Operation G.H.O.S.T. is a Light Gun Game/Rail Shooter developed by Sega's R&D1 and SKonec (AM1 Division helped out in collaboration) and published by Sega in 2012 worldwide for arcades. It's the sequel to Ghost Squad (2004) and the final game in the Ghost Squad series so far.
The game takes place in 2035, where the Ghosts are assembled to take on Blue Wolf after intelligence reports indicate that they're assembling nuclear weapons for an upcoming WMD attack. However, Sega has mentioned that there are no plans to port it to any console. Unlike Ghost Squad however, the game is more linear, with weapon selection omitted in favor of team-switching mechanic based on the situations.
The game features examples of these tropes:
- All There in the Manual: The plot is only available if you're able to read up on Operation G.H.O.S.T. via published articles in Japan and/or Sega gaming brochures.
- Boom, Headshot!: Known as a "Critical Combo", this awards bonus points.
- Expy: By the time Operation G.H.O.S.T. starts, they're a clear expy for the Ghost Squad on the lines of Ghost Recon: Future Soldier in terms of their appearance and gear.
- Friendly Sniper: Charlie Team provides sniper backup in Mission 2.
- Gunship Rescue: Charlie Team's in charge of providing support by using GAU-17/A when they're on a helicopter.
- No Plot? No Problem!: Even though the GHOST unit is introduced by name, the game has essentially no story with no clear motivation of what the terrorist did.
- Rotating Protagonist: Operation G.H.O.S.T. switches between the teams depending on the vantage points.
- Trial-and-Error Gameplay: Stage 4 in Operation Ghost has sections where you have to shoot down groups of 2 or 3 high-HP cars in a row. The thing is that they're supposed to be shot on a specific order, but you don't find out what it is until you're halfway done with destroying the wrong vehicle. Then there's the three or so points the game gets outright unfair and jump scares you with a knife-wielding enemy at point blank range with no warning and only an instant to shoot him down.
- Updated Re-release: Target Bravo: Operation G.H.O.S.T.. It's Operation G.H.O.S.T. played in a reskinned Let's Go Jungle Cabinet with new gameplay modes and mechanics.
- Western Terrorists: The Ghosts get tangled with the Blue Wolves and their plans to unleash a WMD.
- A Winner Is You: In OPERATION G.H.O.S.T., there's Multiple Endings, whether you succeed in downing the terrorist leader helicopter or not. Regardless, the only ending cutscenes are very short: either the helicopter escaping with the leader smiling smugly, or the helicopter being shot down.
