Omega Five - Xbox Live Arcade review

Jan 10, 2008

Oldsters will immediately be reminded of the classic Capcom shooter Forgotten Worlds upon firing up Live Arcade’s latest offering, Omega Five. Like Forgotten Worlds, the characters in Omega Five don’t need any fancy space ships to perforate the hundreds of bogeys inhabiting their constantly scrolling world. These heroes simply fly- or float- through each level, shooting in 360 degrees and generally wreaking havoc.

Though Omega Five isn’t really all that long, the difficulty easily makes up for the brevity. There are no options to change the difficulty either, so if you’re easily frustrated with the type of challenge found in most old-school, arcade shooters, Omega Five probably isn’t for you. It’s worth noting, though, that after a few play sessions the game will reward you with a few more continues than the initial two that you receive. And this isn’t a one-hit-kill game, either. You actually have a life bar to work with, and it can be replenished with certain bonus pickups.