Omikron - The Nomad Soul
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| Omikron - The Nomad Soul | |
| Developer(s) | Quantic Dream |
| Publisher(s) | Eidos Interactive |
| Release date(s) | November 5, 1999 |
| Genre | Adventure |
| Mode(s) | Single player |
| Rating(s) | ESRB: Teen (T) |
| Platform(s) | Dreamcast, PC |
Omikron (or The Nomad Soul) is a Windows 9x and Sega Dreamcast 3D adventure game developed by Quantic Dream and published in 1999 by Eidos Interactive.
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Synopsis
The Nomad Soul is set in a futuristic world known as Omikron, where the majority of the population live in a dense, crowded city beneath an enormous, crystal dome which protects them from Omikron's near-permanent ice age. The city is split into different sectors; among them being Anekbah, Qualisar, Jaunpur, and Lahoreh. The people are heavily oppressed and controlled by a corrupt government that is run by a supercomputer called "Ix." At the start of the game, players are asked by an Omikronian police officer named Kay'l to leave their dimension and enter Omikron within his body. After doing so, players continue with the investigation of serial killings that Kay'l and his partner Den were originally working on, attempting to pick up where Kay'l was apparently stopped from investigating.
The storyline in summary
Soon after the player begins the investigation in Anekbah sector, he uncovers information that suggests the serial killer he is looking for is, in fact, not human but actually a demon. When members of an apparent underground, anti-government movement contact the player and confirm his suspicions, the investigation deepens and uncovers information that one of Omikron's chief police commanders (Commandant Gandhar) is, in fact, a demon pretending to be human and luring human souls into Omikron from other dimensions by way of the video game that the player is actually interacting with. Despite many attempts on his life by other demons working behind the scenes, the player then uses supernatural weaponry of ancient origin to destroy Gandhar. After this brief victory, the player is then invited to join the mysterious anti-government movement that call themselves "The Awakened", referring to the fact they have "awakened" from the lies and drugs of the government. The Awakened work in tandem with an ancient religious order who are led by "Boz", a mystical being that exists in purely electronic form on the computer networks of Omikron. The Awakened refer to the player as "The Nomad Soul" since he has the ability to change bodies at will. The Nomad Soul also learns that what is going on in Omikron is merely an extention of a thousands-of-years-old battle between mankind and demons led by the powerful Astaroth. Astaroth, who was banished to the depths of Omikron long ago, is slowly regenerating power while using demons to both collect souls and impersonate high members of the government so that he can eventually take complete control and move across the planet and, indeed, the universe. Only by harnessing ancient, magical technology and re-discovering several hidden tombs and catacombs underneath Omikron's surface, can the Nomad Soul hope to discover how to destroy Astaroth, return to his own dimension, and prevent his soul from being captured by demons.
Information
The game combines the mechanics of distinct game genres such as First person shooter, Fighting game, and Adventure game, but most of the time it's an adventure game.
One of the main features in this game is the possibility to reincarnate in a different world character upon the death of the one you "incarnated" in, though losing all the experience earned (your character evolved in strength as you succeeded in fighting mini-games).
The game's soundtrack is a main feature as well, featuring songs by David Bowie and Reeves Gabrels (most of which appeared on the 1999 Bowie album 'hours...' or as B-sides on the associated single for the song "Thursday's Child") in addition to the primary composition work by Xavier Despas.
Bowie also has cameo appearances within the game; first as Boz, a game character who's a revolutionary wanted by authorities, and then second as the nameless lead-singer of the fictional musical group, "The Dreamers", who perform illegal concerts in Omikron. Most of Bowie's songs are then available (in-game only) for later listening if the player opts to "buy" the recordings of them within the game. Bowie's real life wife Iman also makes a cameo as one of the numerous Omikronian citizens the player can "reincarnate" into.
The game received mixed critical reaction, but achieved enough success with a cult audience that Quantic Dream began production on a sequel entitled Omikron 2: Exodus which was to take place hundreds of years after the events in the first game. Unfortunately, tensions between the publishers, Eidos Interactive, and the developers led to the game winding up in development limbo and, as of 2005, it is still unfinished. It is unlikely the game will ever be completed since Eidos controls most of the rights to Omikron, and Quantic Dream has since severed ties with them in favor of working with Vivendi Universal.
External links
- Quantic Dream official site (http://www.quanticdream.com/)