Omega Boost
Omega Boost is a 1999 shoot 'em up video game developed by Polyphony Digital and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation. It is the first game to be developed by Polyphony Digital, formed after the success of Gran Turismo which was developed under Sony Computer Entertainment Japan, and their only game that is not in the Gran Turismo series as well as their sole non-racing video game. The game features mecha designs by Shoji Kawamori of Macross fame.
Omega Boost
- Date
- 1999.
- Publisher
- Sony Interactive Entertainment.
- Language
- Japanese and English.
- Genre
- shoot 'em up and science fiction video game.
VALÉORINE Encyclopedia
VALÉORINE documentary reading
Documentary summary
Omega Boost is a 1999 shoot 'em up video game developed by Polyphony Digital and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation. It is the first game to be developed by Polyphony Digital, formed after the success of Gran Turismo which was developed under Sony Computer Entertainment Japan, and their only game that is not in the Gran Turismo series as well as their sole non-racing video game. The game features mecha designs by Shoji Kawamori of Macross fame.
Admitted source layer · organised and presented by VALÉORINE
Reference Check
Propose documentary evidence for Omega Boost. A contribution is never written directly as fact: identity, source, rights and evidence gates still decide.
Sign in to contribute
Documentary evidence
Documentary basis
Authority files
wikidata · Q1648458 · wikipedia · Omega Boost
In this article
Gameplay
Gameplay
The game was criticized by some reviewers for being too short (nine levels with an equal amount of unlockable special missions) and simplistic.
The gameplay takes place in waves, meaning that enemies will appear in the same groups and formations in the same order every playthrough. The player doesn't get to choose what order to engage an entire stage's enemies, just the ones in the current wave. This rail-shooter element does not hamper the player's freedom to fly where they choose in most stages. On some stages, the player has complete control of Omega Boost, specifically areas where they are in Planet ETA's atmosphere. Other stages limit the player in terms of speed (falling through the timeshift). The "Boost" part of the mech's name comes from Omega Boost's booster pack, allowing the player to move in any direction and circle strafe enemies with a scanning and lock-on feature. Omega Boost also learns the Viper Boost maneuver once it is levelled up. Viper Boost, when engaged, will cause Omega Boost to glow blue as it tears through enemies on screen. Destroying enemies will cause the gauge to refill incrementally. However, the game can be completed without ever using Viper Boost. If Viper Boost is used, the final ranking will have "Pixy" added onto the title, showing the attack during play.
Story
Story
In the past, an artificial intelligence named AlphaCore peacefully and silently co-existed with the human race, though its origins remain unknown. Eventually, the human race advanced to the point where they became aware of AlphaCore and its capabilities, and were shocked by what it was capable of. Fearing its power, humanity tried to 'dump' AlphaCore- presumably an attempt to destroy or manipulate the AI- but the action failed, only provoking the AlphaCore and starting a war between humans and machines. This war goes on into the distant future, with mankind steadily being outmatched by AlphaCore, who is capable of destroying entire cities easily. In this future, scientists devise a way to travel through time in order stop AlphaCore. However, AlphaCore discovers this plan and steals the time travel technology. It builds a giant shaft, the Timeshaft, on a desolate, mined out planet named ETA, and uses this to travel back in time and alter ENIAC, the first general-use computer created and considered by AlphaCore to be the first artificial intelligence. It plans to implant a virus containing its own code into one of ENIAC's vacuum tubes, thus creating a predestination paradox and ensuring its survival in the present day. To counter AlphaCore's scheme, human scientists create the Omega Boost, a giant robot capable of traveling through time using the Direct Drive System (DDS). Lester J. Hemming, an experienced pilot and one of very few who can pilot the Omega Boost, is charged with traveling back in time to stop AlphaCore by finding ENIAC and replacing the AlphaCore infected vacuum tube, breaking the paradox and thus stopping AlphaCore before it even has a chance to exist. Omega Boost manages to pierce the defenses around planet ETA, encountering along the way a red 'knockoff' of Omega Boost made by AlphaCore named Beta Boost, and enters the Timeshaft encountering resistance around and inside. However, after traveling through, Lester and Omega Boost find themselves not in the past of 1946, but near planet ETA a few decades into the future. The ETA of the future has become the home base of AlphaCore and turned into a cybernetic planet completely unlike its present self, overrun with AlphaCore's machinery. Omega Boost proceeds to breach the planetary defenses, once again defeating Beta Boost (who has been given a version of the Viper Boost attack) and fending off the avatar of AlphaCore itself. Afterwards, AlphaCore detonates the entire planet in an effort to destroy Omega Boost, but leaves the Timeshaft- now its own structure akin to a space station- intact in order to attempt an escape to an unknown time. Omega Boost pursues it and destroys its three forms- crystal, serpent-like machine, and finally the true form, a vaguely fairylike humanoid with wings. After defeat, AlphaCore attempts to possess Omega Boost, but fails, disintegrating. The end cutscene depicts Omega Boost arriving in 1946, crashing into a forest in North America. Lester locates ENIAC and, through a small probe, finds the vacuum tube infected by AlphaCore's virus, switching it out for the safe tube seen in the intro; thus preventing AlphaCore's rise to power and subsequent destruction of the human race.
Development
Development
Similarities between Omega Boost and Sega's Panzer Dragoon series led to a rumor that former members of Team Andromeda, dissolved in 1998, had joined Polyphony Digital. This rumor turned out to be true as the lead designer and programmer on Omega Boost was Yuji Yasuhara, who had worked on Panzer Dragoon Zwei.
Audio
Audio
The Omega Boost Original Soundtrack was released on June 19, 1999. The album had a limited print and is considered very rare. As such, many fans of the game have found it easier to rip the soundtrack from the game disc itself, however, this leads to confusion over the official titles of the tracks, mainly because they are labeled as "areas" in-game instead of the official names given by the creators. The opening movie and ending credits in each version features different music. The Japanese version uses "Shade" by Feeder as its opening theme and final boss theme, and "Ismeel" by Dip in the Pool as its ending theme. The North American version licenses songs by Loudmouth, opening with "Fly" and closing with "The Road"; as well as featuring "Otsegolation" by Static-X, played during the title screen and the final boss. Finally, the European version uses "Dreamer" by Cast as the opening, final boss and ending themes.
Merchandise
Merchandise
A series of action figures was created by Blue Box Toys, featuring mecha from the game, including: Omega Boost and Beta Boost. A third figure, Herbarcher, was shown on the back of the boxes; however, it was never released.
History of the object
Dated record
History of the object
The full dated record · 2 entries
1999
Omega Boost published.
1999
Omega Boost is recorded as published in 1999.
Reception
Omega Boost received above-average reviews according to the review aggregation website GameRankings. However, Chris Charla of NextGen called it "The textbook definition of a two-star game: competent, but totally uninspired." In Japan, Famitsu gave it a better score of 28 out of 40.
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.GameSpot staff. SCEA Ships Omega Boost [date mislabeled as "April 27, 2000"]. GameSpot. Red Ventures. September 14, 1999.
- 2.Blue Flame Labs. Yuji Yasuhara Video Game Credits and Biography. MobyGames.
- 3.Omega Boost Original Soundtrack. VGMdb.
- 4.Omega Boost – Omega Boost – BBI Action Figure. FigureRealm.
- 5.Beta Boost – Omega Boost – BBI Action Figure. FigureRealm.
- 6.CBS Interactive. Omega Boost for PlayStation. GameRankings.
- 7.The Jaded Critic. Omega Boost – Review. AllGame. All Media Network.
- 8.D'Aprile, Jason. Omega Boost. Gamecenter. CNET. October 12, 1999.
- 9.Edge staff. Omega Boost [Import]. Edge. Future Publishing. 73. 90. July 1999.
- 10.EGM staff. Omega Boost. Electronic Gaming Monthly. Ziff Davis. 123. October 1999.
- 11.Enterbrain. オメガブースト. Famitsu.
- 12.McNamara, Andy. Omega Boost. Game Informer. FuncoLand. 78. October 1999.
- 13.Ngo, George "Eggo". Omega Boost (Import). GameFan. Shinno Media. 7. 12. July 1999.
- 14.Mylonas, Eric "ECM". Omega Boost (Import). GameFan. Shinno Media. 7. 78–79. July 1999.
- 15.The D-Pad Destroyer. Omega Boost Review for PlayStation on GamePro.com. GamePro. IDG Entertainment. 1999.
- 16.Atomic Dawg. Omega Boost. GamePro. IDG Entertainment. 134. 98. November 1999.
- 17.Clint. Omega Boost Review. GameRevolution. CraveOnline. September 1999.
- 18.Bartholow, Peter. Omega Boost Review. GameSpot. Red Ventures. May 10, 1999.
- 19.Chen, Jeff. Omega Boost. IGN. Ziff Davis. September 23, 1999.
- 20.Charla, Chris. Omega Boost. NextGen. Imagine Media. 58. 114. October 1999.
- 21.MacDonald, Mark. Omega Boost. Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine. Ziff Davis. 3. 1. 128. October 1999.
References
Citations
References
Each reference names the institution holding it, so a reader may go to the document itself.
reference work
Secondary witnessreference work
Secondary witness
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 14 August 2026.
Elsewhere in Collectables
20,755 published records in this field, each with its sources named.
- Olympic GoldWork
- Olympic Hockey '98Work
- Olympic SoccerWork
- Olympic Summer GamesWork
- Omega FighterWork
- Omega FiveWork
- Omega LabyrinthWork
- Omega RaceWork
Best supported in this field
For owners
Own a copy of Omega Boost?
A specialist will read what you send and tell you what the house can establish, what it cannot, and whether the object is suited to sale. There is no charge and no obligation. The object stays with you throughout; nothing is shipped to us unless it is arranged in writing beforehand.