Customer Reviews

Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six: Covert Ops Essentials

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

To all those who are interested in this product:

My name is Duncan McPherson, and I work for Magic Lantern Playware... the team that produced the training CD for Red Storm Entertainment. Personally, I know that many hard-core gamers are going to be confused and/or disappointed by this product simply because of the fact that it is a little light in the "new levels" department. I will even venture to say (my *own* opinion here, not that of Magic Lantern) that the game -- while marketed well -- was not marketed *clearly* to the hard-core gaming audience.

Here's a clarification:

Covert Ops Essentials (COE) is designed first and foremost as a training pack. The information (in excess of 500,000 words, over 80 min. of videos, and multiple tests!) is designed to inform the game experience of the hard-core players.

COE is also designed as a "gateway" product for those who have not yet entered the game world of "Rainbow Six." (Note that neither Rainbow Six or Rogue Spear are needed in order to play the mission pack included in the game.)

Most importantly, however, it is a product designed for the Tom Clancy and/or Covert Operations fan who wishes to learn more about *real* covert operations and *real* special operations units... in many cases, from the source. COE then allows the individual to test her/his knowledge in the game world of Rainbow Six in six fine training levels and three fantastic "real world" levels.

If you are expecting nine full-game levels or something similar, do not purchase this product. If, however, you wish to learn about *real* covert ops -and- to test your newfound knowledge within a few excellent Rainbow Six levels, then purchase this product, for you will not be disappointed.

Covert Ops Essentials: The name says it all.

Do you enjoy Rainbow Six for the action? You will not find it in Covert Ops Essentials. I am a huge fan of the Rainbow Six series and have always enjoyed the series until this one. Is this game the action-packed follow up to Rogue Spear with its exciting missions like the airplane hijacking? Not quite. Two major negative issues I have:

1. The game description states 9 missions. No, there are 3 actual missions, and 6 short training events, which do not count as missions. I was shocked after completing the 3rd mission to be presented with the game-over credits, thinking there were 6 more action packed missions waiting. Granted, the 3 actual missions are well done, and give this game two stars instead of one. But is the game worth buying for 3 missions?

2. The box gives the impression this is a special training edition, meaning much more training missions to fine tune your tango raiding skills (similar to Metal Gear Solid: VR missions). This is only a problem because it is not stated clearly that this is a game requiring mostly readings. The interface is very poor on the training disc, and as a reviewer states in videogames.com "looks like the work of an 80's holywood special effects artist trying to visualize computer interfaces of the future".

And here is one positive note:

1. If you're not expecting action and hostage rescues, the training disc provides good reading on your computer monitor. It explains the terms terrorist and counter terrorism at a good level. Even though the multiple guess questions do not change they are fun to take. Just don't think the medals you win for passing the test will qualify you as a hostage negotiator :)

To conclude, the training disc's readings and video clips could have been put an a web site and have you take the tests online, minus the futuristic 80's special effects. A good book on terrorism and counter terrorism, or even Richard Marcinko's Rogue Warrior series would serve the same purpose of this game. If you're looking for some missions, wait until the next true expansion pack or when Red Storm Entertainment releases the level editor in the following months.

Anyone who has played any of the R6 series knows how great they are. This 5th installment of the series should be no exception. I play alot of online multiplayer games on Mplayer.com and we are very excited by the release of this title. There are 9 new maps as well as in-depth counterterrorism interviews, test, and video. Unfortunatly there are no new weapons. If you want to learn more, and I think you would, you can go to rainbowsix.net There they have links to redstorm as well as information on the CO release. Roger That.

This was the first Rainbow Six game I got, and when I opened the package I was a little confused. There were two disks, so I thought you needed both to play this game, but you don't. One disc has the game on it and the other disc is filled with stuff to learn all you ever wanted to know about covert operations and counter-terror tactics, etc. It's quite interesting and it's divided up into different lessons, although you don't need to go through this CD in order to play the game.
Here is why I gave this game four stars: I downgraded it because of the actual game. The box says "9 new missions", but 6 of them aren't really missions, they are the equivelent to practice levels and 3 are actually missions. So really what you get is 3 mission levels and 6 not-mission levels...whatever. For that I was almost tempted to give it 3 starts but because of disc two, I didn't. I thought they put a lot of work into the education disk, and it was put in such a creative manner for those who are interested in learning. For that I bumped it up a star.
Overall: If you're thinking of buying this game, think of it as buying something along the lines of Microsoft Encarta, Covert style. With that mindset, you wont be disappointed and thus, the 3 missions and 6-kinda missions will seem like an added bonus.

Another Game from the popular series ainbow 6. This game puts you in control of a counter terrorits group Rainbow 6. The realism of this game ads to the pros. It has a one shot one kill feel to the game wich ads to the supense not like past other shooter games.It has a wide rage of weapons camo and body armour to choose from. The game includs 2 discs. The first is a training disc where you watch other CT groups in action and what to do in a cetain scenario. The second is a mission disc where play through 7 training missions and 3 campaign missions. I thought there shold have bben more missions like in Rogue Spear (Another hit R6 game). Game also includes an over the internet game play with zone, mplayer or LAN. Covert Ops was intended to be for people who never played a R6 game before, so this game would introduce them to the series. All in all this game is great for beginners and vertens of the R6 series!

Well let me say, I was dissapointed that it had only 3 missions, and totally lacked the storyline of Rainbow Six and Rogue Spear. But, then I popped in the training CD, I was very impressed. It has in depth, long articles on special operations, videos with Tom Clancy in them, along with other people, actual police S.W.A.T. training videos. It was well worth the money, and multiplayer the new levels just plain rule. Being the grandson of a long time Police Officer, I can tell you, the studying and test taking is VERY close to what is done in real life. In the real certification tests, as in this game, you study large amounts of material, then take a multiple choice test. This is very well duplicated in this game. Am I dissapointed that there was no storyline and very few levels, yeah, but the training disk makes up for it. It's overall a great buy.

As many know from reading these reviews there are two parts to this game. The 3 missions and the educational part which included 6 training missions. While i can understand the disappointment in so few stock missions(3)it is the custom missions that allow you many hours of great fun. Those who like thematic campaigns would be disappointed but rainbow six rogue spear never focused much on that anyway.

This is not a rainbow six mission pack. It came out after rogue spear and uses the rogue spear engine with all the options you find in RS for weapons, unis etc. The graphics are RS quality. The 3 missions you do get are superb with intense competitive play. The custom mission section is what makes this game work. There you can choose from various rules from 9 different maps such as terrorist hunt-lone wolf-hostage rescue-defend. You can choose how difficult the mission is and choose how many of the enemy there will be for some. Given all these choices makes it almost unlimited mission play. How you play the mission is also optional of course. Play a terrorist hunt alone with 50 tangos for the ultimate challenge or bring aone a couple of partners. All these options are also avaliable in a direct connect multi player mode. Play coop with all the options i just mentioned. It will be a long time before you wear this game out.

The maps for these missions are interesting and in some cases spectacular. The ice map is stunning to look at and challenging for terrorist hunt. If you enjoy rainbow or rogue spear then you absolutely must own this game! It costs almost nothing but is much more in fun and action packed enjoyment.

.............socks

I my opinion I think this game is great. One of the good things is that it doesnt need the original rainbow six to be installed to run. It has some pretty good realism and graphics are good too. With 9 new levels, it will keep most people who are on HARD dificulty with something to do.

For a Rainbow Six game, I was very disappointed that only three missions were included. The controls are much better than R6 and Eagle Watch, but other than that, this game was nothing more than a large disappointment.

The three missions range in difficulty, but they can only be so interesting. For the first, you're inserted into the jungle for some kind of a hostage rescue, which you'll lose men in the process, no way around. You can't get your snipers in positions to get the enemy's, ever. The second mission takes you to a snowy landscape, and this mission was so boring that I didn't need to do a thing, just set it on autopilot, and they ran through it with ease. The third puts you outside a missle silo, and you have to actually run through this mission. I think this one is the best of the three, as it poses a challenge, but isn't impossible.

The multiplayer aspect, however, is what the game is worth. The sniper battles that can take place in the Jungle are unbelievable, and the silo adds to some nice assault maps. The training missions, however, make the best assault maps. Using store front, back, and ER, you can hone your assault skills down to a fine art, very quickly.

All in all, the game is fair, but way under par for Red Storm and the Rainbow Six titles. Red Storm should have spent some more time on adding at least a few more missions into the game, instead of leaving you with three.

This game is hot! With 3 missions 7 training maps Its crazy. also whats very important you can download two extra mission-maps to play on Covert Ops but theres only one site you can get it from. it has a training CD that you can learn from the experts. If you have this game don't be bummed with three missions E-mail me at vikingsrule1@msn.com and i'll give you the site name to download the two maps. As for training maps not bad a little small. With 8 handguns 24 regular guns and 21 camo suits hot dang a must get for the Pc gamer who knows what he wants. Graphics are a little better not really a visible differnce. the rating of this game From The IGN officials is 8.4 not bad for a R6 game