At first look, “Omega Strikers” appears to be like just a little like air hockey. You see an object within the heart referred to as the Core and it bounces across the map like a puck. The objective of the sport is to hit the Core into the objective. However past that superficial comparability, that’s the place the similarities finish. Observers will discover that there are not any paddles, however as a substitute, gamers management considered one of six characters on the map in a 3v3 on-line competitors.
Odyssey Interactive describes its debut mission as having the goal-focused gameplay of “Rocket League,” the bodily enjoyable of “Tremendous Smash Bros.” and the character depth of “League of Legends.” After enjoying a little bit of the closed beta, that description practically hits the mark. “Omega Strikers” is a mishmash of all these video games, and it additionally occurs to be extremely addictive.
A MIX OF INFLUENCES
The “Rocket League” comparability is apparent as two groups attempt to knock the Core into one another’s objective. Gamers have one particular person enjoying the goalie function and two forwards that attempt to knock the ball ahead. The “Smash” affect will be seen in how gamers can achieve a bonus by attacking opponents, and if their stamina goes down, they’re knocked out creating a brief numbers-advantage powerplay.
Lastly, the “League” affect is clear within the characters. It additionally shouldn’t be a shock as a result of a number of Riot Sport leads based Odyssey Interactive. The closed beta options 10 characters with extra being added. All of them have distinct personalities and talents that make them higher for sure roles.
For instance, Dobu who appears to be like like a fats hamster is ideal for a goalie. He has strikes that block an space and his toughness makes him arduous to take down. His huge physique additionally helps block incoming photographs. However, X is a brute whose assaults make him nice for pummeling different gamers as a way to create a bonus. His particular strikes require a warm-up typically and could be a bit messy.
Every of the characters has a easy assault and three particular strikes. The characters additionally degree up primarily based on how a lot they work together with the Core and different characters, hitting degree 10 over the course of the match.
ADJUSTING TO THE LEARNING CURVE
Initially, the sport felt chaotic. Gamers are simply working round after the Core like 8-year-olds enjoying soccer, however the longer I performed, the extra I seen the refined nuances. Timing performs an enormous function as gamers have hit the Core at simply the best time and angle to ship it flying the best means. In addition they must know their characters’ strikes, which may additionally knock the puck round or it may well additionally smash enemies.
The large problem is that there’s a lot occurring the display screen, and it’s so frenzied at instances that it may be arduous to determine the place your character is and what it's best to do. Gamers must regulate the opponents, their character and the Core. In the event that they discover themselves being attacked, they need to go after therapeutic gadgets scattered on the map or head to the objective space the place protection is elevated.
When utilizing particular strikes, they must know one of the best time to activate them. Some are highly effective however they heavy very lengthy cooldowns. It might have been fascinating if the strikes had been a bit extravagant or if Odyssey Interactive thought extra out of the field with them. Most of the forwards’ strikes appear targeted on attacking opponents and nothing is concentrated on debuffs or altering the sphere of play.
It’s so much to absorb, however the studying curve isn’t impossibly steep. After just a few matches, I bought the texture for fight vs. goal-scoring. I additionally felt that the sport performed higher on controller than mouse and keyboard. “Omega Strikers” is out as a Closed Beta on Steam and can launch on cell and all main consoles sooner or later.
POLISH IN THE CLOSED BETA
From what I performed, the sport is polished with stunning characters and a enjoyable idea. It appears to be like so much higher than the screenshots give it credit score for. The matches themselves final 4 minutes lengthy with a recreation concluding when a workforce hits 5 targets however the caveat is that they must win by 2. That results in a fast churn in matches and that’s an enormous plus.
Which means gamers can bounce in for a fast recreation or they'll have longer classes that don’t really feel overly burdensome. Gamers can simply get right into a one-more-match really feel, and a promise to play one hour can simply stretch to a few.
Better of all, Odyssey Interactive mentioned “Omega Strikers” is free-to-play with no loot containers. Gamers can earn in-game forex via matches and use them to buy new characters or cosmetics. There’s an alternate forex that gamers I assume gamers can buy with real-world cash.
All of it quantities to a promising bundle that avid gamers ought to preserve an eye fixed out for.