Published by Taito in 1987 for hobbyists, ‘Operation Wolf’ quickly became a hit that quickly reached a multitude of systems of the time, including consoles such as NES, Master System, or PC Engine. As well as virtually all the major computers of the day.
The original machine offered the possibility of playing with a light pistol placed in front of the screen, which also simulated the sensation of recoil each time we fired. At the time, there was nothing better to feel inside a Rambo movie than throwing coins at this fun arcade.
Game Story
The country is collapsing! Terrorists have taken control of the region and kidnapped all the leaders. If we lose this strategic point, the stability of the whole region and the whole world could collapse like a house of cards.
The precarious peace with the surrounding countries makes large-scale military action impossible, so the only solution is to send an elite command to kill all the terrorists and free the leaders and other prisoners who have fallen in the battle.
It’s time to take on the role of Roy Adams, the top Special Forces operative, a legendary soldier bronzed in a thousand battles over many years. Only by being as tough as he can solve the situation, but first, he must prepare his favorite weapon for battle.
One of the key aspects of the game was the novelty of encountering a plot that justified so much shooting. This wasn’t the typical game in which we shot targets without further ado, as after each phase, scenes occurred that told us what was going on. In fact, what happened on certain levels directly affected the game, such as the ability to reload our ammunition after taking control of the enemy powder keg.
Unique Game Style: Firearm
Firearms games have become very popular in arcades, and that’s because ‘Operation Wolf’ put us in the shoes of an elite command that had to rescue a group of prisoners in a risky solo mission, in the purest style of the best action movies of the time.
Mounted in front of the arcade screen, we found an Uzi, which nevertheless fired like a pistol instead of the machine pistol it is. In the console conversions, it was possible to use the Zapper in the case of NES, and the Phaser Lumière in the Master System. Unfortunately, the PC Engine was unable to use a light pistol.
Being able to test our aim in the midst of such frenetic action was something that really hooked us from the very first games. However, the grace is a little lost if we can’t use a light gun, as playing with remote aiming with the peephole just isn’t the same. It can be played perfectly and the game is still great fun, but you lose the grace of aiming and shooting realistically on the screen.
In the Japanese versions of the game, we have four scenarios at the start, which we can choose by shooting at the screen. Once completed, two more missions will appear. Curiously, in the Western versions, we are not allowed to choose a level, and the six phases develop automatically, moving from one to the next.
Ammos
A curious aspect of ‘Operation Wolf’ is that we don’t have infinite ammunition, we’ll have to collect magazines for the weapons that are scattered around the stage. These magazines will accumulate, as will the mortars we collect, which we’d better save for when the going gets tough. If we run out of ammo, we’ll be at the mercy of the enemy and the game will end, so don’t shoot like crazy.
In-Game Distractions
During the game, the screen automatically moves to the left, while enemies jump in from all sides. If we take the time to shoot at them, they’ll shoot back at us, causing damage, so not only do we have to shoot accurately, but also quickly. What’s more, we have to be careful what we shoot at them, as civilians will keep popping out of the screen from where we shouldn’t be shooting.
Animals will also appear running in phases, like chickens, pigs, or flying birds. Shooting them won’t hurt, but it will sometimes leave us with extra ammunition, and sometimes they’ll have to be shot more than once to free the item they’re carrying. Collecting every ammo magazine and mortar will be essential to success, especially on the more difficult levels.
Enemies
Most of the enemies are infantrymen who attack us with edged weapons or firearms. But vehicles of all kinds will also appear, such as boats, armored tanks, and helicopters. These will require several hits to destroy, so it’s best to reserve the mortars to quickly destroy these enemy machines before they make us porridge.
In-Game Health
There will be no shortage of typical aid items, such as dynamite which, when fired, will cause a devastating explosion for any nearby enemy, or rapid fire which will also give us infinite ammunition for a few seconds. We can also find energy drinks that restore our health meter a little, but they’re generally as rare as they are necessary.
At first, it may seem that our damage meter is quite generous and that we won’t find too much difficulty, but we’ll soon change our minds as we realize that the meter is barely filled between phase and phase. It’s only once we’ve passed the city level that we’ll regain full health, so energy drinks will be worth their weight in gold, and damage will be paid for dearly.
Sound
During the game, we won’t be listening to any music, just the blows and sounds enemies make when they die. During the menus and the sequences between phases, we’ll have music, and quite good at that. But the musical silence during gameplay can become a little bland, especially when the health meter starts beeping.
Difficulty
Completing the game won’t be easy, and it can also happen that we don’t save enough hostages, so we end up with a bad ending. If we manage to overcome the last mission with acceptable results, we’ll be invited to a second round with more difficulty. So much so, that it will be practically a miracle to survive.
Different versions of the game
Among the console versions, the NES and Master System versions manage to capture the spirit of the original game quite well, taking into account the limitations of each machine. They’re an excellent excuse to get the most out of our light pistols, since it’s worth bearing in mind that playing with the control further increases the difficulty, especially in the Sega console. It’s worth noting that the guns on both consoles don’t work on modern TV sets, so to use them we have to use a TV tube from the ones before.
For its part, the PC Engine boasts a superb graphics section, even looking over its shoulder at the arcade in some respects. It also adds certain elements that make it even more interesting. It’s true that not being able to play with a gun is worth the regret, but to compensate, a fun co-op mode is added for two players able to justify playing this version.
Disadvantages
It’s in this damage meter that we can find one of the game’s negative points, not by the meter itself, which simply makes the game no walk in the park, but by the incessant and annoying beeping it produces when it starts to get low. This is common in virtually all versions, and the lower it gets, the faster it whistles, certainly becoming tiresome.
How to play Operation Wolf today?
To play it today, the closest thing we have is the ‘Taito Legends‘ compilation for PS2 and Xbox, which includes the original arcade, albeit incomprehensibly without light gun compatibility. We can also buy the NES version available in Wii’s Virtual Console. But absurd as it may seem, we’ll only be allowed to play with the command instead of being able to shoot with the Wiimote.
If what we want are the original cartridges, the Master System is undoubtedly the easiest and cheapest to obtain, hovering around 12 dollars. The NES, on the other hand, doesn’t come cheap, and more if we want it to be complete. The loose cartridge may cost us around 25 dollars, but complete can easily exceed 50 or 60. Curiously, the PC Engine version isn’t too expensive despite having only been launched in Japan, and can power your console for around 25 or 40 dollars in full.
Operation Wolf’ is an adrenalin rush, a title particularly recommended in any system, both in the original arcade and in the console versions we’ve told you about. Remember, it’s also in most computers of the time, and is recommended there too. So don’t hesitate to give it a try if you’re into retro computing.
