Operation Wolf Returns: First Mission

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.

67%Game Brain Score

story, graphics

gameplay, optimization

65% User Score Based on 62 reviews

Critic Score 71%Based on 4 reviews

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Operation Wolf Returns: First Mission is a single player and multiplayer arcade shooter game with a violence theme. It was developed by VIRTUALLYZ GAMING and was released on July 13, 2023. It received mostly positive reviews from both critics and players.

THE ICONIC ACTION RAIL SHOOTER COMES BACK IN VR! Released back in 1987 in arcade, Operation Wolf Returns: First Mission VR adopts the same DNA as in the original game with a design rehaul! A few months ago, a new criminal organization made its appearance. In addition to trafficking arms and drugs, it has developed a new, superpowerful weapon. After discovering several of the bases of the organis…

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65%Audience ScoreBased on 62 reviews

story4 positive mentions

optimization3 negative mentions

Fun, fast-paced arcade-style rail shooter that captures 80s action and nostalgia.
Supports both VR and flat-screen modes, with VR offering immersive and tactile gameplay especially with dual-wielding weapons.
Good art style and sound design that complement the retro-inspired gameplay.

Technical issues including poor optimization, crashes, sluggish performance, and problematic controls especially in VR and with mouse/keyboard.
Very short campaign length with limited replay value and lack of meaningful content or progression.
Combat balance issues with enemies shooting off-screen, awkward weapon mechanics, and some frustrating design choices leading to unfair damage and control frustrations.

story
28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
75%
11%
Operation Wolf Returns: First Mission features a simple, over-the-top story centered on a global criminal syndicate, unfolding across six fast-paced, explosive missions with a self-aware, parodic tone. While its brief campaign and bare-bones plot may leave some players wanting more depth, the narrative effectively supports varied gameplay and nostalgia-driven arcade action. Overall, the story serves mainly as a light, fun backdrop rather than a deeply engaging experience.
- “The plot is simple and intentionally over-the-top: a global criminal syndicate led by General Viper is trafficking arms and experimenting with weapons of mass destruction.”
- “The game’s story plays out across six missions, each filled with enemy ambushes, vehicle chases, and high-explosive encounters.”
- “The nostalgic appeal is further bolstered by the game’s dedication to replicating the arcade feel—fast-paced missions, exaggerated enemies, explosive weapons, and a self-aware tone that doesn’t take itself too seriously.”
- “With only six campaign missions, most players can finish the game in under two hours.”
- “But even with that caveat in mind, it's way too short and the story is bare-bones for the current asking price.”
- “In its current form, Operation Wolf Returns: First Mission is a brief, flashy, and occasionally fun throwback that doesn’t quite live up to the legacy of its source material.”
graphics
19 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
37%
47%
16%
The graphics feature a stylized, cartoonish art style that pays homage to the original game and works well especially in VR, enhancing immersion with spatial sound and motion controls. While visually appealing and fitting the retro arcade feel, some find the non-VR version's visuals flatter and less impactful. Overall, the updated graphics are praised for their charm and contribute positively to the game's nostalgic and fun atmosphere.
- “This title seeks to revive the spirit of the original with updated visuals, modern controls, and support for both traditional displays and virtual reality.”
- “In VR, the art style holds up reasonably well thanks to the increased sense of immersion, and the game’s use of spatial sound and motion-controlled aiming enhances the experience.”
- “Great stylized graphics that pay homage to the original, aerial missions are a blast, latter missions have minor choices, boss battles are a highlight, zero nausea.”
- “In the non-VR version, the visuals can sometimes feel flat and the on-rails mechanics more restrictive, making the game lose some of its punch.”
- “The graphics look okay but it feels like a mobile game.”
- “The cartoonish graphics and audio will not be to everyone's liking, but I think it will stand the test of time better.”
gameplay
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
60%
20%
The gameplay of this rail shooter combines traditional mechanics with some modern twists, delivering smooth and energetic action that appeals to fans of classic arcade shooters. However, it suffers from repetitive enemy encounters, predictable level design, and a lack of variety, which limit its long-term engagement and refinement. Despite these flaws, features like weapon switching and impactful audio contribute positively to the overall experience.
- “For fans of old-school rail shooters, especially those who experienced the original in arcades, there’s something satisfying about the simplicity and directness of the gameplay.”
- “I actually thought the weapon switching mechanic was good once you got the hang of it.”
- “Gameplay is pretty solid, the guns really pop out audio wise and it's all very smooth.”
- “However, in the non-VR version, the visuals can sometimes feel flat and the on-rails mechanics more restrictive, making the game lose some of its punch.”
- “Unfortunately, even with these additions, the gameplay loop tends to become repetitive quickly due to limited enemy variety and predictable level design.”
- “The core gameplay has enough energy to entertain, but it needs more variety, better pacing, and refined mechanics to truly stand out.”
optimization
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
28%
43%
The game suffers from poor optimization, with frequent performance issues including crashes, low frame rates, and menu lag. The VR version also experiences frame rate drops, visual ghosting, and tracking problems, indicating that further optimization is needed to improve stability and gameplay smoothness.
- “So, I guess it's more an optimization issue or something weird that needs more time to investigate.”
- “It's a fun creative take on one of the OG classics, I just wish they had optimized this game for light gun play.”
- “If I can load the game, it has bad performance even in the menus—which is amazing—and it's just a matter of time until it crashes again. The performance is even worse during gameplay.”
- “In the VR version, some players report performance dips, including frame rate inconsistencies, visual ghosting, and imprecise tracking in fast-paced moments.”
- “Bad control and optimization; what is going on with the autocentering crosshair after taking cover?”
replayability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game features a short runtime and limited replay value, which may make it feel lacking in content, especially at full price.
- “This short runtime, paired with limited replay value, makes the full-price offering feel thin on content.”
humor
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users find the humor in the game genuinely funny, enhancing the enjoyable rail shooter experience.
atmosphere
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's atmosphere successfully captures the thrilling, high-energy vibe of 1980s action movies, staying true to the original arcade release while enhancing it with updated designs and modern features.
- “Originally released for arcade in 1987, this new edition stays true to the DNA of the original game, delivering a breathtaking action atmosphere inspired by 80’s action movies, while offering a brand-new design and a leaderboard.”

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71%Critics’ scoreBased on 4 critic reviews

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Frequently Asked Questions

Operation Wolf Returns: First Mission is a arcade shooter game with violence theme.

Operation Wolf Returns: First Mission is available on Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X|S, PC, PlayStation 5 and others.

Operation Wolf Returns: First Mission was released on July 13, 2023.

Operation Wolf Returns: First Mission was developed by VIRTUALLYZ GAMING.

Operation Wolf Returns: First Mission has received mostly positive reviews from both players and critics. Most players liked Operation Wolf Returns: First Mission for its story but disliked it for its gameplay.

Operation Wolf Returns: First Mission is a single player game with multiplayer and local co-op support.

Similar games include Blue Estate, Raw Data, Arizona Sunshine, Arizona Sunshine Remake, Rage and others.

Operation Wolf Returns: First Mission

Platforms

story

graphics

gameplay

optimization

replayability

humor

atmosphere