Indiana Jones and the Great Circle
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle
Game
Game2023
Operation Wolf Returns: First Mission
Developer VIRTUALLYZ GAMING
Experience once again the iconic Rail Shooter released for Arcade back in 1987, now reinterpreted in a regular or VR version. The game captures the essence of the original game, immersing you in an action-packed atmosphere reminiscent of the non-stop action films of the 1980s. From the Steam store page
65 reactions from 2 sources (Steam reviews, Bluesky) · newest Sep 22, 2026 · last updated Oct 8, 2026 · How this works
Audience score
63
Fresh
37 positive · 22 negative
95% range 50–74%
| Source | + | − | = |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steam reviews | 37 | 22 | 0 |
| Bluesky * | 0 | 0 | 0 |
* shown, not counted in the score (label accuracy below our 85% bar or not yet audited).
6 newer reactions are still waiting for a label.
Steam's own rating
Mixed
73 of 109 reviews positive (all languages, per Valve)
What people are saying
Summary pending — the reactions are listed below.
Reactions
60 of 65 · most liked firstFirst impressions are unfortunately poor. Controls do not seem at all suited for Valve Index. The initial menu area seems to have various things to play with that have no interactivity (various targets). There appear to be various items to grab and throw, but I could not find a throw button. I need to almost point my wrists downwards in order to aim straight forwards. I actually could not even complete the first mission as it was so uncomfortable. Buttons seem to show Oculus controls, as…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →stuck on start screen, to insert 1 coin... after some research i managed to start game. now playing game, crashes to desktop. GOTY of Mobile crap games. 0.1/10 PS: to start game in normal mode: change your desktop shortcut to the following command: steam://launch/1852650/option2
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I have the original game on my SEGA Master System 2, This is retro style but not the same as the original. Bad points, you cant get 100% achievements due to the co-op part not existing yet, the single handed guns operate at a 90 degree tilt to how you would expect the gun to hold and for the index the menu screen interactions don't work. The game is fairly short even on hard but still fun. If you want a quick rail shooter to demo VR or something to kill a short time period, easy to pick up and…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →It's a quick fun arcade rail shooter game. I have a rtx3070 which considered dated in 2025 but I don't expect to have any problem with small quick polygon game like this. However, there're sluggish happen every now and then during the game play. I finished the tutorial and go on until somewhere in chapter 2. After I died, I recheck and would like to see if any setting in graphic may help. However, I found that the game was already at 1920x1080, medium setting already. So, I guess it's…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Just not fun. The amount of times the screen force-rotates you when you want to shoot a pickup, rescue people or smth is insane. You can even get damaged off screen at times. The accuracy of the weapons is also not great. And the overall structure of this game is not exciting. I've played the original Operation Wolf many many years ago and the old one is just better in every way.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →The original Operation Wolf is better. 2/10
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Too many issues plaguing this. Should've been a solid game. Ended up not even being worth $4.95. Shame
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I just started this game. I've only completed the tutorial and first two missions. I'm having a lot of fun with it though. I'm playing with the oculus and have had zero issues so far even though I'm still getting used to it. Having the different gun options is cool. When you are holding the pistol or uzi you can play one handed. However when you are using the rifle or shot gun you need to use both hands to aim properly. There are temporary "special" weapons as well that mix it up. There is lots…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →For the £2 I spent, I could tolerate the janky controls, inconsistent enemy behaviours, and the bullets flying off screen to kill you while you're helpless to do anything about them. Just about. It helps that the game showers you with medkits to make up for the fact that nothing was done to balance the game flow properly. But £19.99 for this 1 hour long, poorly developed game that can't even nail the basics of the most rudimentary lightgun games? Ain't nobody defending that.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Playing this with Gun4IR, I mean why wouldn't the devs offer a raw mouse mode for everyone who wants to enjoy this like the oldschool arcade. Without raw input the crosshairs go everywhere and do not work properly. This one option would make this a must have for every lightgun owner! Another option that would be cool would be a remappable key or two to scroll back/forward through weapons, The Gun4IR has 10 buttons but 3 are small or cant be used one handed. So this option would work flawless on…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →The game auto starts in VR mode so you can't do anything including hit start game. There really should of been an option box popup asking what mode you want to start in or have it on the main menu or auto detect there is on VR here.... somethin! I loved playing the first one by on NES but thing one is just broke and unplayable, There is talk about changing something to steam://launch/1852650/option2 if you know what and how to do that then I guess you maybe able to play without VR but for…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Operation Wolf: First Mission is a tough one to review. On one hand, it’s a fun, explosion-filled arcade shooter in a genre I’ve always enjoyed. There’s plenty of action, and it’s clear the developers were aiming to revive a classic. But from another angle, as someone who grew up with the original and its sequel which were two of the most important games of my childhood, it just doesn’t capture what made Operation Wolf so special. The intensity, the fear when hearing that low health warning,…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →How come the flat version is more fun than VR?? It totally reminds me of Time Crisis.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Operation Wolf Returns: First Mission. Great rail shooter VR game, which I thoroughly enjoyed playing through the campaign. The graphics and art style just makes it better. Assualt Rifle is the best weapon, fight me! The only massive downside of this game that I'd say is that you can't complete the campaign in coop VR. Highly recommend you to check it out on VR!
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →A 2023 reimagining of the 1987 classic by Taito. The original was a masterpiece that started in the arcade halls (cabinet with a mounted Uzi replica light gun) and ported to other platforms with varying levels of success. While I don't think this is a masterpiece like the original it does a few things quite well. It's blending the traditional side-scrolling gameplay from Operation Wolf with the more 3-dimensional aspects of its successor Operation Thunderbolt, and throws in a few tricks of its…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →YES - however its way to complicated control wise - need to allow double mapping or reduce commands. It works with Gun4IR light gun, however it should have access to RAW input as option - so close, just a few refinements to what is a fun game, especially if you like the franchise
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →@polykillpodcast.bsky.social #JustBeatIt Operation Wolf Returns First Mission VR (PSVR2) is a remake of an arcade lightgun classic & comes in two versions on the disc: a flat game & a VR game. The VR game is way easier as you can actually dodge incoming bullets. Wild. Fun, but very basic. Plat#122
unlabelledView post →Good game but needs raw input so I can let er rip with sinden lightgun
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Boring on rail shooter... i don't mind the Story... It's the GAMEPLAY ! THE GUN PLAY ! I hate the sound effect it makes when you get shoot... And you know what's the worst? Enemy can shoot you OFF-SCREEN ! YES... And then, the enemies red bullets travel so fast until you don't have time to react to it... So basically shooting down enemy bullets are a waste of time. You Might as well predict and dodge when you can... The boss are just Bulkier, Bigger, Bullet Spongier... You're not missing…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →The game may be Operation Wolf but this plays and feels much more like "Time Crisis". It looks pretty good but with a gamepad the controls feel slow and clunky (turning up sensitivity does help) and I don't like how it really emphasizes VR (it's perfectly playable without VR). And it really doesn't feel that fun, and the menus are not very easy to navigate unless you use a mouse. And they didn't even get the main hero's name from the original right! (It's not Jones, it's Roy Adams) If you find…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →if you can get it for cheap, these is some on rails arcade fun to be had. I played the solo campaign once and beat it in 1.5 hours. I got it for 5$ and say I'm happy with the purchase.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →How to forget the amazing ARCADE version.. how many days spent in the bar trying to defeat all the enemies! VR version is well done, still some little things to fix here and there but this game is gonna give you many hours of fun! i do share some of this gameplay , on my facebook page so check it out for more video/pics: https://www.facebook.com/Bucefalo.Rome/
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →If you liked the arcade Op Wolf, you'll love this! It is just pure mayhem! My only gripe is they should have included the original. All in all, a GREAT SHOOTER. Just buy it, it's the price of a pint right now!
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →maybe this game is better in the VR but for the KB and Mouse it's terrible. the game looks so poorly made and there are just cheapshots everywhere that don't give you a chance to retaliate. (example the very first 2 enemies you see, you can't shoot them because you're still in the "mission start" screen and when you finally have control of the cross hair, they get the first shot off and shoot you. would not recommend this game to any light-gun/rail-shooter fan.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Playing in VR on the standard HTC Vive and Tracking Controllers. I really wish there were more checkpoints where I could save and come back later. When playing this in VR, I get enough in one sitting very fast. I hate having to come back the next day and having to repeat the same Act #'s in the Missions again. Please add saved checkpoints for each Act in every Mission.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →It's ok, picked it up on sale to checkout the VR portion. Has great potential but the controls are a bit off putting. I just want to select a weapon and shoot away. Seems like ammo runs out too quickly and switching weapons via the weapons wheel feels awkward and ruins the immersion a bit in VR. Played on easy to allow me to relax and spectate a bit. The art is cool and the levels are pretty short. On easy, you can continue from where you last died avoiding starting from scratch. As a casual…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Won’t work on my deck at all, very disappointed with it. Avoid it if or when they fix it.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Compared to the original Operation Wolf, this is pretty much garbage.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →For under $10, this is a fun, casual VR on rails shooter. Don't pay any more for it. However, you can tell the game was rushed. The ACT 5 boss is relatively broken, barley animated, and spent 30 minutes trying to shoot a small weak spot with a pistol since they didn't give me ammo, my hand went numb.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →A decent little arcade-style rail shooter, but it's quite short (finished the campaign in 90 minutes). Would recommend it at a discount, especially if the whole 80s action hero shtick appeals to you.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Operation Wolf Returns: First Mission, developed by Virtuallyz Gaming and published by Microids, is a modern reimagining of the classic 1987 arcade shooter Operation Wolf. This title seeks to revive the spirit of the original with updated visuals, modern controls, and support for both traditional displays and virtual reality. It’s a game clearly made for a specific audience—those who remember the visceral, straightforward thrill of rail shooters—and it wears its retro influences proudly. While…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Paid $8 for this on sale. Well worth the price, but it is not a $25 game. Runs well, very campy and fun. I actually thought the weapon switching mechanic was good once you got the hang of it. Graphics were fine for the art style and the sound design was excellent. If you can pick this up for under $10 on sale, you won't be disappointed!
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I'm not sure what was my First Rail Shooter I played when I was younger. It was of course on some Arcade Machine in our local pub but those days are gone and Arcade Machines with them but the pub is still among us. Time changes. I think this might be my First Rail Shooter. It's pretty fun. Nice Art Style and Graphics with some satisfying sound design of weapons you can use but damn It's so short. I wish the game was longer but what do you want from remake of previously arcade title from…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Awesome ! Great player control, graphics and sound. Way better than the original. The developer did an excellent job. I hope this developer makes more arcade retro games with updated graphics. There are so many retro games that need love.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →"Operation Wolf Returns: First Mission" Reimagines the 1987 Arcade Game in VR! Steam Sale Currently Has it at 55% Off. store.steampowered.com/app/1852650/...
unlabelledView post →If anyone remembers the Arcade Cabinet with a Uzi then this is pretty damn close.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This game blasted me straight back to the 80s, when I was happily sacrificing all my pocket money to arcade machines and calling it “a good investment.” I didn’t play it in VR — just classic mouse and keyboard on PC like a civilized retro warrior — and honestly, it still felt great. That said, I can totally see it being a blast in VR too if you want to flail around dramatically while shooting imaginary bad guys. It’s short, punchy, and doesn’t overstay its welcome. Solid, no-nonsense arcade…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Ninja Gaiden Ragebound is a recent game that I yeeted out of and deleted after 35 minutes. Operation Wolf Returns (15 minutes), Shadow of the Ninja Reborn (29 minutes), and Shadow Labyrinth (30 minutes) are others.
unlabelledView post →♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ terrible.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Well Crafted and Fun On-Rails Shooter
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →OG Operation Wolf on the Arcades <3
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This is a VR review, and I played this game using Quest 2. I don't mind a janky game if the gameplay itself is fun. But this game feels barely finished (there are a lot of stuffs in the main menu screen, but you can't interact with any of it) and barely functional. - The tutorial is not really helpful, they don't tell you that you can shot the incoming red bullets. - You don't get clear indicator where the enemy is (other than subtle grunt sound) until they shot your face. - The available 4…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Rating 4/10 Intro It has some things going for it and I'm not one to turn down developers for trying their hand at an on-rails shooter. But it has a serious problem. There are moments where you aren't allowed to take cover, yet you're forced to take a cheap hit when bullets fly towards you. All signs point towards the fact that the game was made for VR headsets, with flat-screen support added in as an afterthought. But even with that caveat in mind, it's way too short and the story is…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I did not try the VR mode yet, but it is nice so far. It plays very much better than the first OPWolf on my C64 back then. ...at least as long as you use a mouse instead of a joystick, I guess. But you really have to get used to reaction of the crosshairs. I like the comic style. If I would want it more realistic I would watch the news in tv or plan my next holliday in Russia.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →VR is very laggy, barely playable, flat screen seems to work fine.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Operation Wolf Returns: First Mission pros: //fast game with modern day graphics with easy controls that moves from location A to B to C and so on //good amount of action and special effects cons: //some difficult battles/boss battles //some overpowered enemies //could use more ammo and health kits //could have the game auto heal the player with health kits when the player is low on health //sometimes the game is too fast //a lot of times there are no ways to evade enemy attacks //good game…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →TONIGHT'S GAME - OPERATION WOLF RETURNS! Originally released on Arcade in 1987, Operation Wolf Returns: First Mission is the remake of the first Rail Shooter that shaped the genre. It sticks to the DNA of the original game. See you at 7:30pm (EDT) 🖤💚
unlabelledView post →OPERATION WOLF RETURNS… RETURNS! Last time, I pretty much waltzed through the game on medium/default difficulty; today we’re gonna try hard mode. Maybe that’ll stop me. LIVE NOW
unlabelledView post →Doesn't allow for raw input/absolute coords. So it doesn't work with lightguns. What kind of an arcade shooter doesn't work with lightguns?! If the devs simply allowed a raw input setting it would be a totally different story.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Great game, very nicely done. If you like the original arcade or the 8/16 bit versions you'll love this. Captures the original feel great. Well worth a play even if it is hard as hell... Just like the arcade
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I like this. A lot. It is just that when I start playing this, I am instantly reminded of my wii u and go grab my wii gun and start shooting zombies. That's not to say that operationn wolf is bad, far from it. In fact I would love there to be many more missions. It is just that wii and wii u did this so much better, there simply is no comparison. So, if you like gun games, do yourself a favor and get a wii, go grab the gun perpheral and some shooty games and you 'll like it a whole lot than…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Bad control and optimization, wtf with the autocentering crosshair after taking cover? Never in my life as a rail shooter fans, experiencing this ♥♥♥♥♥♥ control in another on rail shooters.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →https://youtu.be/QW2hMNN6F_4 Something is not quite right with the mouse based controls making for an experience that never locks in cleanly.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I would describe what I liked if it worked. Crashes during load. 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 and the performance is even worse during game play. Unity SUCKS and i'd avoid this like the plague. Keep to the arcade original. Hell, even DOS version is better. Let me know if the performance ever gets solved. PS, same happens in VR.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Recommended. I play it on an MX130 at 30fps, but it's still worth it.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Easily in my top 10 list of worst modern day games
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →4/10 its okay just a little boring. Cool that it has a non vr mode though.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Juego de disparar a todo lo que se mueva. Es muy entretenido, los niveles son buenos y la acción esta muy bien conseguida. Dura sólo 1.5 horas, pero este tipo de juego está basado en repetir níveles para conseguir mayor puntuación. Debería tener mayor reconocimiento.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →mindless fan, works good on steamdeck
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Today's the day, time to see if the light gun/rail shooter remake Operation Wolf Returns on #NintendoSwitch is as bad as some say. I'm not expecting miracles from an arcade game, yet the bare minimum it has to be fun to play!
unlabelledView post →
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