StarCraft II Nova Covert Ops Update
Recently, Blizzard (developers of Starcraft) released a new expansion to the game called "StarCraft II: Nova Covert Ops." It is the first of three DLC (downloadable content pack) consisting of three missions each for a total of nine missions. You play as Nova Terra, the Dominion's most powerful Ghost unit. The first of three DLC is available to play, while the second and third will be released sometime during December 2016.
The first chapter begins with a cutscene showing an ally unit carrying you back to base after you are knocked down in battle. Then it transitions to you waking up from a hospital bed recovering from injuries caused by the previous battle. You are greeted by the commander with an update of the current situation of the conflicts in your city states. Each chapter consists of approximately twenty minutes of gameplay, not including the multiple cutscenes throughout the game. These cutscenes are absolutely stunning. The art and animation team really out done themselves!
Even though this is a game expansion, the chapters will not alter the core gameplay. Such that perks and special abilities of the Nova, a Ghost, unit will not carry into the main PVP (player versus player) matches. They are merely added into the campaign chapters to help create a more interesting story and a different gameplay experience for those willing to support game DLC's.
Covert Ops pushes the game engine to its limits. At times, it feels as if you are in a third person, role playing game controlling the Nova character. At other times, the engine transitions to a top-down playing experience in which you are controlling the characters as a group and not individually.
This game is the most interesting expansion from Blizzard since the initial release of the game. The gameplay is refreshing, and the character dialogues are much more engaging than previous games. The expansion's only flaw is that some players may feel that each chapter is too short considering the cost of each mission pack ($14.99 USD for all three packs or $7.49 USD per pack). If Blizzard adds more content and playtime into the two packs that are not yet released, then this would be a great expansion for fans of the StarCraft series.
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