Operation Thunderbolt Japan is the Japanese arcade release of Taito’s 1988 light-gun shooter, the direct sequel to Operation Wolf. It runs the same two-player co-op mission as the international version: special forces operatives Roy Adams and Hardy Jones fight their way through enemy-held territory to free hostages from a hijacked airliner, blending forward-scrolling assault stages with side-scrolling firefights.
How to Play
Shoot through waves of infantry, vehicles, and boss encounters while rescuing hostages caught in the crossfire â hit one and you take a penalty, so aim carefully. Ammo and rockets are limited, so grab the resupply pickups that appear on screen.
Arcade Controls (Browser):
- Move / Aim: Arrow Keys
- Fire: Z
- Rocket / Special: X
- Start: Enter (or Start)
- Insert Coin: Shift (or Select)
Tips
- Don’t shoot the hostages: They pop up constantly during firefights; take an extra beat to confirm the target before firing when the screen gets crowded.
- Keep ammo topped up: Shoot pickup crates for bullets and rockets as soon as they appear rather than waiting until you run dry.
- Kill vehicles and rocket troops first: They deal the most damage and are the hardest to dodge, so clear them before mopping up regular infantry.

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