Omega Strike is another entry into the growing 2D retro-inspired Metroidvania catalogue, a genre that has been growing in popularity over the last 12 months thanks to sterling releases like Hollow Knight, Axiom Verge and Ori and the Blind Forest. But where does developer Woblyware’s effort lie in the grand scheme of things?
Kicking off with the story, where we find the evil Doctor Omega plotting to take over the world with his dastardly army of henchmen. Three heroes (that’s you – yes, all of them) team up to take him down, by travelling through a variety of environments, learning new abilities and generally kicking ass throughout a roughly 5-6 hour adventure. It might not be the most imaginative plot in the world, but it fits its purpose neatly enough and is generally well-written enough to keep things moving at a brisk pace.
Players control three different characters who can all be switched between at any time. Each one is useful in different situations, and while it’s likely that you’ll quickly decide on a favourite and stick to them as often as possible, all of them are fun to control in their own unique ways. Fans will notice nods to several movies and games throughout their time with Omega Strike, with overall tone containing elements of Commando, Metal Slug, a bit of Contra, and maybe a dash of something or other from Marvel’s comic book universe.
Omega Strike‘s world is more straightforward and easy to get to grips with than many other similar titles, helping to make it a more palatable experience for any less hardcore players. That’s not to say anyone more familiar will be underwhelmed though, as the action is pretty relentless and gets fairly tricky in places. There’s very little risk of getting truly lost (one aspect in which some Metroidvanias can fall down slightly), and the cartoony visuals and 80s action-themed chiptune soundtrack combined with the witty writing and endearing characters make this a game that any fan of the genre should definitely look into picking up.
OMEGA STRIKE / DEVELOPER: WOBLYWARE / PUBLISHER: DIGERATI / PLATFORM: PC, PLAYSTATION 4, XBOX ONE (REVIEWED) / RELEASE DATE: OUT NOW
