StarCraft II: Nova Covert Ops

The gameplay of Nova Covert Ops retains the same general gameplay as the base game. The game is focused around the hero unit of Nova, similar to Kerrigan in StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm. As a hero unit she is given unique abilities and improved characteristics. More choice is present in Nova's customisation, in comparison to the more diverse and cumulative paths of Kerrigan. Nova is given generally greater durability, damage and abilities than other units. New technology and weaponry are available for Nova and other units to unlock, although these are sometimes unlocked automatically or after enough missions. Equipment and research must be chosen over others in the same slot between missions. However, Nova cannot acquire levels like Kerrigan, and her abilities are determined by equipment choices. In only some areas of the mission pack is Nova the sole unit to be controlled. The mission pack places a greater emphasis on tactics but retains the base building and resource collection mechanics of StarCraft.[6]

In missions with base-building elements, Nova may die and respawn after enough time has passed. In missions without base elements however, Nova's death will cause the player's defeat. Missions, like those in previous StarCraft II campaigns, are meant to avoid the build and destroy design seen in the first StarCraft's missions. Stealth and platforming elements are present in missions.[7]

In line with the add-on nature of the mission pack, it is smaller in scale than the predecessor campaigns. The campaign is linear, and inter-mission content restricted to non-interactive cutscenes and static UI. Units are automatically unlocked, although upgrades to Nova and other units are contingent on discoveries during gameplay or completion of secondary objectives. However, some of the features from the previous campaigns of StarCraft II remain; more than the first StarCraft's inter-mission content being cutscenes and briefing rooms.

In the aftermath of Legacy of the Void, it was decided that a return to the Terran perspective was natural. The story was designed to be in contrast to the StarCraft II campaigns; ones that were seen as great in scope—with it becoming smaller in scale and grittier, evocative of the original StarCraft. Several plot-points in Nova Covert Ops were mirrors of the original StarCraft, including rebellion and the use of devices to control the Zerg. A focal point of the mission pack is to distinguish between Nova and Kerrigan, drawing similarities and differences between the two; as the two were former brainwashed Ghosts, and the two greatest human psionics. James Waugh, the writer of Legacy of the Void, noted that an important element of the story is choice—bringing up another similarity to Kerrigan, in their defections from the Mengsk family. Waugh serves as the story director for Nova Covert Ops; Valerie Watrous, a co-writer on Legacy of the Void, serves as the primary writer. Nova Covert Ops was intended to demonstrate Blizzard's transition into releasing more frequent content.[9]

The background lore of Nova Covert Ops was extensively developed in the years before it, including novels and comics revolving around the eponymous character. Nova's story was succeeded by the novel StarCraft: Evolution,[9] which was published after it in 2016. In addition, the story of Nova: Covert Ops was directly followed by the StarCraft: Shadow Wars series, which also featured Nova and Reigel.

Prior to StarCraft II: Legacy of the Void's release, Nova Covert Ops was announced. A teaser trailer was released on the StarCraft YouTube channel on November 6.[10] Nova Covert Ops released as a stand-alone which did not require any previous StarCraft II purchase. The final chapter released on November 22, 2016 with a large patch and multiplayer update, the 3.8.0 version of the game, which contained substantial updates to the competitive multiplayer of the game.[11]

The mission packs received a mostly positive reception, with praise given to the gameplay, mission variety, and sound quality present and criticism levied at the length and story of the pack. The reception of the mission designs was mixed, with some reviewers believing they were sporadic in quality. In contrast, the story and length of the missions were generally negatively received. Nova's fan favourite status and the proxy of Nova Covert Ops for StarCraft: Ghost were consistently addressed. IGN noted that the story of the first two-mission packs felt poorly executed and their lengths felt too short.[17][18]

Gaming Trend criticized the staggered release of the mission packs, and also noted lesser variety in the second pack in particular, while praising the voice acting, cutscenes and soundtrack.[19] Destructoid's Chris Carter commented on Nova Covert Ops' drawing point being Nova and praised the customization features but criticized the story as being inconsistent with the darker tone of the series, calling the ending "a little too neatly wrapped."[15] Impulsegamer's James Wright commented positively on the quality and polish of the content and, while noting the overall shortness of it, called it "a must have add-on for all fans of StarCraft 2."[20]

• Official website