Omikron: The Nomad Soul

This article is about the video game. For the music album, see Baaba Maal. For the Greek letter, see Omicron.

Omikron: The Nomad Soul
File:Omikron - The Nomad Soul Coverart.jpg
Developer(s)	Quantic Dream
Publisher(s)	Eidos Interactive
Director(s)	David Cage
Producer(s)	Hervé Albertazzi
Writer(s)	David Cage
Platforms	Microsoft Windows, Dreamcast
Release date(s)	Microsoft Windows Dreamcast
Genre(s)	Adventure
Mode(s)	Single-player

Omikron: The Nomad Soul (known as The Nomad Soul in Europe) is an adventure game developed by Quantic Dream and published by Eidos Interactive for Microsoft Windows and Dreamcast. A PlayStation and PlayStation 2 versions were in development for a short time, however, after the commercial failure of the Dreamcast version these were cancelled.

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 (thereby 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, Qalisar, 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.

The game also features several food items and beverages which can be purchased by the player. These are advertised during the game. There are two drinks. The first is Quanta Cola, an advertisement for this is seen at the beginning of the trailer for the game. It contains radioactive Quanta extract and can lead to the early destruction of your brain cells. The next is Kloops Beer, the one beer to have when you're having more than one. The food item that is advertised is Chocovat, a confectionery that contains tungsten hydrogen extract.

Story

Soon after the beginning of the game's introduction, the player begins the investigation in the 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; one of Omikron's chief police commanders, Commandant Gandhar, is a demon pretending to be human and lures human souls into Omikron from other dimensions by way of the Omikron video game. Kay'l 669 asking the player to help him was a trap: supposedly, if the in-game character dies, the real human playing the video game will lose their soul forever. Despite many assassination attempts on the protagonist's life by other demons working behind the scenes, the player destroys Gandhar with supernatural weaponry.

After this brief victory, the player is invited to join the mysterious anti-government movement named "The Awakened" (referring to the fact the characters 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 protagonist as the "Nomad Soul" since he has the ability to change bodies at will. The Nomad Soul learns afterwards that what is going on in Omikron is merely an extension 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; he believes he can eventually take complete control and move across Phaenon and the Universe beyond. Only by harnessing ancient, magical technology and by re-discovering several hidden tombs 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.

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.

Development

The Dreamcast version was announced by Eidos on January 7, 2000. Versions for the PlayStation and PlayStation 2 were planned but were cancelled, with the PlayStation version being 70% completed.

Soundtrack

David Bowie in 1997

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 and then rewritten for the album release. For example, for the song "New Angels of Promise" (used in the game's intro), Bowie changed the chorus lyric Omikron to Suspicious Minds.

The game's soundtrack is a main feature as well, featuring songs and instrumentals 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"), several other instrumentals written by Gabrels, with additional 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 also makes a cameo as one of the numerous Omikronian citizens the player can "reincarnate" into.

Reception

Reception
Review scores Publication Score Dreamcast PC GamePro 3.5/5 4/5 GameSpot 5.2/10 6/10 IGN 6.7/10 8.5/10 Aggregate score GameRankings 66/100 75/100

Omikron: The Nomad Soul was met with mixed reviews. Aggregating review website GameRankings gave the PC version 74.81% and the Dreamcast version 66.14%. The game sold more than 600,000 copies combined.

Sequel plans

While the game received mixed critical reaction, it achieved enough commercial success to convince Quantic Dream to start production on a sequel. Series creator David Cage claimed to receive dozens of emails every day (more than three years after the game's release) from fans worldwide asking for a sequel. Titled Nomad Soul: Exodus, it was to take place hundreds of years after the events in the first game. Ties were severed with Eidos, leaving Quantic Dream to move to Vivendi Universal, and then Atari, to pursue their next project Fahrenheit (known as Indigo Prophecy in the US).

In April 2005, Omikron 2 and a new franchise, Infraworld, were announced to be in development. David Cage confirmed at the time that they dropped the subtitle Exodus in favor of Karma. Infraworld was canned only a few months later as "the concept did not appeal to its publishers". Originally planned for the PC, Playstation 3, and Xbox 360, production for Karma was put on hold to have Quantic Dream focus on Heavy Rain.

External links

• Official Quantic Dream site
• Omikron game day by day All production cycle to the newest interviews
• Omikron: The Nomad Soul at MobyGames