It's Good for the Soul By Nikki Douglas Incite Magazine, January 2000 (page 72) DAVID BOWIE MAKES GAMING HISTORY AS A MEMBER OF THE FIRST VIRTUAL BAND Forget all other adventure games you've played. For soon you will slip into the world of Omikron, a game that might just change that way we look at virtual adventures-and virtual stars- forever. From the first engrossing moment of Omikron, it's evident that this isn't going to be a typical adventure-gaming experience. The opening credits roll like a film, with a techno soundtrack from David Bowie that pounds your senses into submission and dempands that you pay attention. You are about to enter a parallel universe where something has gone terribly wrong. Your first introductionto what may actually be happening to you in the game occurs when the character Kay'l jumps through a vortex and suggusts that you should transfer your soul into his body. The next thing you know, you are pulled into the body of Kay'l and deposited on the streets of Omikron, a cyberpunk alternate reality.Kay'l is a cop who was investigating a series of grisly serial killings in Omikron. Much of the first part of the story requires you, as Kay'l, to discover things that you should already know (stay with me here, it gets easier to understand). There is the occasional residual flashback from Kay'l's mind, but other than that you don't have much to go on. The game is in real-time and decisions that you make as Kay'l will have tremendous impact on how you play the game and what you come to ascertain. The consequences are similar to real life. If you make poor decisions it could not only cost you your life but also the lives of people that Kay'l cares about. Kay'l's words at the beginning of the game ring true when he says, "Be careful of my body, it's the only one I've got." Remind yourself that you are only a visitor. BUT WHAT DO YOU DO? In the game you can transfer your soul into the body of the first person who makes direct contact with you following the death of your previous host body. The people in Omikron can be killed, but your soul cannot. You will realize that in order to escape this wandering, deathless existance you will have to find the answers to the mystical questions of Omikron and the evil that has bubbled up through the sewer grates to enslave the people of this world without them even knowing it. Virtual reincarnation has its pluses and minuses. For instance you may be reincarnated as a strong unarmed combat expert, which will make it a lot easier to fight your way through much of the game. Yet there is also a chance that a hapless medtech will be the first person who finds your borrowed body and you may fine yourself running through the cities of Omikron in a skimpy nurse outfit and high heels. Still, the resurrection system is an innovative gameplay idea, and if you've ever had a burning desire to be a virtual supermodel, you might have an oppertunity to reincarnate into Iman, David Bowie's real-life wife, who makes an appearance in the game. Bowie himself is one of the central characters as the digital being called Bos, a once-human computer hacker who uploaded his soul into Omikron's mainframe, called the Multiplan. He has lived there for 200 years, waging cyberwar against the forces of evil, mainly embodied in the form of powerful demon-god named Astaroth. Boz will give you the sobering news that ultimately you will have to find in Astaroth, reach him on his plane of incarnation and destrory him. VIRTUAL CONCERT BY DAVID BOWIE Omikron sports some of the most innovative scenes ever produced in a game. This includes the rendering and digitizing of Bowie's band and the oppertunity to see this virtual band play in certain venues throughout the world. The band also plays full-length songs that also appear on Bowie's latest CD, hours...., which many critics and fans consider to be his best work in years. Almost the entire CD is found in the game and can be bought from the in-game CD store and played in your characters abode for your listening pleasure. The ambient music is exceptional, written by Bowie's guitar player and songwriting partner Reeves Gabrels. When you step into the grocery store, there is delightful muzak playing. Likewise when you visit one of the strip clubs in the red light district there is an appropriate bump and grind tune seeping out of the speakers. This attention to deatil brings Omikron eerily to life. Computer games are a natural expansion for the cyber-minded Bowie, who already has his own ISP (www.davidbowie.com) and thriving online community. With Omikron it's easy to imagine that Ziggy Stardust and The Man Who Fell to Earth games can't be far behind. REVIVING THE ADVENTURE GAME The game sounds great, but will it resuscitate the adventure game genre? Can it transcend the rut of box stacking, climbing, and jumping that have been the calling cards of past adventure games? Will the half-naked women depicted in the game incresase its popularity? All that remaind to be seen. But know this: it's already a phenomenal game, with tearfully transcendent graphics, a thick, meaty storyline, romance, tragedy, strip clubs, and the ever popular Kloops beer ("The one beer to have when you are having more than one"). Just add Bowie, mix and enjoy!