While a short affair, it seems Omega Five is a game that's worth the 800 MS Points because of its challenge and solid replay value.
From Gamer 2.0's Review: "Omega Five is basically a classic shoot 'em up game in the vein of R-Type or Gradius, but it features high-definition graphics, that familiar dual-analog 2D shooting that's been all the rage on Xbox Live Arcade, and a mercifully nonexistent storyline. Like any great shoot 'em up, success in Omega Five demands a mix of quick reflexes, coordination, and a healthy dose of pattern memorization. There's rarely a dull moment, the safe spots on the screen are often few, far between, and hard to recognize, so it can be overwhelming at first. However, a lot of elements like Ruby's ability to rebound laser beams through half the screen, or Tempest's power to absorb and deflect enemy bullets at will, work in the player's favor.
Anyone who hasn't spent a lot of time with shoot 'em ups will find Omega Five difficult simply because the levels are well-designed, and well-designed shoot 'em ups are pretty much hard by definition. Still, with the options to go back and practice levels individually after they've been beaten, and to view game replays from actual Xbox Live Arcade users and see how to tackle tough scenarios, it's one of the more accommodating games in the genre."
Read on for more.
Andriasang: The release list in this week's Famitsu has some mega carnage for Hudson fans. It looks like many of the publisher's upcoming titles have been cancelled, presumably due to the recent Konami acquisition.
It's okay if you don't remember Omega Five. The Natsume-developed side-scrolling shump hit XBLA in early 2008 and has since shot into obscurity. According to Famitsu, the game is set to appear on Nintendo 3DS in Japan during Spring 2011 -- where it'll probably make a more memorable bow among a launch lineup otherwise devoid of "traditional" shoot-em-ups.
Having worked at Natsume for nearly 20 years, veteran composer Hiroyuki Iwatsuki discusses his memorable video game soundtracks, from classic scores on the Famicom to the soundtrack for XBLA title shoot'em-up Omega Five -- also sharing the challenges of producing 8-bit songs.
