Omega Fighter

{{Infobox video game

| title = Omega Fighter

| image = Omega Fighter Poster.png

| developer = UPL

| publisher = {{vgrelease|JP|UPL|NA|American Sammy}}

| released = {{vgrelease|JP|July 1989{{cite web |title=Omega Fighter |url=https://mediaarts-db.bunka.go.jp/id/M731429 |website=Media Arts Database |publisher=Agency for Cultural Affairs |language=ja |access-date=26 September 2021}}|NA|August 1989|EU|October 1989}}

| genre = Shoot 'em up

| modes = Single-player, multiplayer

| platforms = Arcade

}}

{{nihongo foot|Omega Fighter|オメガファイター|Omega Faitā|lead=yes|group=lower-alpha}} is a 1989 vertically scrolling shooter video game developed and published by UPL for arcades. It was released by American Sammy in North America.{{cite magazine |date=August 1989 |title=AMOA Expo '89 Convention Exhibit Preview |url=https://archive.org/details/VendingTimesVOL29NO10August1989Clearscan/page/n42 |magazine=Vending Times |page=47 |volume=29 |issue=10}} While similar to most other scrolling shooters, Omega Fighter was unique in its gameplay, level and enemy focus: rather than flying over multiple levels, the player faced up against an enormous space battle cruiser which contained every level. A Sega Genesis version was planned but never released.{{cite magazine |last=Harris |first=Steve |date=September 1989 |title=Outpost: Genesis — GENESIS SIZZLES AT CES!!! A Dozen New 16-Bit Game Titles Debut at Summer Show - Will the Momentum Continue? |url=https://archive.org/stream/Electronic_Gaming_Monthly_03#page/n66/mode/1up |access-date=2025-04-27 |magazine=Electronic Gaming Monthly |publisher=Sendai Publishing |pages=64–67 |issue=3}}

Gameplay

Taking place in the future, an enormous alien battle cruiser/space craft carrier has attacked the Earth. The Earth's only defense lies in small fighter craft wielding great firepower with the mission of dismantling the cruiser one portion at a time before it lands.

Players were briefed before every mission to destroy specific parts of the enormous ship. Destroying these parts of the ship would actually play some significance on the game's ending, but overall contributed to the player's score. The game has a unique scoring aspect that awarded the player for destroying enemies at point blank range.

There are two weapons that the player picks up, and if the player picks up a different powerup, it will always reset to its lowest level:

(I) - Ion Laser: Shoots straight, pick up more to increase damage at a cost of decreasing length. Ideal for close combat.
(W) - Wide Shot: Shoots bullets in wider range when collecting more of them. Ideal for taking enemies from afar but deals less damage.

There are also two items that are pressed by the 'bomb' button, and each player may pick up to two of them:

Silver: Activate to slow down everything on screen. Useful to dodge bullets and getting closer for higher score.
Gold: Destroy all enemies on screen, score depends on closeness to player prior to using the item.

Reception

In Japan, Game Machine listed Omega Fighter on their August 15, 1989 issue as being the fifteenth most popular table arcade unit at the time.{{cite magazine|title=Game Machine's Best Hit Games 25 - テーブル型TVゲーム機 (Table Videos)|magazine=Game Machine|issue=362|publisher=Amusement Press, Inc.|date=15 August 1989|page=21|lang=ja}}

At the time of the game's release, Computer + Video Games and Advanced Computer Entertainment generally found the game playable and fulfilling.{{cite magazine |title=Arcade Action: Omega Fighter |magazine=Computer + Video Games |date=16 October 1989 |issue=96 (November 1989) |pages=96–98 (98) |url=https://archive.org/details/cvg-magazine-096/page/n97}}{{cite magazine |title=Omega Fighter |magazine=Advanced Computer Entertainment |date=October 1989 |issue=26 (November 1989) |page=23 |url=https://www.solvalou.com/arcade/reviews/44/246}} Your Sinclair, on the other hand, felt the gameplay and graphics were uninspired.{{cite magazine |last1=Bielby |first1=Matt |title=Slots of Fun |magazine=Your Sinclair |date=16 November 1989 |issue=48 (December 1989) |pages=90–1 |url=https://www.solvalou.com/arcade/reviews/68/246}}