Even the worst episodes of HBO’s Thrones adaptation didn’t dumb down the source material to the point Blizzard seems to think they need to for us to be able to follow it. While some cool ideas bubble to the surface, with multiple factions of humans competing and developing complicated relationships, it’s just barely developed enough to tick a box. One of the writers of Nova Covert Ops compared it to “Game of Thrones in space” at a BlizzCon panel last year.
They do say enough to get the beats of the story across, but only because the story is so straightforward and unambitious. Ghost Storyįrom there, the minimalist plot unfolds mostly in fleeting, dialogue-focused cutscenes that tell far more than they show. She, predictably, turns invisible and escapes, against their impotent protests, within a minute of regaining consciousness. It’s never explained, however, why they would have any expectation of her cooperation, especially considering they left her with her high-tech stealth suit. We’re introduced to Nova as a captive in a laboratory, being given instructions from some mysterious figures who apparently brought her there against her will. From the outset, the story beats and pacing feel rushed and amateurish. That alone wouldn’t really bug me, but I feel that giving the unfolding intrigue so little room to breathe is a big part of why it didn’t work. The entire package was over quicker than some individual Telltale episodes. I’m by no means a pro at StarCraft 2, but I was able to easily clear each of the three missions on Normal difficulty in under an hour each. The mission pack felt surprisingly small, even given my expectations for a lighter experience. But these introductory chapters fall dishearteningly short of doing justice to their big ideas.
It has the makings of a refreshing, less galaxy-shattering saga set against the backdrop of the rich lore Blizzard has created for their 18-year-old space opera. With the help of some other returning faces like Matt Horner and Rory Swann, the two confront clandestine threats and internal strife with the potential to tear the stellar realm apart. What’s left is a wounded and confused Terran Dominion led by the charismatic idealist, Valerian Mengsk, and his top covert operative (and main character), the elite ghost Nova. The ultimate bad guy of ultimate destiny has been defeated the iconic heroes of StarCraft lore and legend have fallen in battle or ridden off into the sunset. The setup is actually clever and full of potential, which makes the lackluster execution all the more deflating. Unfortunately, the first mission pack for Nova Covert Ops fails to deliver, both as a compelling new chapter for the Koprulu Sector and as an interesting set of scenarios for veterans of StarCraft 2’s three-part main campaign. Short, contained single-player mission packs set after the epic saga of StarCraft 2 were a proposition I was ready to embrace.
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