Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Command & Conquer: The Covert Operations immediately broadens the tactical canvas of the original game by introducing 15 fresh single-player missions. With seven missions for GDI and eight for Nod, players can experiment with both sides’ unique strategies and playstyles. Unlike a strict linear campaign, these missions can be tackled in any sequence, allowing for a more personalized progression and the freedom to choose which challenge to face next.

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The difficulty on offer here is noticeably cranked up, even for veterans of the base game. Missions demand tighter micro­management, smarter base layouts, and more flexible responses to evolving threats. Expect to juggle resource collection, base defense, and offensive pushes all at once, as veteran opponents field late-game hardware far more aggressively than in the original campaign.

Adding further depth, The Covert Operations brings several units—formerly multiplayer exclusives—into the single-player arena. Nod’s chem troopers and SSM launchers make their debut in campaign missions, forcing players to adapt to new attack vectors and to integrate these units into their own arsenals. This convergence of single-player and multiplayer rosters helps sharpen one’s overall mastery of the game.

On top of the single-player content, you’ll find 10 brand-new multiplayer maps that capitalize on varied terrain layouts and chokepoints. These maps encourage inventive base placements, ambush tactics, and cooperative or competitive play with friends. Whether you’re a GDI stalwart defending your borders or a Nod saboteur striking from the shadows, the expanded map pool keeps multiplayer skirmishes feeling fresh and unpredictable.

Altogether, The Covert Operations respects the core mechanics that made Command & Conquer a genre-defining classic while ramping up complexity and replayability. Each mission feels carefully crafted to test different aspects of your tactical skill, making this expansion an indispensable challenge for seasoned commanders.

Graphics

Visually, The Covert Operations maintains the iconic 2D sprite-based aesthetic of the original Command & Conquer. While it doesn’t overhaul the art style, it does introduce new tilesets and environmental elements that distinguish the expansion missions from the base game. Snow, desert, and urban backdrops get subtle texture tweaks, lending each map its own distinct atmosphere.

Unit and building sprites retain their recognizable designs, ensuring that players can instantly identify friend from foe during the heat of battle. The new inclusion of chem troopers and SSM launchers introduces fresh animation cycles and effects—such as the toxic gas clouds released by chem units—that, though modest by modern standards, were impressive at the time of release.

Cutscenes and mission briefings continue to leverage still images and in-engine footage, complete with character portraits and text overlays. These elements firmly ground the expansion within the mid-’90s graphical paradigm, offering a nostalgic charm rather than flashy, modern VFX. Fans of the era’s style will appreciate this consistency.

On higher-resolution displays, the pixel art can appear crisp without the jagged edges that plagued the earliest DOS runs. The Covert Operations also benefits from the tweaks found in the Special Gold Edition, ensuring compatibility with later Windows builds and more stable performance across a wider range of hardware.

Ultimately, while the expansion doesn’t aim to push graphical boundaries, it faithfully preserves and subtly enhances the visual hallmarks of the original. Players seeking a faithful extension of the familiar C&C look will find these updates more than adequate for immersive RTS action.

Story

Rather than telling a single, tightly woven narrative, The Covert Operations opts for a mission-based structure that allows players to choose their own path through the conflict. Briefings reveal bite-sized slices of GDI versus Nod intrigue, espionage, and sabotage, but the overall plot remains more episodic than cinematic.

Each mission comes with its own setup—often involving undercover maneuvers or high-stakes raids—giving a sense of diverse scenarios within the same global struggle. While this format sacrifices a linear story arc, it compensates by delivering a variety of operational tones, from stealthy infiltrations to all-out base assaults.

Voiceovers and text transcripts convey the gritty, Cold War–style banter fans have come to expect. Characters feel suitably larger-than-life, with commanders issuing urgent orders and enemy leaders delivering ominous warnings. Although there’s no grand finale tying every thread together, each mission briefing feels purposeful and vividly realized.

For those looking to delve deeper into the universe, playing both the Nod and GDI sides in any order sheds light on contrasting motivations and tactics. You’ll see how each faction interprets the same stakes, from Nod’s ideological zeal to GDI’s geopolitical pragmatism. This dual perspective adds replay value and a broader understanding of the war’s complexities.

In the end, The Covert Operations doesn’t aspire to be a blockbuster narrative masterpiece. Instead, it delivers concise, action-driven scenarios that keep the focus squarely on battlefield tactics while still maintaining the series’ trademark flair.

Overall Experience

Command & Conquer: The Covert Operations stands as an essential add-on for anyone who’s already invested in the original game. The combination of more challenging single-player missions and a richer multiplayer map pool ensures that both solo strategists and competitive players get their money’s worth. It strikes a fine balance between extending the base game and introducing enough novelty to feel fresh.

Installation is seamless whether you own the initial release or the Windows Special Gold Edition, and stability improvements help prevent the crashes and compatibility headaches common to other period expansions. The convenience of choosing mission order and the expanded roster of units encourage experimentation, helping players sharpen their skills and discover new tactics.

While the graphics and storytelling won’t wow those expecting cinematic spectacle, they remain faithful to what made Command & Conquer a defining classic in the first place. The added missions reinforce the core strengths—tight controls, vibrant multiplayer skirmishes, and memorable unit designs—without diluting the original vision.

Ultimately, The Covert Operations delivers a robust package of strategic depth and replayability. Its heightened difficulty curve will challenge even veteran commanders, and the new multiplayer maps extend the life of skirmishes. For fans of real-time strategy seeking more of that addictive base-building action, this expansion is both a welcome and worthwhile addition.

Whether you’re rejoining the fight or diving in for the first time via the Gold Edition, The Covert Operations proves that good design and compelling mission structure can endure. It’s a strong reminder of why the Command & Conquer saga remains beloved by RTS enthusiasts decades on.

Retro Replay Score

7.4/10