Omega Boost
Encyclopedia
Omega Boost is a three dimensional shoot 'em up
developed by Polyphony Digital
for the Sony
PlayStation.
In the game, players take control of the Omega Boost, a giant robot
. The player is charged with travelling back in time to stop an artificial intelligence
called Alpha Core from altering ENIAC
, the first computer, and thus making itself more powerful in the future. The gameplay takes place in waves, meaning that enemies will appear in the same groups and formations in the same order every playthrough. The player doesn't get to choose what order to engage an entire stage's enemies, just the ones in the current wave. This rail-shooter element does not hamper the player's freedom to fly where they choose in most stages. On some stages, the player has complete control of Omega Boost, specifically areas where they are in Planet ETA's atmosphere. Other stages limit the player in terms of speed (falling through the timeshaft).
The "Boost" part of the mech's name comes from Omega Boost's booster pack, allowing the player to move in any direction and circle strafe enemies with a scanning and lock-on feature. Omega Boost also learns the Viper Boost maneuver once it is levelled up. Viper Boost, when engaged, will cause Omega Boost to glow blue as it tears through enemies on screen. Destroying enemies will cause the gauge to refill incrementally. However, the game can be completed without ever using Viper Boost. If Viper Boost is used, the final ranking will have "Pixy" added onto the title, showing the attack during play.
The game has high production values with a few music tracks by the bands Loudmouth
and the song "Otsegolation" by Static-X
. The game also features a live action introduction and mecha
designs by Shoji Kawamori
of Macross
fame. The US, Japanese and European releases feature different theme music with the US version using "Fly" by Loudmouth, the Japanese version using "Shade" by Feeder
and the European version using "Dreamer" by Cast
.
Being released late in the PlayStation's life, Omega Boost is said to have some of the best graphics on the console with parts of the game running at 60 frame/s. The game was criticised by some reviewers for being too short (Nine levels with nine unlockable special missions) and simplistic. However, it is still considered one of the best Macross
style mecha
simulation games produced and is thought of by many as a sleeper hit
due to its poor marketing.
from the game, including: Omega Boost and Beta Boost. A third figure, Herbarcher, was shown on the back of the boxes, however it was never released.
, the album had a limited print and is considered very rare. The Album was made up by few people as listed here. Tracks 2-11, 13, 15-17 where composed, arranged & performed by CMJK, track 12 was composed, & performed by Singo Okumura which was arranged by Daiki Kasho, track 18 composed & performed by Dip in the pool, and tracks 1, and 14 was Arranged by Takafumi Fujisawa. (The album inserts didn't give any credit for tracks 1 & 14, so It was given it to the sound producer.) The intro music was not entered in the Album release.
Album Track List:
Many fans of the game have found it easier to rip the soundtrack from the game disc itself, however, this leads to confusion over the official titles of the tracks, mainly because they are labeled as "areas" in-game instead of the official names given by the creators.
's Panzer Dragoon
series led to a rumor that former members of Team Andromeda, dissolved in 1998, had joined Polyphony Digital
. This rumor turned out to be true as the lead designer and programmer on Omega Boost was Yuji Yasuhara http://www.mobygames.com/developer/sheet/view/developerId,68692/, who had worked on Panzer Dragoon Zwei.
Omega Boost is mentioned in the song My Console by Eiffel 65
Among the games created by Polyphony Digital
, only the Omega Boost was a shoot 'em up
, while the others
are vehicle racing simulators.
Shoot 'em up
Shoot 'em up is a subgenre of shooter video games. In a shoot 'em up, the player controls a lone character, often in a spacecraft or aircraft, shooting large numbers of enemies while dodging their attacks. The genre in turn encompasses various types or subgenres and critics differ on exactly what...
developed by Polyphony Digital
Polyphony Digital
Polyphony Digital, Inc. is an internal video game developing company of Sony Computer Entertainment and is part of Sony Computer Entertainment Worldwide Studios...
for the Sony
Sony
, commonly referred to as Sony, is a Japanese multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan and the world's fifth largest media conglomerate measured by revenues....
PlayStation.
In the game, players take control of the Omega Boost, a giant robot
Robot
A robot is a mechanical or virtual intelligent agent that can perform tasks automatically or with guidance, typically by remote control. In practice a robot is usually an electro-mechanical machine that is guided by computer and electronic programming. Robots can be autonomous, semi-autonomous or...
. The player is charged with travelling back in time to stop an artificial intelligence
Artificial intelligence
Artificial intelligence is the intelligence of machines and the branch of computer science that aims to create it. AI textbooks define the field as "the study and design of intelligent agents" where an intelligent agent is a system that perceives its environment and takes actions that maximize its...
called Alpha Core from altering ENIAC
ENIAC
ENIAC was the first general-purpose electronic computer. It was a Turing-complete digital computer capable of being reprogrammed to solve a full range of computing problems....
, the first computer, and thus making itself more powerful in the future. The gameplay takes place in waves, meaning that enemies will appear in the same groups and formations in the same order every playthrough. The player doesn't get to choose what order to engage an entire stage's enemies, just the ones in the current wave. This rail-shooter element does not hamper the player's freedom to fly where they choose in most stages. On some stages, the player has complete control of Omega Boost, specifically areas where they are in Planet ETA's atmosphere. Other stages limit the player in terms of speed (falling through the timeshaft).
The "Boost" part of the mech's name comes from Omega Boost's booster pack, allowing the player to move in any direction and circle strafe enemies with a scanning and lock-on feature. Omega Boost also learns the Viper Boost maneuver once it is levelled up. Viper Boost, when engaged, will cause Omega Boost to glow blue as it tears through enemies on screen. Destroying enemies will cause the gauge to refill incrementally. However, the game can be completed without ever using Viper Boost. If Viper Boost is used, the final ranking will have "Pixy" added onto the title, showing the attack during play.
The game has high production values with a few music tracks by the bands Loudmouth
Loudmouth (band)
Loudmouth is the band name for a group who played such songs as "Fly", "What?", and "End of the Century", having their music featured in the PlayStation game Omega Boost, and having the same song featured in the movie Varsity Blues....
and the song "Otsegolation" by Static-X
Static-X
Static-X is an American industrial metal band from Los Angeles, California. They were formed in 1994. They are signed to Warner Bros. Records and have released six albums, their most recent being Cult of Static, which was released on March 17, 2009....
. The game also features a live action introduction and mecha
Mecha
A mech , is a science fiction term for a large walking bipedal tank or robot, including ones on treads and animal shapes.-Characteristics:...
designs by Shoji Kawamori
Shoji Kawamori
is a Japanese anime creator, screenwriter and mechanical designer, having created or co-created such notable series as The Super Dimension Fortress Macross, The Vision of Escaflowne, Earth Maiden Arjuna, Genesis of Aquarion, Macross 7, and Macross Frontier. He is currently executive director at the...
of Macross
Macross
is a series of science fiction mecha anime, directed by Shōji Kawamori of Studio Nue in 1982. The franchise features a fictional history of Earth/Humanity after the year 1999. It consists of three TV series, four movies, six OVAs, one light novel and five manga series, all sponsored by Big West...
fame. The US, Japanese and European releases feature different theme music with the US version using "Fly" by Loudmouth, the Japanese version using "Shade" by Feeder
Feeder
-Technology:* Feeder , any of several devices used in apiculture to supplement or replace natural food sources* Feeder , another name for a riser, a reservoir built into a metal casting mold to prevent cavities due to shrinkage...
and the European version using "Dreamer" by Cast
Cast (band)
Cast are an English rock band from Liverpool, formed in 1992 by John Power and Peter Wilkinson after Power left The La's and Wilkinson's former band Shack had split...
.
Being released late in the PlayStation's life, Omega Boost is said to have some of the best graphics on the console with parts of the game running at 60 frame/s. The game was criticised by some reviewers for being too short (Nine levels with nine unlockable special missions) and simplistic. However, it is still considered one of the best Macross
Macross
is a series of science fiction mecha anime, directed by Shōji Kawamori of Studio Nue in 1982. The franchise features a fictional history of Earth/Humanity after the year 1999. It consists of three TV series, four movies, six OVAs, one light novel and five manga series, all sponsored by Big West...
style mecha
Mecha
A mech , is a science fiction term for a large walking bipedal tank or robot, including ones on treads and animal shapes.-Characteristics:...
simulation games produced and is thought of by many as a sleeper hit
Sleeper hit
A sleeper hit, a.k.a. surprise hit , refers to a film, book, single, album, TV show, or video game that gains unexpected success or recognition...
due to its poor marketing.
Merchandise
A series of action figures was created by Blue Box Toys, featuring mechaMecha
A mech , is a science fiction term for a large walking bipedal tank or robot, including ones on treads and animal shapes.-Characteristics:...
from the game, including: Omega Boost and Beta Boost. A third figure, Herbarcher, was shown on the back of the boxes, however it was never released.
Audio
The Omega Boost Original Sound Track was released on June 19, 1999, the album had a limited print and is considered very rare. The Album was made up by few people as listed here. Tracks 2-11, 13, 15-17 where composed, arranged & performed by CMJK, track 12 was composed, & performed by Singo Okumura which was arranged by Daiki Kasho, track 18 composed & performed by Dip in the pool, and tracks 1, and 14 was Arranged by Takafumi Fujisawa. (The album inserts didn't give any credit for tracks 1 & 14, so It was given it to the sound producer.) The intro music was not entered in the Album release.
Album Track List:
- BOOST I
- SPLIT THE NEBULA
- RING BUFFER
- ORBITAL FIGHT
- BETA BETA
- ATTACK IN WAVES
- GROUND AND THE SKY
- THE ODD LIFE FORCE
- A MEASURING WORM
- BACK TO THE 1946
- SPARK OF DRUM
- TENSE UP
- PATHAKA
- BOOST II
- FIERCE RESISTANCE
- ELIMINATION UP
- LET'S TIE LIKE A LINE
- Ismeel
Many fans of the game have found it easier to rip the soundtrack from the game disc itself, however, this leads to confusion over the official titles of the tracks, mainly because they are labeled as "areas" in-game instead of the official names given by the creators.
Trivia
Similarities between Omega Boost and SegaSega
, usually styled as SEGA, is a multinational video game software developer and an arcade software and hardware development company headquartered in Ōta, Tokyo, Japan, with various offices around the world...
's Panzer Dragoon
Panzer Dragoon
is a rail shooter video game released for the Sega Saturn in 1995; and later released on PC, PlayStation 2, and as a bonus in its sequel Panzer Dragoon Orta for Xbox...
series led to a rumor that former members of Team Andromeda, dissolved in 1998, had joined Polyphony Digital
Polyphony Digital
Polyphony Digital, Inc. is an internal video game developing company of Sony Computer Entertainment and is part of Sony Computer Entertainment Worldwide Studios...
. This rumor turned out to be true as the lead designer and programmer on Omega Boost was Yuji Yasuhara http://www.mobygames.com/developer/sheet/view/developerId,68692/, who had worked on Panzer Dragoon Zwei.
Omega Boost is mentioned in the song My Console by Eiffel 65
Eiffel 65
Eiffel 65 is an Italian three-piece group formed in the late 1990s and best known for pioneering in pitch-correction and autotune, and for their international hit "Blue ". Their other hit singles include "Move Your Body" and "Too Much of Heaven", all of which appeared on their album Europop,...
Among the games created by Polyphony Digital
Polyphony Digital
Polyphony Digital, Inc. is an internal video game developing company of Sony Computer Entertainment and is part of Sony Computer Entertainment Worldwide Studios...
, only the Omega Boost was a shoot 'em up
Shoot 'em up
Shoot 'em up is a subgenre of shooter video games. In a shoot 'em up, the player controls a lone character, often in a spacecraft or aircraft, shooting large numbers of enemies while dodging their attacks. The genre in turn encompasses various types or subgenres and critics differ on exactly what...
, while the others
Gran Turismo (series)
is a popular and critically acclaimed series of racing simulation video games developed by Polyphony Digital.Developed exclusively for PlayStation systems, Gran Turismo games are intended to simulate the appearance and performance of a large selection of vehicles, nearly all of which are licensed...
are vehicle racing simulators.
External links
- Omega Boost at IGNIGNIGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
- Omega Boost at Game Set Watch