Omega Race

About

Omega Race is a fixed-screen vector shooter in which the player pilots an Omegan Space Fighter against waves of android-controlled enemy craft. The battle takes place within a rectangular racetrack surrounding a central display area. Unlike games with screen-edge wraparound, the arena is enclosed by force-field walls; striking one causes the fighter to rebound into the track and briefly reveals the otherwise invisible barrier. The fighter can rotate through 360 degrees, thrust forward, and fire lasers in the direction it is facing. Movement follows momentum-based physics, so releasing the thrust does not immediately stop the ship. Slowing down or changing direction requires turning and applying thrust against its current movement. The arcade cabinet uses a rotary controller for aiming and separate buttons for thrust and fire. Each wave contains Droid Ships that travel around the arena and attack the player. Command Ships accompany them in later waves, firing more accurately and laying mines along the track. A Command Ship that remains active for too long can transform into a faster, rapidly spinning Death Ship, which pursues the player while continuing to shoot and release mines. Destroying every enemy craft advances the game to another wave with more numerous and aggressive opposition. Enemy vessels initially deposit Photon Mines, which can be destroyed for points or avoided. Mines left undisturbed eventually develop into more valuable Vapor Mines, creating persistent obstacles along the confined track. Contact with an enemy ship, hostile projectile, or mine destroys the player’s fighter. Laser shots travel only a limited distance, but the player can fire rapidly to create a stream of projectiles. Points are awarded for destroying Photon Mines, Vapor Mines, Droid Ships, Command Ships, and Death Ships, with the more dangerous targets carrying higher values. Completing an enemy force also awards a bonus. Additional fighters are granted at score thresholds determined by the version or arcade machine settings. The game has no final wave. After each enemy force is eliminated, another enters the arena with greater speed, numbers, and aggression, and play continues until all of the player’s fighters have been destroyed. The arcade version supports one or two players, with two players alternating turns. The arcade release displays monochrome vector graphics reflected over illuminated background scenery in some cabinet models. The The VIC-20 version supports either a joystick or paddle controllers, offers selectable starting lives, and allows the foreground and background colors to be changed. The ColecoVision edition includes additional arena variations, including layouts with passages through the central barrier and teleporting Astro Gates. The Atari 2600 cartridge was packaged with a Booster-Grip attachment that added a second button to a standard joystick, allowing thrust and fire to be controlled separately.

Description and score courtesy of MobyGames ↗