Operation Wolf Returns: First Mission

Despite a short wish list of things that would improve it, Operation Wolf Returns: First Mission VR is a pleasant surprise.

Operation Wolf Returns: First Mission doesn’t set the groundwork or foundations for the genre like its predecessor did all those years ago. In fact, it doesn’t seem to have learned anything from the original, despite the modern day revamp in VR and inclusion of haptics. Its problem often is that it was a game designed for VR and the porting to flat just hasn’t gone well between controls and technical issues. It’s passably fun with a buddy in co-op, but once you’ve played through the first mission, you’ve got a pretty good idea of everything the game has to offer. Which is, in all honesty, not that much at all.

Operation Wolf Returns: First Mission VR is one of those games that’s hard to praise, yet it doesn’t deserve ridicule or harsh criticism either. While it pales in comparison to the better titles in its genre, it still manages to provide decent entertainment. It can therefore be recommended mainly to players who enjoy on-rails VR shooters and appreciate even the more average ones. Or to beginners who will appreciate the low difficulty level.

The Wolf is Back!

Operation Wolf Returns: First Mission VR is not a bad game. It is above average, but just barely. With a low replay value and lack of general features, a price tag of $24.99 feels very steep. Enemy units are engaging, and boss battles are fun enough. But there are only two game modes, and one is simply exhausting. Despite aesthetically pleasing graphics and the addition of voice lines, it feels empty. And the nostalgia factor is not enough to retain fans of the original game. Fingers crossed, the developers decide to add more content after some thorough discussion.

As far as rail shooters go, Operation Wolf: First Mission VR is fun but forgettable. Developer VIRTUALLYZ Gaming undoubtedly deserves credit for capturing the feel and flow of the classic shooter series, but tedious boss battles, occasionally cumbersome controls, and an overall lack of polish keep it from ever reaching its full potential. If you’re a die-hard veteran of the series looking to scratch your itchy trigger finger, you’ll probably find a few hours’ worth of enjoyment here, but new recruits will likely want to wait for a sale before enlisting.

Operation Wolf Returns: First Mission had one goal: prove that you can, indeed, revive a classic light gun arcade franchise with the power of virtual reality, especially with the added benefit of the Quest 2’s portability. Even if it has a handful of issues (it’s really short, the occasional framerate stutter, visuals that aren’t particularly amazing), it wasn’t trying to be an immersive, complex experience. It’s pure arcade fun, and it gets the job done with honors.

As a long-time fan of Taito's Operation series of light gun games, I'm super-excited that Operation Wolf Returns: First Mission VR finally puts the familiar gameplay in the virtual realm and for the most part, it's great stuff that'll make you feel like one of The Expendables.

Operation Wolf Returns: First Mission is a short game, but the gunplay is a ton of fun and there's a fair bit of variety in enemies.

Operation Wolf Returns is not the update of the classic formula that many expected, and between the fact that it is a short game and is quite generic as an action game in virtual reality, it does not take the opportunity to bring back a remembered license from the 80s.