Wing Commander II: Special Operations 1

Wing Commander II: Special Operations 1 was the first of two official add-on disks for the second installment of the famous space series from Origin Systems. The base game from 1991 told the story of the ongoing battle between the human Confederation and the Kilrathi race, and was among the most technologically ambitious titles of its time thanks to digitized actors and cinematic cutscenes between missions, which at the time linked individual battles into a cohesive military drama. In the base game, the player gradually worked their way up to a respected Confederation pilot and went through a series of dramatic twists that decided the fate of the entire fleet.

Special Operations 1 built on this foundation and expanded the campaign with a new set of missions continuing the story of the main hero after the events of the original game. The add-on brought new situations for the existing fighter fleet as well as new opponents the player had not yet encountered in the base campaign, allowing them to continue in the role of a Confederation pilot even after finishing the main story. It was a typical add-on disk of the nineties - it required an owned copy of Wing Commander II to run and did not bring its own installation or engine, just a fresh portion of content on the old, already established foundation of the game.

Nevertheless, it became a popular way to extend the time spent among the stars and keep fighting alongside one's comrades without having to wait for a full-fledged sequel to the series. For Origin Systems, it was also a proven business model - keeping interest alive in a successful game with a cheaper add-on rather than starting work on the next big installment with a new engine and a more extensive film production.

Why play: For fans of Wing Commander II who want to experience more of its space combat and don't want the story to end once the base game is finished. It will appeal to players fond of retro space simulators from the early nineties and the legacy of Origin Systems who want to enjoy the second installment's campaign in full.