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WinBack (originally spelled WIN BACK —ウィン バック— for the Japanese port) is a third-person shooter developed by Omega Force, and their only Nintendo 64 game. It is widely reputed as a cult classic amongst retro shooters and retrospectively known as the first game to utilize cover based shooting.

The title is localized as Operation: WinBack in Australia and Europe, and is known as WinBack: Covert Operations in North America. Its sequel is WinBack 2: Project Poseidon.

Music was composed by Keiji Yamagishi, Kaori Nakabai, and Tsutomu Hirasawa.

Plot[]

The Crying Lions, a fictional military resistance from Saroczia, capture the GULF system and demand three demands from the North American government: withdraw military personnel, apologize for war crimes, and never return to Saroczia. The Secretary of Defense orders Operation Winback, a successful infiltration and reclaim of GULF.

Gameplay[]

The game assigns shooting, hand-to-hand combat, and picking up items to the "Action" button (A/S). Machine gun turrets can fire bullets, while hand-to-hand combat is limited to weak kicks or instant knockouts. To fire a weapon, press and hold R/R1 and A/S, with laser guides for aiming. Lock-on to targets, reload weapons, and shuffle between weapons are available. Characters cannot move or aim simultaneously.

Weapon Ammo Description
Handgun Infinite Standard pistol. Decent range and power.
Shotgun 8 shells per clip
common
Short range but powerful. Useful for taking down bosses or sturdy opponents. Can be reloaded based on available shells.
Machine Gun 30 shots per magazine
common
Long ranged and quick. Can easily hit multiple targets in a short span of time. Reloads by magazine.
Rocket Launcher 4 rockets (cannot reload)
rare
Slow, long range explosive with damaging effects. Cannot press against walls while using.
Handgun with Silencer 8 rounds (cannot reload)
rare
Same characteristics as handgun but doesn't alarm guards if fired.
C4 n/a, rare Explosive which can possibly take out multiple units. Press down on the directional pad to set it. Hidden in specific parts of the map.


The game uses the control stick or left analog stick to move characters, with the intensity determining the speed of their dash. Characters can crouch and move in a hunched position, gaining momentary frames of invincibility. Boxes can be used for crouching cover until destroyed by gunfire, but too close can damage them. Walls can be used as secondary cover, and bullets can nip between cover. Traps on maps include laser traps, explosive boxes, and laser traps. Traps can be deactivated by destroying the control box or locating the off switch. Explosive boxes can damage targets within range, but CPU enemies cannot perceive them as situational weapons.

Modes[]

Input the following codes before any of the demo movies at the "press start" screen. If inputted correctly, the game should play a gunshot sound.

Maximum Power Mode (unlimited ammo for all weapons): L, C-right, C-left, C-right, C-left, C-down, C-up, C-down, C-up. Hold L and press Start.
Sudden Death Mode (one-hit kill for every character in any mode): C-left, C-right, C-left, C-right, C-up, C-down, C-up, C-down. Hold L and press Start.
Trial Mode: Up, Down, Down, Right, Right, Right, Left, Left, Left, Left. Hold C-down and press Start.
Unlock all Versus characters: Up, Down, Down, Right, Right, Right, Left, Left, Left, Left. Hold C-Up and press Start.

Story[]

This single-player narrative game features Jean-Luc Cougar, with 31 stages and unlimited continues. Two different endings are possible, with the good ending unlocking the freight elevator's fourth floor within three hours.

Tutorial[]

Learn the control basics with Steve.

Versus[]

Maximum four players can compete against one another in the following modes:

Death Match - shoot-out with other players to decide who is the last man standing.
Lethal Tag - fight for command of a single white cube. Whoever has the white cube scores points, and the first to score seven points wins.
Cube Hunt - hunt for seven colored cubes scattered across the map. Avoid getting hit to keep cubes in inventory. The first to gather all seven cubes is the victor.
Quick Draw - shoot seven cubes as quickly as possible. Winner is the person who shoots them down the fastest.
Team Battle - team version of Death Match. Work with another player to take out the opposing team.

Unlock characters in Story mode by playing on Easy and Normal difficulty, accumulating 23,000 points by avoiding medkits and damage while using handguns.

Trial[]

Play any stage within the game without having to play Story. Unlock without the code by completing Story with the good ending.

Option[]

Change Story's difficulty level to Easy, Normal, or Hard. Computer enemies will deal less/more damage depending on the difficulty level. Adjustments for controller settings, camera settings, vibration settings, and sound are present.

Characters[]

S.C.A.T.[]

  • Jean-Luc Cougar
David Schaufele (English), Hikaru Midorikawa (Japanese)
Age: 27; Weight: 172 lbs.; Height: 5'10"
The main protagonist of the story. Jean-Luc is a former SWAT member who is the leader of the Advance Strike Team. He is admired by his juniors in S.C.A.T. for his level-headed professionalism. His handgun is a memento of his older brother, Alan, a presumably deceased member of the Navy Special Forces. Regardless of the ending, he is one of scant survivors of Operation Winback.
  • Lisa Roberts
Lynn Harris (English), Mariko Kouda (Japanese)
Age: 24; Weight: 108 lbs.; Height: 5'5"
A Japanese-American female member, a criminal psychology graduate, was scouted for S.C.A.T by Dan. She primarily works with Jake's group, but is killed in the bad ending and taken hostage by Cecile.
  • Jake Hudson
Dennis Falt (English), Masaya Onosaka (Japanese)
Age: 27; Weight: 175 lbs.; Height: 5'10"
Former army grunt, along with Jean-Luc, leads S.C.A.T. team, leaving Jean-Luc behind. He is killed offscreen with Lisa in a generator room, while Jake saves Lisa in a good ending.
  • Steven Legal
Dennis Falt (English), Takeshi Kusao (Japanese)
Age: 33; Weight: 186 lbs.; Height: 5'11"
Vice-Commander of S.C.A.T. who is the training instructor for its recruits. He served as British Naval Spy before joining the team. Jean-Luc discovers Steve's corpse during the mission with no clues to his killer.
  • Mike Hawkins
Robert Belgrade (English), Yasuhiko Kawazu (Japanese)
Age: 30; Weight: 215 lbs.; Height: 5'8"
Bombs expert who excels at removing traps. After regrouping with Jean-Luc, Mike travels with Jake's group. When they reach the third floor of the GULF control center, Mike attempts to team up with Jean-Luc. He is fatally shot down by Banderas moments afterwards.
  • Thomas Smith
Takehiko Watanabe (Japanese)
Age: 26; Weight: 164 lbs.; Height: 5'8"
Communications expert who deals with the high-tech problems. Tom regroups with Jean-Luc early within the mission and agrees to find a password for an elevator in their path. He tells Jean-Luc and crew to disable five bombs within the facility while he hacks the terrorists' network. Tom is killed off screen by the group's traitor and writes the password as his dying message.
  • Law Bruford
Hisao Egawa (Japanese)
Age: 28; Weight: 252 lbs.; Height: 6'8"
Former boxer and veteran of the Air Force before joining S.C.A.T. He was Jean-Luc's competitor for becoming team leader. He remains isolated in the majority of the mission until he is wounded at an elevator leading towards the freight elevator. Law sacrifices himself to operate it for Jean-Luc, killing his pursuers before he is executed by Cecile.
  • Matthew Brown
Avi Landau (English), Takeshi Kusao (Japanese)
Age: 33; Weight: 208 lbs.; Height: 6'
Big man of the Marine Corps who excels in hand-to-hand combat. Matt perishes mere moments after he regroups with Jean-Luc near the start of the operation.
  • Keith Birdy
Eric Jacobsen (English), Takehiko Watanabe (Japanese)
Age: 23; Weight: 144 lbs.; Height: 5'7"
The team medic and newest rookie. After regrouping with Jean-Luc, Keith travels with Jake's group and is left behind when he is wounded. Jean-Luc saves him from Duke and goes on without him. He survives the operation.
  • Daniel Stewart
Jeff Manning (English), Ryotaro Okiayu (Japanese)
Age: 38; Weight: 191 lbs.; Height: 6'
S.C.A.T.'s commander, former member of the Navy Special Forces, and Alan's friend who planned the team's movements for Operation WinBack. Dan disappears at the very start of the mission when the team's helicopter malfunctions. In the good ending route, he appears at the end of the story to reveal that he is the team's traitor. Dan is actually Kenneth's younger brother who became disillusioned with the American government when he was ordered to gun down the severely undermanned Sarcozian resistance. He kills Tom and Steve during the operation to help the resistance's cause. Dan only confesses his motives to Jean-Luc after he is bested in combat.

Crying Lions[]

  • Kenneth Coleman
Walter Roberts (English), Yasunori Masutani (Japanese)
Mastermind behind the Saroczian resistance group and a former member of the Saroczian Special Forces. He is called "Colonel" by its members. Kenneth is seen during the game's opening demo making the group's demands with the idealized if flawed wish to liberate Saroczia. He achieves his goal in the bad ending and commits suicide. During the good ending, he is unceremoniously killed by Cecile.
  • Cecile Carlyle
Naoki Imamura (Japanese)
Kenneth's right hand man and a notorious mercenary. Cecile is often seen in active command throughout the story. He protects his boss during the bad ending. The good ending has him be ambitious by kidnapping Lisa, killing Jake, and usurping Kenneth. Cecile makes a new demand to the American government to wire 100 million dollars to his bank account. In either scenario, he acts as Jean-Luc's final opponent.
  • "Hard Luck" Lila
Lynn Harris (English), Yuki Makishima (Japanese)
Brutal and ruthless woman who wields machine guns. Utters Cecil's name with her dying breath.
  • Leon
David Schaufele (English)
Hunter wielding shotgun user who defends the final bomb.
  • Ryan
Barry Gjerde (English)
Veteran who wields sub-machine gun and grenades. As he dies, he uses one of grenades to blow up the control panel for the express elevator, forcing the S.C.A.T. members to use the longer path towards the GULF control center.
  • Sergeant Thunder
Dean Harrington (English)
Wields a flame-thrower. He obstructs Jean-Luc during his attempt to regroup with the other S.C.A.T. members.
  • Duke
The member who injures and disables Keith. Fights using a minigun.
  • Gunt
Dean Harrington (English)
Muscled obese man wielding a rocket launcher.
  • Banderas
William Ross (English)
Dual wielding Uzi user who guns down Mike. His boss fight is littered with explosives.
  • Jin
Ninja-like mercenary whose defining trait is his hysterical laughter (good ending only). Jin is an agile shooter who can cloak his presence.
  • Deathmask
Duel wielding pistol mercenary who appears during Lisa's hostage scene (good ending only). He wears a mask and speaks with grunts.

Differences between ports[]

  • Enemy AI is slightly different between both versions.
  • Controls have been simplified in the PS2 port.
  • More checkpoints in the PS2 version.
  • The PS2 version has updated graphics, higher definition sound effects and music, and smoother animations. Voice acting accompanies the original N64 script. Players can alter their language settings in the main menu to English or Japanese audio/subtitles.
  • Ten possible save slots in the PS2 version.
  • Bot Mode, another multiplayer mode, is in the PS2 version. One player can beat the computer or two players can work together to take down an AI team.
  • Codes have been changed at the "press start" screen:
Maximum Power Mode: L1, R2, L2, R2, L2, Triangle, Circle, Triangle, Circle. Hold L1 and press Start.
Sudden Death Mode: L2, R2, L2, R2, Circle, Triangle, Circle, Triangle. Hold L1 and press Start.
Trial Mode: up, down, down, right, right, right, left, left, left, left. Simultaneously press Square and Start.
Unlock all Versus characters: up, down, down, right, right, right, left, left, left, left. Simultaneously press Circle and Start.
Start from any level: up, down, down, right, right, right, left, left, left. Simultaneously press Triangle and Start.

Related Media[]

The PS2 WinBack was present at Koei's Tokyo Game Show 2000 booth. It was one of the discount titles presented in Koei's 2002 Summer Chance shopping campaign. A guidebook with strategies, character profiles, and Japanese voice actor commentary was published.

External Links[]

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