Omega Race

In the year 2003, the Omega System developed a method of training its warriors to protect their star colonies against Android forces over the city of Komar. Omega fighters raced to engage and destroy these aliens and the mines they planted. The Omega method is so successful, it command fear and respect from all throughout the galaxies. This method is code named OMEGA RACE.

Or so the blurb goes.  What hits you as soon as you switch the power on (it comes on cartridge) is that you’re going to be in for a treat.  A large colourful logo fills most of the screen followed by an attrack mode cycling through options, story and scoring.  Already an impressive attention to detail on the humble vic.

The game

The real magic appears when you start the game - it’s a pure arcade experience executed to near perfection.

You control an Asteroids-like spaceship that moves in a similar fashion; you can rotate left or right and thrust in the direction you are facing.  Where Omega Race differs from Asteroids is that you are confined to the playing area, bouncing off the sides and the block occupying the centre of the screen.  You start on either the left or the right of this block and the enemy drones on the opposite side waiting for you to blast them.

Omega Race Screenshot

The drones always have  a command ship that moves and shoots faster than the rest and it usally anticipates where to shoot if you lazily drift around the arena.  Once destroyed one of the surviving drones takes over as the command ship.  While the drones make there way around the arena in a predictable manner, one of them will begin to flash followed by a menacing change in tempo of the repetitive tune before it explodes into an extremely fast moving Death Ship.   You’ll want to take it out pretty quickly!

All the drones can drop mines behind them, which appear as a triangle or diamond and collision with these are fatal, they can be destroyed with your trusty laser fortunately.  If you don’t tidy up, the minefield can make it really tricky to manoeuvre especially as all dropped mines will remain into the next level.

The action is fast with the drones strangely intelligent to the point they appear to anticipate your moves too well.   This keeps you on your toes constantly with only brief moments of rest either when you are destroyed or after completing  a wave. 

Hint- to start with five lives instead of three, press the F2 key (shift F1 on the original hardware).�
Easter egg- hold down Control, Shift, and Commodore keys, and press the RETURN key for an extended title page.

Omega Race on the Vic20, although a little different to its arcade parent, is a dream to play and difficult to put down.

Share/Save

2 Responses to “Omega Race”

1. Ren says:

   Saturday 9th May 2009 at 7:33 am

   My mouth dropped when I found this on YouTube. Watching the gameplay clip made me feel like 7 years old again.

   Reply
2. Witty Indie says:

   Monday 11th May 2009 at 3:06 pm

   Great childhood memories!

   Reply