the language is set to Japanese, only the first four stages are initially available and the player may choose the order of play, allowing for strategic planning. The Nintendo Entertainment System version allows multiple endings depending on the number of rescued hostages. The player is awarded points in the form of combat pay and is greeted by the President of the United States. The number of surviving hostages corresponded with the president's tone to the player: 0 - Angry 1 - Unhappy 2 - Disappointed 3 - Satisfied 4 - Happy 5 - Very happy Home conversions The game was converted to the Amstrad CPC, DOS, NES, Amiga 500, Atari ST, Master System, FM Towns, Commodore 64, PC Engine, and ZX Spectrum. Most lack any kind of light gun support (with the exceptions of the NES and Master System) and must be played with a keyboard or a controller. In 1989, a special ZX Spectrum version with Magnum Light Phaser support was produced for inclusion in Amstrad's ZX Spectrum +2 and +3 'Action Pack' hardware bundles. The box for the Master System version features promotional art from Operation Thunderbolt. In 2005, Operation Wolf was released on the Xbox, PlayStation 2, and Microsoft Windows as part of Taito Legends; however, light gun support is unavailable. The NES version of Operation Wolf was released on the North American Wii Virtual Console in February 2008. Whereas the NES version allows NES Zapper support, the VC re-release does not feature any kind of light gun support (including the Wii Remote's pointer functions), making the game only playable with the standard controller mode. Reception Commercial performance The game was commercially successful. In Japan, Game Machine listed Operation Wolf in its December 1, 1987 issue as the second most-successful upright/cockpit arcade cabinet of the month, and it went on to become the second highest-grossing arcade game of 1988 (below Sega's After Burner and After Burner II). In Europe, Operation Wolf debuted as the top-grossing arcade game of October 1987 in the United Kingdom, and again topped the charts in December 1987; it held the top spot through March 1988, and remained in the top five through July, when it was number four on the Coinslot dedicated arcade game chart (below Street Fighter, Continental Circus, and WEC Le Mans). Operation Wolf went on to become the top-earning arcade game of 1988 in the United Kingdom. In the