Micras Warfare:Covert Ops Cold War
| Micras Warfare Covert Ops:Cold War | |
 | |
| Developer(s) | TR3AD |
|---|---|
| Publisher(s) | Monster Interactive |
| Writer(s) |
Martin Austin |
| Composer(s) | Thomas Milano |
| Series | Micras Warfare |
| Platform(s) |
iDrive 2000 Drag0n Egg PC BCRD ADS |
| Release | 1690 AN |
| Genre(s) | First person shooter |
| Mode(s) | Single and multiplayer |
Micras Warfare:Covert Ops Cold War is a first-person shooter video game developed by TR3AD and published by Monster Interactive. It is the third installation of the Micras Warfare series and the first of the Covert Ops story arc.
Cold War is set in a fictional cold war between Shireroth and Babkha in the early days of Micrasian history with the campaign following a Shirerithtian Intelligence taskforce pursue an alleged rogue Babkhan spy, Neptune, whose aim is to subvert Shireroth and push the balance of power towards his homeland of Babkha. For the first time ever in a Micras Warfare video game, a zombie mode was featured.
Gameplay
Campaign
Micras Warfare:Covert Ops Cold War is set in the 1500 AN's during a fictional Cold War between the nations of Shireroth and Babkha, two prominent nations in the early history of Micras. Despite there being an actual cold war between the two nations, the somewhat lack of information lead to a new and unique story from the Micras Warfare writers. The campaign is set in many locations such as the Norfolk Islands, Antica, Kildare and Treesia. Players of the campaign can create their own character with the codename, Dime with options for hairstyle, skin tone and gender. Unlike Micras Warfare, they were different endings which were dependent on what the player chose throughout the campaign.
Season manhunt
For every Cold War season.TR3AD decided to keep the narrative going through each season launching a manhunt campaign mission to eventually lead to Neptune who survived in the original campaign. Players would have to at least reach Prestige level 50 each season to unlock the manhunt mission of the targeted rogue agent.
Multiplayer
Traditional game modes of Micras Warfare returned with the addition of selected game modes in a 12v12 format such as hardpoint, domination and Team Deathmatch. A new mode called Detonation was introduced which allowed up to 40 players divided into four groups with the aim to detonate a nuclear bomb before their opponents. Players in this mode had to kill opponents to collect uranium and load it at stations across the map.
League play
For the first-ever time in a Micras Warfare game, a league system played under Competitive rules was introduced in the latter stages of season 1. Seasons lasted four days with players playing seeding games to be assigned a division.
Zombies
Set a year after the story of the campaign. A mysterious power outage is reported in the Shirerithian capital of Shirekeep. After a thorough investigation, the epicentre of the outage is found in what seems to be an abandoned bunker. A group of soldiers is ordered to enter and investigate the disturbance in the bunker to see what set off the outage. Barely minutes, the group is slaughtered by the undead and it is found that a key to the underworld has been opened. The player alongside his or her friend's mission is to neutralize the swarms of zombies and reach level 100 to close the seal and complete the zombie campaign. Players can use special weapons and equipment to destroy zombies. Should the group get wiped out by the zombies, player groups will return to checkpoints after they have completed ten levels. If the player group does not reach level ten, the group will be forced to go back to the start etc.
Taesong Z (Season 1 DLC)
After the destruction of the facility in Shirekeep. The player's team is tasked to rescue a contact vital to stopping the dimensional outbreaks across the world in an abandoned firebase in Taesong.
Battle Zone
Battle Zone will appear for the third time in a Micras Warfare video game with the free to play title to be updated with a new map for players and switch to the TR3AD game mechanics. In addition Cold War operators and weapons will be added to the Battle Zone experience.
Synchronisation with Battle Zone and Micras Warfare
Both Micras Warfare and Coverts Ops have player and weapon synchronisation with Battle Zone and both sets of operators from both games are playable in Battle Zone. Therefore players have the choice to either choose an MW loadout or Cold War loadout in Battle Zone. All three games have a synchronised player progression system starting with the traditional military rank system and then for the first time a Prestige system once the player has reach level 55. With a unified progression system, this means players can level up (and obtain XP) no matter which of the titles they are playing! To allow the synchronisation of player progression. Military ranks gained on Micras Warfare and Battle Zone were wiped but players were able to keep the weapons they have gained.
Music
| Song Name | Theme of | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Main Theme | Main theme | |
| Multiplayer lobby theme | Multiplayer lobby music and credits music | |
| Loading screen | Loading screen music | |
| Rooftop Chase | Rooftop chase mission theme | |
| Flotilla 12v12 theme | Flotilla map 12v12 theme | |
| Holiday resort multiplayer map theme | Resort multiplayer theme | |
| Zombies | Zombies | |
| Taesong Z | Taesong Z | |
| Final fate | Final fate | Final mission music for both canon and non-canon endings. |
| Ending | Ending | Ending |
Reception
Cold War was given a 95% approval rate by critics and fans alike on Technorate, Floria's most popular review-aggregation website with critics stating that "Micras Warfare's most ambitious game paid off in every single category with a thrilling campaign, excellent multiplayer options and a new viral video game craze with the introduction of a zombies mode". The game's sequel Micras Warfare:Covert Ops 2 would exceed records created from Cold War in sales and player numbers solidifying TR3AD as the franchise's most popular developer.
Controversies
Calbain broadcast interruption
In a bizzare but unsurprising move. After the recent banning of the game franchise in Calbion and mocking of the Florian protectorate, Jaaland. A group of Florian hacktivists intentionally interrupted the Calbain television broadcast of Calbion's performance on stage with the official trailer of the game.
This was achieved by switching signals to the Florian broadcast which did not show the performance of Calbion and instead used the time to promote the new video game which sponsored the Florian broadcast of the competition.
Depiction of a nuclear disaster
After an intense interrogation mission. The player, Dime can activate an act of betrayal against his operations team and lie to lead the team to a random location in Babkha and order the main Antagonist, Neptune to order an ambush as soon as they arrive. This leads to the eventual chance of eliminating the player's former teammates and the eventual appearance of Neptune. After Neptune acknowledges and praises your efforts to help his cause. He gives you the chance to detonate all the nuclear weapons located in Apollonia paving the way for Babkhan global supremacy and eventual destabilisation of Shireroth as they are blamed for the attack.
This received criticism from various organisations in Floria and others worldwide as this gave the player the opportunity to commit a global terrorist attack and the ability to use a heavily frowned upon weapon of destruction.
