Omega Five

Timed Xbox exclusive

The baddest guys around have been gathered together in order to save the beautiful planet from the clutches of invaders! Take control of characters such as a pirate, alien, or samurai and unleash aggressive action against the invading mechanical life forms using the most awesome weapons in the galaxy! Team up with another player in multiplayer for co-op action or go solo in single player and shoot for the high score with Omega Five's intense scoring system!

Released: 9 January 2008
Platforms: Nintendo 3DS Xbox 360
Genres: Shoot 'em up Shooter Side-scrolling
Developers: Winning Entertainment Group
Publishers: Hudson Soft
Modes: Multiplayer Single-player
Country: Japan
Age ratings: ESRB E10+CERO A
Composers: Hiroyuki Iwatsuki

About

Omega Five (or Omega 5) is a horizontally scrolling shooter developed by Natsume Co., Ltd., more specifically an internal team named Tengo Project, and published by Hudson Soft for the Xbox 360 via Xbox Live Arcade. Hudson released the game on January 9, 2008. Various Japanese sites including Famitsu had listed the game as also heading to the Nintendo 3DS in Spring 2011. However, the 3DS port was canceled shortly following Konami's acquisition of Hudson, along with the company's other planned 3DS titles.

Omega Five features four selectable flying characters shooting enemies in a horizontally scrolling environment, with enemies emerging from the 3D background as well as screen edges, using both ranged and melee attacks. Each character can pick up icons to choose from one of three attack types, A, B, or C, and each weapon can be upgraded three times.

Media

The articlegameplay, story, development, reception

Reception

The game received "mixed or average reviews" according to the review aggregation website Metacritic. IGN called it "one of the prettiest games on 360." Eurogamer criticized the game's "overly fussy control scheme", but said it was "technically the most impressive exclusive XBLA title." TeamXbox praised "pure, old-school, side-scrolling action wrapped up in a gorgeous visual package" but added, "if you're not a hard-core shooting fan or if you like a little extra substance with your video-game meal, Omega Five will likely leaving you with an unfilled appetite and hungry for more."

com published the most disparaging review, stating, "it seems to rely more on fancy effects than challenging fun." Official Xbox Magazine gave it an above-average review over a month before its release date.