Omikron: The Nomad Soul

Omikron: The Nomad Soul (Simply The Nomad Soul in Europe) is a Windows 9x and Dreamcast 3D adventure game developed by Quantic Dream and published in 1999 by Eidos Interactive. It was released on November 1, 1999 for PC and on June 22, 2000 for Dreamcast. A PlayStation and PlayStation 2 version was planned but was cancelled. <div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i641.photobucket.com/albums/uu140/mrjag/omikron_bar.jpg" /><!--center--></div> Synopsis: The Nomad Soul is set in a futuristic city known as Omikron, which is a densely populated metropolis on the world of Phaenon, the second planet of the star Rad'an. At the start of the game, players are asked by an Omikronian police officer named Kay'l 669 to leave their dimension and enter Omikron within his body (therefore breaking the fourth wall). 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 city of Omikron exists beneath an enormous crystal dome, which was constructed to protect against the ice age that Phaenon entered into after its sun's extinction. The city is split into different sectors: Anekbah, Qualisar, Jaunpur, Jahangir and Lahoreh. Because it is forbidden for the inhabitants to leave their respective sectors, each area has developed uniquely, which is reflected by the diverging lifestyles and architecture. Common to all Omikronians, however, is the heavily oppressive and controlling government, which is run by a supercomputer called Ix. Gameplay: The game combines the mechanics of distinct game genres such as adventure games, first person shooters, fighting games, and even elements of a puzzle game. Its primary genre is adventure, with the other elements only played out during key moments as the story progresses. 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. However, doing so results in all character stats resetting prompting the gamer to fight in tournaments or buy more potions to jot stats back up. Soundtrack: David Bowie, who had some input on the storyline and game's design, makes two cameo appearances within the game, although not as himself; first as Boz, a game character who's a revolutionary wanted by authorities, and secondly as the nameless lead-singer of the fictional musical group, "The Dreamers", who perform illegal concerts in Omikron. In addition, select tracks from his (then) upcoming 'hours...' album were written specifically for the game then rewritten for the actual album release. For instance, the intro song New Angels of Promise changed the chorus lyric Omikron to Suspicious Minds. The game's soundtrack is a main feature as well, featuring songs by Bowie and Reeves Gabrels (most of which appeared on '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. Most of Bowie's songs are then available (in-game only) for later listening either if the player opts to "buy" the recordings or simply walk into an apartment that already has some of the music laid out in plain view or in hidden compartments. Bowie's wife Iman Abdulmajid also makes a cameo as one of the numerous Omikronian citizens the player can "reincarnate" into. - <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Omikron:_The_Nomad_Soul" target="_blank">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Omikron:_The_Nomad_Soul</a> <div style="text-align: center;"><object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://youtube.com/v/7HDHJoaEC-I&rel=1"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/7HDHJoaEC-I&rel=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object><!--center--></div>