WinBack: Covert Operations
WinBack: Covert Operations — frequently asked questions
- What platforms is WinBack: Covert Operations on?
- WinBack: Covert Operations was released on Nintendo 64, PlayStation 2.
- When did WinBack: Covert Operations release?
- WinBack: Covert Operations was first released on November 20, 1999.
About WinBack: Covert Operations
A terrorist group calling itself the Crying Lions is about to take over the world with its mighty satellite and Jean-Luc Cougar is the only one who can stop it. As Jean-Luc, a covert operative working for the Strategic Covert Actions Team, you are responsible for taking back a Lions-controlled base and regaining power of the satellite. Some of the weapons you'll have to acquire and use to defeat the terrorists are handguns, shotguns, and machine guns, though you'll also need to access such materials as explosives, detectors, flashlights and medical kits in order to succeed. A refreshing take on the traditional action game, WINBACK requires as much stealth and strategy as it does reflexes and use of weaponry. The game features six different multiplayer modes, supporting up to four players: Death Match, Lethal Tag, Quick Draw, Cube Hunt, Team Battle, and Point Match. You select your difficulty level and you can even start off in a Tutorial mode to get the controls down.
Summary via IGDB.
Game details
- Platforms
- Nintendo 64, PlayStation 2
- Developer
- Omega Force
- Publisher
- Koei
- Game modes
- Single player
- Themes
- Action
Details via IGDB.
Reception
Every version compared
Prices, contemporary reception and the studio credited for each release
| Platform | Year | Loose | Complete | Sealed | Period reviews | Fake risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nintendo 64 | 1999 | $28 | $80 | $298 | 13 reviews | Low |
Release timeline
- Nintendo 64Nov 20, 1999
- PlayStation 22001
First release on each platform, from IGDB’s records of this game’s ports and editions. Remakes are separate games with their own pages, so they are not listed here.
We haven’t priced or authenticated the versions without a section on this page yet.
Collector value & authenticity
Nintendo 64 · PriceCharting sold data · Verified 2026-10-22
Other releases and variants
| Release | Loose | Complete | Sealed |
|---|---|---|---|
| PAL release | $21 | $49 | — |
| Japanese release (WinBack Covert Operations) | $22 | $55 | — |
What it needs to play
- RequiredController Pak — to save your progress: the game saves to a Controller Pak, not to the cartridge (game manual).
- OptionalRumble Pak — supported (game manual).
How often it sells
- Loose: about 2 times a week
- Complete: about once a week
- Sealed: about 3 times a year
Sales frequency from PriceCharting's completed-sale records, as of 2026-10-22.
Price over time
- Loose
- Complete
A loose copy sold for about $7.68 in Jan 2007, $19.99 five years ago, and $28 as of Oct 2026.
Show as table
| Month | Loose | Complete |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 2007 | $7.68 | — |
| Jan 2008 | $4.04 | — |
| Jan 2009 | $4.12 | — |
| Jan 2010 | $2.60 | — |
| Jan 2011 | $2.99 | — |
| Jan 2012 | $3.32 | — |
| Jan 2013 | $3.35 | — |
| Jan 2014 | $6.53 | $12.99 |
| Jan 2015 | $7.97 | $14.99 |
| Jan 2016 | $7.99 | $25 |
| Jan 2017 | $10.06 | $26 |
| Jan 2018 | $11.95 | $23 |
| Jan 2019 | $13.50 | $31 |
| Jan 2020 | $15.60 | $30 |
| Jan 2021 | $17.59 | $43 |
| Jan 2022 | $23 | $75 |
| Jan 2023 | $15.92 | $63 |
| Jan 2024 | $18.38 | $60 |
| Jan 2025 | $19.69 | $46 |
| Jan 2026 | $24 | $60 |
| Oct 2026 | $28 | $80 |
Monthly price estimates from PriceCharting's completed-sale records, sampled quarterly, through Oct 2026.
Release record
| Territory | Date | Cartridge serial | Known board |
|---|---|---|---|
| North America | 19 October 1999 | NUS-NWDE-USA | NUS-01A-02 |
| Europe / PAL | 7 July 2000 | NUS-NWDP-EUR | — |
| Japan | 23 September 1999 | NUS-NWDJ-JPN | — |
- Region
- NA+EU+JP
- Released
- 1999
- Authenticity
- Low
A rough-edged but absorbing spy shooter, and one of the N64's better stealth-action options.
WinBack was developed by Omega Force, a division of Koei, and published by Koei and Virgin Interactive Entertainment. It is called WinBack: Covert Operations in North America and Operation: WinBack in Europe and Australia. Japan got it in September 1999, North America in October 1999 and PAL regions in July 2000. You play secret agent Jean-Luc Cougar, infiltrating the command center of a laser satellite, using a cover system in which you take cover behind corners and duck out to shoot.
GamePro's Air Hendrix called it addictive and exciting but only for players patient enough for the frustrating camera work. Another GamePro reviewer said it was no Metal Gear 64 or GoldenEye 2 but would win over N64 owners. GameFan's September 1999 preview wanted side-step buttons and complained about obstructive camera angles, and N64 Magazine (issue 35, December 1999) said there were no real competitors on the N64.
What the press said at the time
| GameRankings (aggregate) | 75% | |
| CNET Gamecenter | 7 / 10 | |
| Edge | 6 / 10 | |
| Electronic Gaming Monthly | 8.125 / 10 | |
| The Electric Playground | 5.5 / 10 | |
| Famitsu | 30 / 40 | |
| Game Informer | 7.75 / 10 | |
| GameFan | (E.M.) 94% / 90% | |
| GameSpot | 6.1 / 10 | |
| Hyper | 92% | |
| IGN | 8 / 10 | |
| Next Generation | 3/5 | |
| Nintendo Power | 7.2 / 10 |
“Winback is a solid action tile, which are in short supply on N64.”
Undated scores are from the review table in the game's Wikipedia article, limited to reviews of the Nintendo 64 version.
How the Nintendo 64 version differs
Critics rated the later PlayStation 2 version slightly above the N64 original, citing its improved controls and graphics.
Also on other platforms
PlayStation 2
- PlayStation 2. The PlayStation 2 version added a Bot mode alongside the standard multiplayer mode, in NTSC versions only, and did not release until 2001.
How the other versions reviewed
| PlayStation 2 | GameRankings | 71% |
| PlayStation 2 | Metacritic | 66 / 100 |
| PlayStation 2 | Edge | 4 / 10 |
| PlayStation 2 | Electronic Gaming Monthly | 7.33 / 10 |
| PlayStation 2 | Famitsu | 30 / 40 |
| PlayStation 2 | Game Informer | 7.5 / 10 |
| PlayStation 2 | GameRevolution | C |
| PlayStation 2 | GameSpot | 7.2 / 10 |
| PlayStation 2 | IGN | 7.3 / 10 |
| PlayStation 2 | Next Generation | 2/5 |
| PlayStation 2 | Official PlayStation Magazine | 3.5/5 |
These are the other versions’ scores, not this one’s. Ports of this era were frequently built by different studios, so they do not transfer.
Before you buy
Fake risk is low. The game saves to a Controller Pak, not to the cartridge, so budget for one. Loose copies sit above the library's median price, and a complete copy costs about three times the loose price. PAL and Japanese copies both cost less than the US cart. The Rumble Pak is optional.
WinBack: Covert Operations screenshots
Watch on YouTube
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