Operation Night Strikers Switch Review – M2 Delivers Classic Light Gun Action with a Twist

Operation Night Strikers bundles four classic arcade games from Taito into one collection, polished by M2 for modern platforms. It offers a strong dose of light gun nostalgia with new customization options, built-in achievements, and extra gameplay data. The only downside is that console ports of these games are sold separately as DLC instead of being included in the base package.

As reported by Forbes, the collection features Operation Wolf, Operation Thunderbolt, Space Gun, and Night Striker. While the first three stick to the light gun shooter format, Night Striker stands out as a hybrid of driving and shooting, closer to Sega’s Space Harrier and OutRun than a traditional shooter.

Operation Wolf and Operation Thunderbolt are the most recognizable names of Nintendo Switch games here. Originally released in the late ’80s, they quickly became arcade staples, known for their military themes, on-rails action, and high body counts reminiscent of the top-down shooter Commando. Their success helped pave the way for later free-aim light gun titles like Virtua Cop and Time Crisis.

Space Gun, on the other hand, is a more complex and challenging shooter. Inspired by the Alien movie franchise, it features darker visuals, tense pacing, and tougher enemies. While its difficulty was higher, it still found success in Japan and internationally.

Night Striker is the wildcard of the group. Instead of sticking to the stationary shooting formula, it puts players in control of a futuristic car that can both drive and fly. Levels branch into multiple routes, and later stages feature vehicle transformations into a mecha or motorcycle. While the arcade version is fondly remembered in Japan, the Mega CD port became infamous for its poor quality. This port is included in the DLC pack rather than the main collection.

That DLC decision is the main criticism here. The base release includes the arcade versions of all four games, but the various console ports are locked behind a separate paid add-on. Priced at $19.99, this DLC contains versions from older home systems, including that infamous Mega CD edition of Night Striker. Given the collection’s $24.99 base price, some might feel the ports should have been bundled in, even at a slightly higher overall cost.

Aside from that, M2’s work on the collection is excellent. Known for their meticulous approach to retro game preservation, they’ve enhanced the experience without altering the feel of the originals. Each title comes with control options for both traditional sticks and motion aiming, screen adjustments, and side panels that display useful in-game data. This extra information is especially helpful in Operation Wolf, where knowing your stats can make the difference in tough situations.

Night Striker gets even more attention in the presentation, with detailed performance data and visual extras. This extra focus makes sense, as M2 is currently developing a full sequel titled Night Striker GEAR. For fans of the original, the prospect of a modern follow-up adds another layer of interest to the package.

The customization options extend to display settings, letting players adjust visuals to their liking while keeping the arcade aesthetic intact. Built-in achievements add replay value, giving completionists more reason to revisit each title.

Ultimately, Operation Night Strikers is a strong collection for fans of Taito’s arcade legacy and anyone with a taste for light gun shooters. While the DLC decision keeps it from being a complete archival package, the core games are presented in top form thanks to M2’s careful restoration. For $24.99, it’s a solid value for four distinctive shooters that showcase different eras and styles of the genre.

Operation Night Strikers is available now on Nintendo Switch and PC, with the main collection priced at $24.99 and the console ports DLC at $19.99. It’s a polished, nostalgia-driven release that delivers where it counts—tight controls, accurate presentation, and a faithful recreation of Taito’s arcade hits.