Taito’s new Operation Night Strikers compilation aims to revive the classic light-gun shooter genre, offering four retro shooting games for modern consoles and PCs.
Remembering the glory days of light-gun shooters
As a kid who grew up in the ’90s, light-gun shooting games were a staple. I have fond memories of playing Virtua Cop 2 with my mom at the local United Video store. Then, in 2001, my family finally got to experience a light-gun game at home with the release of Time Crisis 2 for the PS2.
Sadly, the genre faded with the rise of OLED and LCD TVs. Light-gun games relied on CRT technology, making them incompatible with newer displays. Even arcades are now filled with different types of games, leaving a void for classic shooting experiences.
- Operation Night Strikers brings four ’80s shooting games to PC and Switch.
- Three titles are light-gun shooters: Operation Wolf, Operation Thunderbolt, and Space Gun.
- Night Striker is a non-light-gun arcade-style shooter.
- Play options include analog stick, Joy-Con gyro aiming, and mouse controls.
- The collection offers a nostalgic trip, though it lacks physical light-gun accessories.
Reviving a beloved genre
Taito has stepped in to fill this market gap with Operation Night Strikers. This compilation features four shooting games popular in the ’80s: Operation Wolf, Operation Thunderbolt, Night Striker, and Space Gun. Three of these are light-gun shooters, while Night Striker is more akin to games like Space Harrier and Star Fox.
How to play
While the game doesn’t include a light-gun accessory, there are three ways to play on PC and Switch. Switch players can use the left analog stick to control the crosshair, which is the default and arguably the easiest method. For a more authentic experience, you can enable gyroscope controls, using the Joy-Con to aim by moving your hands and arms. This mimics playing with a plastic gun, and while often functional, it’s not as precise as past light-gun hardware.
PC users can aim using a mouse, a method I haven’t tested but suspect is quite fun. Unfortunately, mouse controls aren’t compatible with Switch 2, as this compilation is designed for the original Switch hardware.
Diving into the games
The games themselves are 2D shooters that ’80s and ’90s kids will likely enjoy. Operation Wolf and its sequel, Operation Thunderbolt, are fast-paced military shooters. They demand quick reflexes to eliminate targets before they can shoot you, as there’s no cover system. A notable challenge in these games is the ammo system; failing to shoot ammo crates quickly enough can lead to running out of bullets, resulting in a game over. They are also considerably faster than ’90s counterparts like Time Crisis and Virtua Cop.
I personally preferred Space Gun, a light-gun shooter that evokes the Alien movies. You’re tasked with rescuing hostages from a spaceship overrun by aliens. The visual impact of shooting aliens is quite graphic, with blood and guts splattering across the screen. The default weapon in Space Gun has unlimited ammo, but more powerful options like a flamethrower are available. The game also features impressive boss battles and rewards players for rescuing hostages, contributing to a higher score.
Night Striker, while offering replay value through selectable levels, is my least favorite in the collection because it deviates from the light-gun shooter format. It features a futuristic flying car and combat against enemy invaders.
Overall verdict
Operation Night Strikers is a solid compilation featuring four enjoyable shooting games from a bygone era. The only real drawback is the absence of a dedicated light-gun accessory. While the Joy-Con gyro aiming is a good attempt to recapture the feel, it doesn’t quite match the accuracy of the classic video game guns.
Verdict: 8.0/10
