Operation Wolf

n/a

Operation Wolf
System(s): Sega Master System
Publisher: Sega Europe
Developer: Taito
Distributor: Ecofilmes (PT), Atoll (BX), Zegetron (GR), Tec Toy (BR)
Licensor: Taito
Peripherals supported: Light Phaser
Genre: Arcade
Number of players: 1
Release Date RRP Code EU 1990 7039 BX 199x FR 1990 329F 7039 PT 1991 MSJ7039 UK 1990-08 £29.99 7039 GR 199x AU 1990 7039 AU (Light Phaser bundle) 199x FLIG02SEP AU (Action Pack) 199x FACT05SEC MX 199x BR 1991-06
Non-Sega versions Amiga Amstrad CPC Arcade Atari ST Commodore 64 Famicom FM Towns IBM PC MSX Nintendo Entertainment System PC Engine ZX Spectrum

Operation Wolf is an arcade game released by Taito in 1987. It was ported by Taito and published by Sega for the Sega Master System. Operation Wolf is a shooting game which makes use of the Light Phaser peripheral, however it can also be played by moving a cursor around the screen with a Control Pad.

Interestingly, the Master System version uses cover art for the sequel, Operation Thunderbolt. Adams' partner Hardy Jones can be seen in the cover art.

Story

Players will take control of former Green Beret-turned-Mercenary Roy Adams who is hired by the US Government to save five US citizens who are taken hostage by the new communist government of fictional South American country named Cherigo. Unwilling to repeat the failure at "Taran" (a reference to Vietnam), the US President (who looks suspiciously like Ronald Reagan) decides to send a mercenary instead of sending the regular army. In the European Master System manual, all references to the United States are replaced with another fictional country named "Carmea", and the player is sent to rescue former "pro-Carmean" president of Cherigo and Carmean embassy staff.

Gameplay

Levels

	Communications Center
	Soldiers: 55 Helicopters: 4 Tanks: 5
	Completing this level will lower the amount of enemies the player will face in subsequent levels.
	Jungle
	Soldiers: 60 Patrol Boats: 8 Tanks: 8
	Completing this level will reveal the location of the Prison Camp, which is normally not accessible at the beginning of the game. Helicopters are replaced with Patrol Boats in this level.
	Village
	Soldiers: 45 Helicopters: 6 Tanks: 3
	Completing this level will recover a large amount of health.
	Ammo Dump
	Soldiers: 50 Helicopters: 7 Tanks: 5
	Completing this level will refill both ammunition and grenade supplies.
	Prison Camp
	Soldiers: 75 Helicopters: 12 Tanks: 8
	The primary objective. During this level, five hostages will attempt to cross the battlefield. If they can reach the leftmost part of the screen, they will be considered rescued. Saving the hostages is NOT necessary to finish the game but every dead hostage will lower the overall score at the end of the game.
	Airport
	Soldiers: 85 Helicopters: 11 Tanks: 4
	The final mission. Players will attempt to survive as hostages from previous levels will now attempt to reach the US Air Force transport plane on the left side of the screen. At the end of the level, a Mi-24 Hind attack helicopter will attack and players must shoot the heavily armed and armored helicopter to finish the game.

In addition to these levels above, the player will be ambushed by Cherigo's anti-partisan forces randomly once between the levels.

Power Ups

Power ups can be acquired by shooting them.

	Magazine
	Acquiring these magazines will increase ammunition supply. If players run out of ammo, they will have to fire single shots. Max: 9
	Grenade
	Fired using the 1st button, grenades will cause heavy damage in a small area. It is recommended to spare grenades for helicopters. Max: 9
	Recovery Drink
	This pep drink will recover 5 blocks of health.
	Dynamite
	Shooting this dynamite will cause an explosion that will kill anything nearby. Useful for destroying tanks.
	Super Magazine
	This power up will give the player unlimited ammunition and 1.5x faster firing for 10 seconds (the increased firing speed does not apply if a Light Phaser is used).

Enemies

	Enemy Infantry
	Cherigo maintains a small and somewhat poorly trained infantry force. Many enemy soldiers can be killed with a single shot.
	Paratroopers
	Cherigan Airborne forces appearently trained in the ways of firing their weapons while landing with a parachute.
	Artillerymen
	These troops will throw grenades at the player. The grenades can be shot at while they are in the air.
	Handgunners
	These troops will appear in front of the player and shoot at close range with their pistols.
	Special Forces
	These gray-clad elite troops will roll around, making them harder to hit. They also take two hits to kill.
	Executioners
	These soldiers will attempt to kill the hostages with the knives they are carrying. They must not be allowed to reach hostages. They pose no threat to the player.
	Russian Soldiers
	These large, blonde soldiers wear body armor and can only be killed with head shots. They spray the player with light machineguns that can cause serious damage. They only appear in the Ammo Dump level.
	BRDM-2 "Tanks"
	Despite their name in the manual, these are 4W armored vehicles with machinegun turrets. While not as much as a serious threat to the player compared to the helicopters, they can still cause significant damage.
	MD 500 Helicopters
	These fast and suprisingly well-armored helicopters will swoop down from the air and spray the player with bullets. They are the biggest threat players will face.
	Patrol Boats
	In the Jungle level, helicopters are replaced with these fast boats. They are easier to destroy compared to the helicopters.
	Trucks
	These 6W trucks are not a threat to the player and are only there for points.
	Mi-24 Hind
	This flying monster will be the final enemy the player will face. Its 12.7mm machinegun can kill the player within seconds.

History

Legacy

The Master System version of Operation Wolf, alongside the Mega-CD version of Night Striker and the Master System version of Space Gun, were later available in Operation Night Strikers, which was released in 2025 for Windows PC (Steam) and Nintendo Switch.

Magazine articles

Main article: Operation Wolf/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

PDF

Print advert in Computer & Video Games (UK) #103: "June 1990" (1990-05-16)
also published in:

• ACE (UK) #33: "June 1990" (1990-05-xx)

PDF

Print advert in Computer & Video Games (UK) #104: "July 1990" (1990-06-16)

PDF

Print advert in Computer & Video Games (UK) #105: "August 1990" (1990-07-16)
also published in:

• Computer & Video Games (UK) #106: "September 1990" (1990-08-16)

Print advert in Cumhuriyet (TR) #1991-03-09 (1991-03-09)

Physical scans

Sega Retro Average
Publication Score Source

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Based on 0 review

Sega Retro Average

Publication Version Score Ação Games (BR) 75 Complete Guide to Consoles (UK) 89 Complete Guide to Consoles (UK) 88 Console XS (UK) PAL 73 Computer & Video Games (UK) 90 Game Mania (UK) 88 The Games Machine (UK) 90 Joystick (FR) 78 Micromanía (segunda época) (ES) 80 Mean Machines Sega (UK) 88 Player One (FR) 74 S: The Sega Magazine (UK) PAL 91 S: The Sega Magazine (UK) PAL 90 Sega Power (UK) PAL 100 Sega Pro (UK) 80 Sega Pro (UK) PAL 73 Zero (UK) 82

	84
Based on 17 reviews

Operation Wolf

Master System, EU
Cover
Cart Manual

Master System, EU (Sega®)
Cover

Master System, EU (8 languages)
Cover

Master System, PT
Cover

Master System, PT (Tec Toy)
Cover

Master System, BX†
Cover

Master System, GR
Cover

Master System, AU
Cover
Cart

Master System, AU (Hotline sticker)
Cover

Master System, AU (Light Phaser bundle)
Cover
Cart

Master System, AU (Action Pack)
Cover
Cart

Master System, AU (Action Pack; Barcode sticker)
Cover

Master System, AU (Sega Promo)
Cover

Master System, BR
Cover
Cart Manual

Master System, MX
Cover
Cart Manual

Technical information

Main article: Operation Wolf/Technical information.

References

NEC Retro has more information related to Operation Wolf