The moving ones are the worst ones, since your only way to get past those is by timing a roll under them. And if you don't, you're instantly dead and lose all your progress. Unfortunately, I didn't have the patience to get past one in Stage 10(I think), where you have to roll under a laser way too many times. That one was somehow so damn hard and I kept dying there.

    There's a certain strategy to the combat. And once you nail it, the game can be pretty satisfying. But sadly, the experience is too flawed and a single mistake can also make you lose too much progress sometimes.    … Expand
  15. BrandonBlake
    Oct 17, 2022
    9
    Operation Winback is a insanely engaging stealth shooter with memorable characters and cutscenes full of charm borrowing influences from classic action movies of the time. The cover system is enjoyable and doesn't run stale due to the beautiful level design. Definitely a hidden gem deserving of more praise.

Awards & Rankings

50
#50 Most Discussed PS2 Game of 2001
81
#81 Most Shared PS2 Game of 2001

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
66

Mixed or average reviews - based on 11 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 11
  2. Mixed: 9 out of 11
  3. Negative: 0 out of 11
  1. GamePro
    80
    Despite its averageness, WinBack: CO is fun, satisfying stealth/action fare. If it were the only game you had, it’d be great.
    Read full review
  2. PSX Nation
    60
    Compared with the sights/sounds/gameplay of "MGS2", the technical flaws that were present on the N64 version (and haven't been fixed in this PS2 port) stand-out like a sore thumb on Roger Ebert's hand (there's a lovely image for you!).
    Read full review
  3. Happy Puppy
    60
    Sheesh, this clunker might as well be subtitled "Interactive Espionage Game Design Basics for Dummies." How retailers can live with such rubbish polluting their shelves isn't apparent.
    Read full review
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