Zzap
1st January 1989Capone
Back in 1920s Chicago things were really bad! Gangsters roamed the streets pumping lead into everyone - other gang members, innocent citizens, okapis, even undercover police officers like you. Shocking, eh?
Well, now it's time to strike back. So whip out your six-shooter, stroll down the street and watch the windows for gunmen pointing their machine guns at you. Aim your own shooter with a mouse-controlled cross-hair, then pull the trigger and they'll go down in a pool of blood.
Not everyone on the street is a homicidal maniac, so don't shoot any innocent passers-by or you'll lose points or a life. Easy.
KH
Of Actionware's two Operation Wolf clones, I have to say I prefer P.O.W. because it has that bit more variety than Capone. Wandering around blasting hell out of everything is good, reflex-testing fun, but once you've seen one street, you've seen 'em all, and the odd indoor gunfight doesn't really make up for that.
In the end, though, if I had thirty quid to spend on a game I would expect to get software with a lot more to it than this. Only for those with loadsa money.
PG
Actionware seem to be on to a winner here! Just program a good Operation Wolf type game, then change the graphics around and release it with another storyline and the same horrendously high price.
For your money you get some pretty good graphics and a couple of interesting shoot-out scenarios, like gunfights in a warehouse full of TNT. The game starts off very easy... too easy apparently, but after the third level, shooting all the bad guys (like three at a time!) and avoiding all the citizens becomes a pretty frenzied business.
Good fun, but I would wait for the official Operation Wolf - that's £5 cheaper for a start.
Verdict
Presentation 76%
Three difficulty levels, one or two player games and facilities to use Actionware Light Guns.
Graphics 77%
Very interesting backgrounds and sprites, but gangster animation isn't as good as it could be.
Sound 55%
Sampled gunshot and ricochet sounds and an average version of Scott Joplin's Maple Leaf Rag.
Hookability 79%
Simple shooting action is very easy to get into and the action gets very fast on the higher levels.
Lastability 63%
Quite a few different scenarios, but not really enough to justify the high price tag.
Overall 63%
Good, but very expensive, target-shooting game.