PlayStation 5 Critic Reviews

Part homage, part sequel/reboot, Operation Wolf Returns: First Mission is a return to what we loved about the arcade games, but now in VR for a new layer of immersion. While it’s relatively short, it’s a lot of fun and serves perfectly to introduce new players to the medium.

Despite a short wish list of things that would improve it, Operation Wolf Returns: First Mission VR is a pleasant surprise. The assumption was that it would trade on the name but be a big standard VR rail shooter with nothing to really add. Instead, newcomer developer Virtuallyz Gaming threaded the needle, making a title that is reverential to the original arcade, while doing new things to amp up the action. It’s not the second coming of a VR rail shooter, but it’s extremely solid and just darn fun. It’s understandable if people see this and think it’s just another VR shooter, but this game is a reminder that, when well made, sometimes simple is better.

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 VR is another example of a VR game that feels like it falls short of its potential. It's an enjoyable action game in a genre that is now on the outskirts of interest. However, it may be holding onto outdated elements, as it doesn't bring any innovations beyond what we've known for decades. It also lacks expanded gameplay content or additional modes; simply put, it doesn't offer anything that would extend the playing time by a few more hours.

Operation Wolf Returns is not the update of the classic formula that many of us were hoping for, and between being a short game and rather generic as a virtual reality action game, it doesn't take the opportunity to bring back a well-remembered license from the 80s.

We’d be lying if we said we weren’t disappointed by Operation Wolf Returns: First Mission VR. Our expectations weren’t outlandish; we just wanted another Operation Wolf game where the guns were our Sense controllers. While Operation Wolf Returns: First Mission VR somewhat fulfills that wish, it adds in needless complications and needs a little more fine-tuning and polish to really shine. If you have some love for the series this will serve up some entertainment, but it won’t replace the feelings you have for the classics.

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.