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Be Yourself In most games, you step into a character role and interact in a virtual world as that person. The storyline in Omikron: The Nomad Soul has a unique twist in that you interact as yourself ... a video gamer playing Omikron. As you begin your adventure, a policeman named Kay'l invites you to transfer your soul into his body. Your mission, should you choose to proceed as "The Nomad Soul," is to help solve a mystery. The story unfolds as you discover more about Kay'l and begin to understand the dark forces that control the world you have entered. You join up with an underground resistance movement, perform several tasks to build your credibility, and then proceed to a final confrontation with Evil. The story is strong, with puzzles that support the plot. This is one of the few games in which dying is used as a means to achieve objectives. You have the ability to transfer your soul between bodies, as your needs change. Different characters have varied occupations and provide unique skills and possessions that may be useful to you in your adventure. It is not wise to become too attached to any single body, because at some point you will have to abandon it in order to survive. A Bit of Shooting Is Good for the Soul I should note that I am not an adventure purist and actually enjoy the diversity that comes from a well-balanced hybrid game. The majority of Omikron is played from a third-person perspective as an inventory-based adventure with character dialog. It does include some hand-to-hand combat sequences that involve punching and kicking and several first-person-shooting scenarios to keep your trigger finger in shape. The game gives you the option of setting the difficulty level for fighting and shooting, with "Easy" being about perfect for those of us who are combat-challenged. This, coupled with taking advantage of the in-game combat practice areas, will have you fighting like a professional. In my opinion, this game is one of the very few hybrids that achieves the proper balance between "adventure" and "action." The mechanics of the game are fairly simple. Navigation and actions are accomplished with keys and the mouse is used for turning right or left. There are unique key assignments for fighting, shooting, and swimming; with all summarized on the back of the game manual for "quick reference." My Kingdom for a Saved Game There are a couple of interface features that deserve mention. Your personal inventory is limited to 18 items, with all other items stored in a Virtual Locker. Although there are Virtual Lockers throughout the urban locations, this still requires some item juggling to ensure that you have adequate room on your person for new items. Also, there are sections of the landscape that do not have locker access, and you must plan ahead in order to have what you need before entering these areas. The save system also takes some getting used to. Like a console game, you can only save at certain locations (marked by rings). The cost for each saved game is one "magic ring." This was very intimidating in the beginning, and I was sure that I would run out of rings. In reality, some basic exploring provides more than enough rings, and I always had dozens in inventory. However, I did find that I replayed a number of game segments because I could not save when I would have liked to. A World like No Other In a word, the graphics are stunning. The game is real-time 3D with futuristic cities, distinctive artwork, and very unique characters. The costumes and faces are unlike anything I have seen in a game before, and I was simply enchanted by the whole of Omikron. The original soundtrack by David Bowie and Reeve Gabrels pushes this game over the top in terms of the overall playing experience. The music and sounds are wonderful, and all players should take the time to find the hidden concerts where a virtual Bowie is performing. Where Is an Exit Sign When You Need One? As an experienced adventure gamer, I did not find Omikron to be very difficult. There are obvious clues for most of the inventory-based puzzles, and I spent very little time "just wandering." I did spend a good deal of time traversing the landscape (on foot or by taxi), as I often needed items from various game locations. The only times I was forced to use a walkthrough was to find the exit points in two of the first-person-shooter sequences. Although I could complete the objectives of each sequence without assistance, I could not figure out how to make the segment end. In both cases, the exit point was at a very specific location ... one that I would not necessarily have found by trial and error. If there were clues to direct me to the exit points, I missed them. There is also one timed shooter sequence that took me several nights to complete, as I struggled to beat the clock. A final caveat ... the end-game confrontation seems unbeatable at first. However, think strategically, and it will be effortless once you realize how to "cover your back." Loose Ends The game is delivered on three CDs. Those with adequate disk space (1.6 GB) should consider the "full" installation to eliminate the need for disk swapping. The manual is well-written, is "bigger than a jewel case," and provides everything you need about getting started and how to manage the interfaces. One word of warning--there are some rather "mature" subject areas touched upon in Omikron. During the course of the game, you have the option of visiting a sex shoppe, a bar with exotic dancers, and a peep show. None of this is portrayed in an offensive manner, but it may be inappropriate for younger gamers. Finally, Omikron has one of the most satisfying endings I've seen in long time. After the final interactive sequence, you watch an animated cut scene and then character dialog continues in order to achieve a true sense of closure. The Bottom Line I would have to rate Omikron: The Nomad Soul as one of the finest games I have played. To quote our own Ray Ivey, "... it was a world I wanted to spend time in" ... an experience far outside my day-to-day reality that gave me great pleasure. In short, it was everything that interactive entertainment should be. The drawback of a hybrid game is that it often does not meet the needs of the genre purist. The action elements in Omikron may drive a traditional adventurer to distraction. And, from what I read, the shooter sequences are not up to par for the experienced action gamer. But, for those of us who lean towards the middle, the balance achieved by Quantic Dream is just about perfect. Remember ... a soul is a terrible thing to waste, so use caution and may Vyagrimukha be with you! Final Grade: A- If
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