Omega Boost - Strategy Guide (Page 02)

Below are the cheat codes, hints and help for Omega Boost - Strategy Guide (Page 02).

ZONE U8 - Alpha Core Battle
==== ==   ===== ==== ======
No. Enemies: 1
Time Limit:
Objective: Destroy Alpha Core head as quickly as possible.

This isn't really a level, but a demonstration of the cool morphing techniques
possible with the game engine. As you shoot the head it turns from a weird bald
man to a long haired woman, to a strange cow/demon thing. Try watching in
replay mode to make most sense of it.


ZONE U9 - Mech Battle 3
==== ==   ==== ====== =
No. Enemies: 1
Time Limit:
Objective: Destroy enemy Mech as fast as possible.

Same as boss battle 2, only in a tunnel.
Notice the Gold Omega Boost as in the end of the game.



ZONE V5 - Timeshaft Run 2
==== ==   ========= === =
No. Enemies: 21
Time Limit: 0:50
Objective: Get to the end of the time shaft and collect or destroy all beacons.



=-----------=
*5. Ratings *
=-----------=

Depending on your performance in the game you will be awarded a ranking based
on the AP points you earned by e.g destroying all enemies, or beating the time
limit. It therefore does not necessarily follow that someone who reaches say,
level 7 will have a higher rating than someone who managed to reach level 6.
Remember that like the game Einhander you are only ranked on how well you
performed before you continue. To get the best ranks you really need to be
able to complete the whole game without once continuing.
The rating is the same in normal and hard modes.


Rank / Rating /  AP required

15.Drunkard March          0

14.Green Decoration       10

13.Country VIP            20

12.Model Pilot            25

11.Pawn Abyss             30  (N.B. The prefix 'Pixy' is added from here on)
                              
10.Rook Abyss             35 

9.Queen Abyss             40

8.King Abyss              50

7.Galactic Magician       55

6.Galactic Warrior        60

5.Galactic Revolutionary  70

4.Galactic Maestro        75

3.Eniac Mania             80

2.Omega Hades             85

1.Omega Zeus              95+

How AP Works
""""""""""""
AP is calculated by taking the average of your overall score from each level.
The numbers are added together and then divided by nine.
This even happens if you don't complete the game, so if you get, for example 95
pts overall on zone one, and then died at the start of zone two then the
calculation would be:

95+0+0+0+0+0+0+0+0/9 = 10.5 = 11 AP (Green Decoration)

Then again, if you completed the game then you might get something like:

95+89+92+90+87+90+100+96+100/9 = 93.22 = 93 AP (Pixy Omega Hades)



=--------------=
*5. Cheating...*
=--------------=

Although I have yet to find any actual cheats for the game, there is an easy
way to 'take advantage' of the way the tunnel levels work.

On the final stage when fighting the first incarnation of the Alpha Core, boost
towards it and try and get as close as you can. Then move to the side whilst
holding the 'scan' button and you should be able to gradually edge past the
core and end up on the other side of it! Now you can shoot it as much as you
want and nothing can touch you. This is makes it a breeze even in hard mode.

(This can actually be pretty hard to do. Well VERY HARD in hard mode..
But it CAN be done. Practice in the zone play with level C to see that it is
possible. The trick is to make the camera begin to slide down the wall. )


=-----------------------=
*6. Version Differences *
=-----------------------=

Although I only own the Japanese NTSC version of Omega Boost, I recently bought
Official UK Playstation Magazine and found some interesting changes in the
early PAL version.

*. Predictably, the PAL version is slightly slower. The action seems to be at
the same pace (movement speed, etc) but the frame rate is slightly ragged. The
PAL version also has small borders (Not as bad as say, Tekken 3).

*. The PAL version now has a new gallery option. I can't tell if this is only
in the demo or in the full game, but it contains 10 pictures of the Omega Boost
with annotated notes (usefully in Japanese..) in the style of Einhander.

*. Much slower rifle fire rate (initially I thought this was because of the
usual PAL speed lag, but I think it may have been done intentionally to make
the game harder).

*. Menu options now in English (obviously).

*. After examining the demo gallery program it seems there are 30 
gallery pictures in Omega Boost PAL version.

Gallery Pictures: (256 colour .TIM files)

1. Coloured Omega Boost facing forwards
2. Same as 1, but outline only (no colour)
3. View of Omega Boost from behind 
4. Front/rear view plus profile view sketches
5. Detailed head sketch
6. Rear of head
7. Sketch of arms
8. Sketch of Assault rifle (interestingly it's a dual vulcan/laser 
cannon thingy)
9. Sketch of how gun parts work
10. Sketch of jetpack front/back

It will be interesting to see if these exist in the NTSC American 
release as well as so far I have heard little or no information on it,
whereas the PAL version is out now.

=---------=
*7. Misc. *
=---------=

*. In case you didn't know, pushing the d-pad moves the weird squares that appear
when loading.

*. Pause Menu Fun
When the game is paused, the camera can still be moved left and right (reminds
me of the 'flo-mo' effect seen in 'The Matrix').
Pressing the L2 and R2 buttons increases and decreases the sound effects volume
(you can't change the music volume, though).

*. It's mentioned somewhere, but pressing Start after a zone will save the
flight data to memory for watching in a replay.

*. The term 'Pixy' in the ranking screen refers to the model type of the Omega
Boost. Quite what other models there could be I don't know, but I'd like to see :)

*. Now, for your amusement, and for the sheer hell of it basically, here is the
complete lyrics to the song Shade by Feeder (it's the music in the intro and
title screen/end game in case you didn't know).

SHADE
"""""
Will it always be the same?
Give it all a reason,
Put me down, watch me drown,
I can not exceed

Holding out, I can't explain,
Though I never could, that's the problem,
Burning back the pain again,
Climbing up to free myself

I don't need this, innovation comes,
(Do you really know? I'm falling..)
I just fall into shade

All I want to do is pray,
Give me back the freedom,
It becomes the only way,
Clear, it sets me free

State of mind is twisted too,
Looking at the same thing,
Flicking back the pages,
just enough for me to see myself

I don't need this, innovation comes,
(Do you really know, What you're seeing?)
I'm trying to believe this life goes on
(Do you really know? Do you see it?)
Do you see it, do you really know?
(Do you really know? I'm falling..)
I will fall, into space..

It's funny how it seems,
Now I can dream a little,
It's pulling me inside,
The wheel still turns,

Remember how the sun,
Touched my face, see it,
Lighting up the way back home..

I don't need this, innovation comes,
(Do you really know, what you're seeing?)
I'm trying to believe this life goes on,
(Do you really know? Do you see it?)
Do you see it, Do you really know?
(Do you really know? I'm falling..)
I will fall into shade..


That's all for now. Have fun with this great game!

=----------------------------------------=
*8. Credits/Copyright Notice/Thanks/etc..*
=----------------------------------------=

This FAQ was written totally by Andrew Dean. This guide is all my own work and
is simply a compilation of everything I have found. As such it may not
necessarily be accurate, and so does not claim to be 100% correct, although the upmost
measures were taken to be accurate.


FAQ ©1999 Andrew Dean   (deano@ravensnest.demon.co.uk)

Omega Boost and Playstation are Copyright of Sony Computer Entertainment International ©1999
Omega Boost is ©1999 Polyphony Digital
All other trademarks (if any) are acknowledged.


This FAQ can be freely distributed AS LONG AS it is done so in IT'S ENTIRETY and
is unaltered. This FAQ CANNOT be used commercially or otherwise reprinted or
incorporated into any commercial medium. It is FOR PRIVATE USE ONLY.


CONTACT INFORMATION
^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^

Found something amazing in your battles against the Alpha Core that I don't know about?
Then you can send me mail at:

deano@ravensnest.demon.co.uk

Please bear in mind that I cannot afford constant internet access and so may
only be able to check my mail once a week. You will get a reply!

This is my first FAQ so feedback would be appreciated. Whats good, bad or
indifferent? Tell me!

Thanks To:

Polyphony Digital: (predictably) for teaching the old Playstation Dog even more
new tricks. It will be interesting to see if Gran Turismo 2 pushes the
Playstation any further. Or even a possible Omega Boost 2...

Everyone who sent me mail about this FAQ.

A.J. Morgenthal: For a boss suggestion

Natalie: You know why... :)