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A Comment from One of the Developers

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 39 / 42
Date: October 09, 2000
Author: Amazon User

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.

Exactly what fans of R6 have been waiting for!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 25 / 31
Date: August 02, 2000
Author: Amazon User

Covert Ops is going to be the next big hit of Red Storm Entertainment due to it's great Tom Clancy detail and realism!

Not only do you get to 'play' with teams in the classic Rainbow Six fashion that has made it a hit, you also LEARN the in's and out's of covert operations! WOW! This is exactly what all the armchair CT (Counter Terroirst) specialists need!

In this new version you'll be able to learn about everything from satellite imagery to history of prior covert operations and even what weapons are best suited for a situation. You'll even be able to take exams to test your knowledge!

If you are not familiar with the Rainbow Six 'game' interface, basically you can command from one to several teams of very realistic AI (Artificial Intelligence) team members with special skills and features. The realism the created when Rainbow Six's sequel, Rogue Spear, came out upped the realism...you'll see such simple things as eyes blinking to breath to very fluid body movements! (Note: Be sure to pick up a really good graphics card if you don't have one, I did and loved the better quality! Check Amazon.com's electronics section).

So in short you not only get great 'action' to test your skill but tons of knowledge and teachings that test your determination to become 'the best of the best'!

Get it today (or pre-order it) and you won't regret the hours (if not days, weeks, months) of enjoyment you'll get out of it! Be sure to join others on the Microsoft Gaming Zone as well (or other supported websites) as you can actually team up and/or compete with other people and not the AI interface...it adds realism to a new extreme!

Thank you Redstorm

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 8 / 11
Date: September 14, 2000
Author: Amazon User

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.

Disappointing release, not quite the sequel to Rogue Spear

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 5 / 5
Date: December 31, 2000
Author: Amazon User

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.

SHORT SHORT SHORT

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 6 / 7
Date: September 24, 2000
Author: Amazon User

Maybe...MAYBE 3 hours of gameplay here. Those who like to play multi-player will probably find more to this release, but as a single-player, stand-alone game...it is incredibly short. Too bad. =(

It's worth checking out!

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 3 / 4
Date: October 19, 2000
Author: Amazon User

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.

Covert Ops essentials

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 3 / 4
Date: January 03, 2001
Author: Amazon User

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!

Interesting game out of the entire series, Education-Wise

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: April 23, 2002
Author: Amazon User

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.

Singe player was a joke!

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 3 / 5
Date: October 01, 2000
Author: Amazon User

there are only three new missions for single player, the training missions were very short, and other than multiplayer it was not worth the cost!

You're the best of the best. Remember that!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 4 / 9
Date: August 25, 2000
Author: Amazon User

I've been a friend of Team Rainbow since the beginning and I've got to say every sequel or add-on that has come out has been a gameplay god send. Having been to Kosovo myself (for 7 months) I must say the Kosovo mission was very true to form. The realism achieved in Tom Clancy Games is beyond compare. Only good things can come with Covert Ops! I'm buying it and so should you!

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