(This is a Virtual Console review of the game and it may differ from it's original release on consoles.)
Game Title: Operation Wolf
Platform: Wii Virtual Console (NES)
Developer: Taito Corporation
Publisher: Taito Corporation
Genre: Light Gun Shooter
Age Rating:7+ PEGI
Release Date: 14th March 2008
Costs for Download: 500 Wii Points
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Game Score: 2.5/10
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Summery:
Without any Light gun or Wii Remote pointer support, This operation should be aborted immediately.
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Before Light gun came and when on most consoles they became innovated for their time in the arcades. But after when the Wii new Zapper gun shell came it sparked another revival of the genre and has spawned a few retested Light gun classics. It's now Taitos turn in bringing the huge Arcade Hit Operation Wolf to the Virtual Console. To gamers who remember playing this game back in the day will be disappointed that it's a wasted opportunity to get the real arcade experience as it did years ago.
The game has a simple and easy to understand plot, you as an American Solider has been dispatched into a Jungle wasteland to rescue the Hostages (Who are called prisoners in this version.) from the Terrorists. You'll play 6 different Levels with each with their own environments with enemy soldiers and vehicles to take out before moving on. Environments range from the Communications Tower, Jungle, Village, Ammunition Warehouse, Prison Camp and the Airport. While that remains true to arcade original there also ambushes that might or might not pop up after completing a Level, You get healed after saving the village, get stocked up on Ammo after clearing out the warehouse and then towards your main goal of rescuing a maximum of 5 Prisoners then making your way to the Airport to escape. Once you'll do all that you either get rewarded for your efforts to get a High Score and to replay again or if you fail to save them you'll be given a failure message and a Game Over screen, It's what made Operation Wolf a successful blast back in the arcade but this version doesn't get the same experience as gamers remembered it.
While it would be fun to be blasting your way through the game as you might remember but unfortunately you'll be disappointed to know that Taito has unfortunately not added any compatibility to use the Wii remotes IR sensor as a Crosshair or to use the classic NES Zapper. Seeing that this is the NES Version that is being played this is a huge bummer, not to mention that you can only use the Classic and Gamecube Controllers or the Wii Remote. The problem with these set-ups this that the cursor is uncomfortable to aim at enemies by today's standards. if you're playing with settings higher or lower then normal then your going to be having a pretty hard time controlling it which may cause you to fail and restart the level from scratch and also you'll get 1 Continue so if you screw up twice then it's back to the beginning of the game. With that said if you own Taito Legends with Operation Wolf burned onto it then simply this Operation on the Wii Virtual Console is just a total waste.
Operation Wolf Presentation goes beyond most arcade ports released back in it's time. With graphics looking grainy, Sprites looking to tiny and barely resembling their original counterpart but that's 8 Bit consoles. The sound effects are extremely awful which may give you a headache with bad ding noises when vehicles are shot and when explosions go off it diffidently doesn't sound like an explosion. This is one Operation that's better on Mute.
Without any Light gun or Wii Remote pointer support, This operation should be aborted immediately. There's no need for you to enlist if you've gotten Taito Legends on either PS2, Gamecube, Xbox or PC specially with it's price tag of 500 Wii points (£4.99). Might I suggest Wii Play's Shooting Gallery game, Resident Evil The Umbrella Chronicles or Ghost Squad.
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The Pros:
1. At least it keeps with the same pacing style of the arcade
The Bads:
1. No Light gun or Wii Remote IR sensor support and the cursor is uncomfortable to control with the D-pad
2. Short game with only Six Levels
3. Awful Presentation of Graphics and Sound
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Reviewed by: Anthony Hayball (BlaZer91)
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