MSXdev'06 #01 - Operation Wolf | MSX Resource Center

Yesterday, about three months after launching the MSXdev'06 challenge, the first entry to this popular and succesful MSX1 game development competition was released: Operation Wolf.

In 1988, Operation Wolf was released on MSX by Ocean, but the MSX version of the game never got the popularity the same game had on other platforms, mainly because it was very poorly ported. Now, the new MSX development team TOYBOX have released a port which stays more true to the original Spectrum version, which was released by Taito in 1987. On the Operation Wolf wikipedia you can find out more information on the game, and screenshots from various ports on various platforms. You can download the new TOYBOX remake of Operation Wolf on the MSXdev website.

With the MSXdev'06 challenge you can win several prizes, including a genuine Panasonic FS-A1GT MSX turboR computer. The competition closes on December 31st, so you have more than 5 months left to finish your entry (or entries). At the moment, at least 7 other games are in development. You can find out more about the competition and the announced entries on the MSXdev website.

Relevant link: MSXdev website

Comments (58)

By mars2000you

Enlighted (6613)

24-07-2006, 12:57

Additionnal infos :

- if a MSX-MUSIC cartridge or chip is detected, then you will get a better sound as extra

- to run the game in blueMSX : add manually the rom in one cartridge slot and select the 'mirrored rom' mapper type

By shaiwa

Champion (392)

24-07-2006, 13:21

Had the original on tape but didn't work on my vg8020
Seen the game later with a friend, oh man, that was dissapointing.
Going to check this one, cannot get worse i gues

By Huey

Prophet (2702)

24-07-2006, 14:22

I'm gonna try it right away when I get home.
I used to play the original in MSX a lot. Not that it was any good but I thought that it was cool.

First entry is in.

By kanima

Master (194)

24-07-2006, 14:53

Really, really, well done and very playable: the speed with which you move the crosshair is just right

The only gripe I have with it is that you can't skip the info screens before a level starts: it takes 25 seconds to go from the main intro screen to actually start playing level 1 I guess they just wanted to stick to the original here, but I think it would have been a big improvement if one were able to just press one of the fire buttons to skip the info screens (unless of course there's lots of initialization going on in the background during these screens, but I really can't imagine a 32KB ROM game needing so long to initialize a level). Other than that, a really nice conversion though!

By SLotman

Paragon (1242)

24-07-2006, 15:54

As far I could tell, very nice game!

Although I wish it was MSX2, so it could have better colors (maybe a MSX2 palette can be added if MSX2 or superior is detected?)

Anyway, good job!

By Huey

Prophet (2702)

24-07-2006, 17:22

Gameplay is a big 'OK'!

By viejo_archivero

Paragon (1395)

24-07-2006, 18:49

Nice playability, this game is just fun!. Good job!.

By Oscar

Guardian (587)

24-07-2006, 19:51

Cool version! Great work!

By Unicorn

Master (138)

24-07-2006, 20:00

Well done!

By Ivan

Ascended (9374)

24-07-2006, 21:05

Very nice!!!

By ro

Scribe (5129)

24-07-2006, 21:07

looks like a great job, really!

(however I hate them controls, whish mouse was supported )

By ARTRAG

Enlighted (7003)

25-07-2006, 00:06

Well, I vote for MOUSE support.
It could improve the gameplay a lot

By Ivan

Ascended (9374)

25-07-2006, 00:19

Mouse support is a shit, you got tired sooner than using the keyboard.

I vote for light gun: ASCII's Plus X Terminator Laser, Gunstick, Sega Master System Light Phaser adapted for MSX,...

By Ivan

Ascended (9374)

25-07-2006, 00:26

Btw, now Generation MSX can add this version to the "Conversions" section of Operation Wolf :)

By ricbit

Champion (438)

25-07-2006, 04:36

A lasergun version would be awesome!

By Imanok

Paragon (1201)

25-07-2006, 08:40

Great conversion!! you really get the feeling of the arcade!! ... and only using 32Kb... keep those great games coming!!

By spl

Paragon (1470)

25-07-2006, 11:55

Totally great! I've tried and enjoyed it under BLUEMSX 2.5, but next time I'll go home, I will try it in my MSX with OPL

PS: I've tried under BLUEMSX use OW + FM-PAC, and it doesn't sound FM. Anyway, PSG tunes are great.

By pitpan

Prophet (3158)

25-07-2006, 12:22

Colourfull, fast and with a great gameplay, that's all I can say about this Operation Wolf version. Specially, the last factor, playability, has improved when compared to Ocean's Spectrum conversion. I only miss the "big guys" on the first row, but MSX sprite system has its limitations... Maybe implementing an screensplit and zoomed sprites it would be possible to do something, but nevermind: I love the game as it comes.

I've tried it in my SANYO MPC100, loading it from cassette, and works great. A lot of fun with my Telemach 200 joystick. Miss the Gunstick option though! Maybe as a future add-on?

By jltursan

Prophet (2619)

25-07-2006, 12:58

Although I'm quite pleased with the smooth movement of the crosshair using pad or cursor I would be happy to see a lightgun version!. It'll become the best lightgun MSX game ( sharing first place with duck hunt ).

By Imanok

Paragon (1201)

25-07-2006, 13:41

A gunstick version would be cool, but... it must be really hard to make it... too much enemies and items around to check (some of them really small)... and aiming is not that accurate to avoid hitting what you don't have to hit...

And what about the grenades??... how would you throw them??

I got it!... a gunstick in port 1 and a grenadestick in port 2!

By jltursan

Prophet (2619)

25-07-2006, 14:58

Two handed fast-paced action combo!

By mars2000you

Enlighted (6613)

25-07-2006, 16:40

>PS: I've tried under BLUEMSX use OW + FM-PAC, and it doesn't sound FM. Anyway, PSG tunes are great.

??? All MSX2/MSX2+/Turbo-R generic machines (with exception of the MSX2 Only PSG machine) come with the MSX-MUSIC sound chip, no need to add FM-PAC.

And on a MSX generic machine ? I've just made the test by inserting the rom game in slot 1 and using the special menu to add a FM-PAC in slot 2 and it works very good !

By Ivan

Ascended (9374)

25-07-2006, 19:33

I reached stage 3... This game is extremely difficult

By Whizzy

Master (214)

25-07-2006, 20:50

Excellent conversion of the arcade !!! Really good work here, smooth movement, good feeling nice sounds.. awesome !

By boblet

Master (187)

25-07-2006, 21:09

it's teh hard

really needs a light gun thing going on

By BiFi

Enlighted (4348)

26-07-2006, 08:12

MSX2 didn't come with built-in MSX-MUSIC... not even the Japanese MSX2 computers. MSX2 was released in 1986/1987

MSX-MUSIC was released in 1988 by means of the Panasonic FM-PAC. The built-in version is commonly available from MSX2+... and of course the MSXturboR...

By cesco

Champion (454)

26-07-2006, 09:26

It's really hard to play!

By Imanok

Paragon (1201)

26-07-2006, 09:40

I reached stage 6 but I got killed quite fast!!... I hope I'll beat it soon!!

By pitpan

Prophet (3158)

26-07-2006, 10:07

Stage 6? How many times have you played!!!? I'm stuck on the 2nd level. Too hard for me!

By BiFi

Enlighted (4348)

26-07-2006, 10:41

I must really suck at this game. I can't even get passed the first level.

By Imanok

Paragon (1201)

26-07-2006, 11:56

10 times or so... till stage 3 it's not that hard... you just have to take care of your ammo... don't waste it keeping your trigger pressed.

By enribar

Paragon (1233)

26-07-2006, 12:37

Hard to play with cursors or joystick.
I agree with artrag: mouse and lightgun support!

By Guillian

Prophet (3540)

26-07-2006, 14:02

For those who think the game is too hard and want to see all the stages. Here is a patched version with infinete life, ammo and grenades. Bare in mind that there is almost no fun playing in this way.

By Imanok

Paragon (1201)

26-07-2006, 16:58

Guillian, you've been really fast cheating the game... it makes me wonder if you're part of Toybox... am I right?? confess!!

By Ivan

Ascended (9374)

26-07-2006, 20:00

I've played the cheated version.

It's a fantastic game! It will be on the first places in the competition for sure. And I think it can be improved without much effort adding, for instance, intro and ending scenes.

By Guillian

Prophet (3540)

26-07-2006, 20:58

Imanok, cheating the game was quite easy. Just a few minutes. Anyway, I'm not related to the development of this game

By snout

Ascended (15187)

26-07-2006, 21:39

It's a great conversion of the game indeed. Of course, on MSX2, we already had Teachers' Terror ^_^. I'm quite curious who the lad(s) behind Toybox is/are myself as well. Any hints?

By Imanok

Paragon (1201)

27-07-2006, 08:40

Ok, ok... I trust you

By Ivan

Ascended (9374)

27-07-2006, 22:01

The ZX version is slightly better than the MSX conversion. Take a look at this video: Operation Wolf for the ZX Spectrum.

The MSX conversion by Ocean has a nasty bug: you throw all grenades at the begining of each stage when you press fire. Notice how in the ZX version helicopters and tanks can be destroyed with less shots. Also the intro is much better in the Spectrum version, it has more gfx and music and is the same intro demo than the one of the arcade (no introdemo in the MSX version).

The new Operation Wolf for MSX1 by Toybox beats the ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64 and Amstrad CPC versions and can only be compared to Sega Master System's and NES' Operation Wolf.

By poke-1,170

Paragon (1783)

27-07-2006, 22:40

didn't know you were getting an operation, wolf_ ?

By mars2000you

Enlighted (6613)

27-07-2006, 22:41

A secret operation !

By wolf_

Ambassador_ (10157)

28-07-2006, 00:58

Hey you're messing up with another wolf, this is entry #1. I can't be involved, I'm only ever involved in the last entry

By poke-1,170

Paragon (1783)

28-07-2006, 01:02

well, you WERE part of royal msx force, right ?

By wolf_

Ambassador_ (10157)

28-07-2006, 01:06

erhm, yea? point being?

By mars2000you

Enlighted (6613)

28-07-2006, 02:22

That's tough evident : Operation Wolf with parachutists !

By mars2000you

Enlighted (6613)

28-07-2006, 02:27

And one operation can hide another one

By pitpan

Prophet (3158)

28-07-2006, 03:07

What I do miss in this version:

- Level 2 end-boss with hostage.
- Main menu graphic (the one showed in MSXdev'06 entry)
- Graphic intro (the weapons, the parachute, etc.)
- Tiny graphic of each level before start.
- Dead graphic - both "captured" when you run out of ammo and life; and "lethal injury" when you still have bullets but not life.

I guess that it would be possible to include all this in an hypothetic 48 KB version - it wouldn't require a megaROM and the game will get even more "pro".

By the way, is it my impression or there's something wrong about the text messages? English is far from perfect. Does anyone know if the texts were like this in the original arcade version?

I'm a big OpWolf fan 'cause several years ago I had the original arcade at home

By poke-1,170

Paragon (1783)

28-07-2006, 04:07

well, considering the military logo of RMF...
operation wolf, rmf... suspicious

By JJLopez

Rookie (22)

28-07-2006, 09:36

Hi pitpan! About your comments ... I play with arcade version via MAME and ...

- Level 2 end-boss with hostage.: End boss in level 2? The only boss is at end of level 6. Airport.

--------------------
- Main menu graphic (the one showed in MSXdev'06 entry)
- Graphic intro (the weapons, the parachute, etc.)
- Tiny graphic of each level before start.
- Dead graphic - both "captured" when you run out of ammo and life; and "lethal injury" when you still have bullets but not life.
------------------------------------

Ok. But ... is only a 32k!!! 6 levels with superb graphics, tons of enemys with tons of movements, great FX, FM and big playability!

Of course, in a megarom version, this add-ons are possible. And mouse or lightgun ... and all types or enemy (in Toybox OW missing first plane enemys, building enemys, knife ... ) But ... what is most important? Game and playability or graphics?

About english messages ... Please, play at the real arcade with Mame and compare. ToyBox conversion is a "good" conversion. Taito english is very poor.

Congrats to ToyBox and all MSX Dev developers for making good games.

By ro

Scribe (5129)

28-07-2006, 20:29

so euhr, next year operation thunderbolt? (sequal of wolf)

By mars2000you

Enlighted (6613)

28-07-2006, 23:09

Shouldn't Operation Thunderwolf ???

By poke-1,170

Paragon (1783)

28-07-2006, 23:35

pretty tough game

but plays well !

By Ivan

Ascended (9374)

29-07-2006, 21:47

so euhr, next year operation thunderbolt? (sequal of wolf)

Operation Wolf is far better that Operation Thunderbolt (arcade & home computer versions). We don't need that sequel

By NYYRIKKI

Enlighted (6126)

30-07-2006, 00:40

I really like the FM-music in this game although sound effects are not that great. Together with lack of explotion graphics it makes dying quite dull. I expetially like the graphics in the backround. They are very professionally designed!

I have some experience of original arcade as well (because there is Operation Wolf & Operation Thunderbolt cabinets in Ahti's garage ) and I think that this is really a good conversion. I must say, that the game it self is not very addictive without lightgun, but that is not a conversion fault. I know that lightgun support for MSX is practically not possible.

By Ivan

Ascended (9374)

30-07-2006, 11:09

I know that lightgun support for MSX is practically not possible.

Why not? In Spain Gunstick (pictures here: 1, 2 and 3) was quite popular and there were some games for it.

If Toybox has developed this amazing version for MSX1 I wonder what could be done with an MSX2/2+/turboR.

By NYYRIKKI

Enlighted (6126)

30-07-2006, 11:44

Well... multiple enemys at same x-axis together with machinegun is something that Gunstick or ASCII plus-x terminator laser just can't handle... Trust me, I've tried...

By Ivan

Ascended (9374)

30-07-2006, 12:10

Well... multiple enemys at same x-axis together with machinegun is something that Gunstick or ASCII plus-x terminator laser just can't handle... Trust me, I've tried...

By mars2000you

Enlighted (6613)

30-07-2006, 14:12

MSX2 didn't come with built-in MSX-MUSIC... not even the Japanese MSX2 computers. MSX2 was released in 1986/1987

MSX-MUSIC was released in 1988 by means of the Panasonic FM-PAC. The built-in version is commonly available from MSX2+... and of course the MSXturboR...

BiFi : I was speaking about the generic machines in blueMSX, not about the real machines.

For the comfort of the users, the MSX-MUSIC chip is added in all generic MSX2 machines, that are boosted machines. For games (like Aleste) that use directly MSX-MUSIC when detecting the presence of the sound chip, we have added the MSX2 Only PSG machine, so someone who wants to hear the PSG sounds in Aleste is able to hear them !

MSXdev'06 #01 - Operation Wolf

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