If you told me that I’d be raving about a brand-new 16-bit-style adventure from the creator of Star Fox and F-Zero, I would’ve assumed you were terribly wrong. But here we are, and OMEGA 6: The Triangle Stars is exactly that: a game that feels like it was plucked straight from the golden age of gaming, yet somehow still fits perfectly in today’s landscape. Let’s jump in!
The master’s touch
Right from the start, OMEGA 6 impresses with its detailed pixel art. This isn’t just another “retro-inspired” game that slaps a few pixels together and calls it a day; this is the work of an artist who understands the soul of 16-bit visuals. Imamura’s signature style is all over the place, with colorful alien landscapes, expressive characters, and backgrounds that feel like lost concept art from an unreleased SNES masterpiece. It’s no surprise coming from the hand that gave us the iconic Star Fox and Majora’s Mask designs in the past. Imamura-san is a master at work and is responsible for some of Nintendo’s most iconic characters. The moment you boot up OMEGA 6, you’ll be hit with some nostalgia since the master himself unmistakably tailored this game.
But enough about the style for now; let’s focus on the actual game. The game’s structure is built around static screens rather than full scrolling environments, bringing you back to an extremely old-school feeling. Although it isn’t as impressive as modern games, this classic design does allow for a lot of details in every location, making every location a small work of art on its own. While some modern players might find the lack of animation in certain parts a little too old-school, those who appreciate classic adventure game aesthetics will love every second of this blast from the past.
Classic meets new
If you’ve ever played old-school point-and-click adventures, like the Famicom Detective Club series, you’ll feel right at home here. Instead of free movement, you interact with the world using a classic word-based system. Talk, Look, Use, each command brings a little slice of retro adventure magic, and while it might seem clunky compared to today’s streamlined games, it nails that nostalgic feel. Here’s where OMEGA 6 really shines: it embraces classic adventure game mechanics without feeling like a relic. The story, while simple, is packed with humor and self-awareness. Imamura clearly understands that modern audiences want more than just nostalgia.
OMEGA 6 isn’t just stuck in the past. One of its standout features is its combat system, which resembles an odd blend of RPG mechanics and… Rock-Paper-Scissors. No, really. Battles are resolved through a card-based system where Rock, Paper, and Scissors are used as combat moves. It’s a fun concept that adds strategy but can sometimes feel a little too luck-based. That said, the game does introduce power-ups and abilities that help shake things up, so it’s not entirely random.
Another modern touch is the bonsai tree aboard your spaceship, a quirky, unexpected feature that actually plays a big role. Tending to the tree lets you harvest fruit that grants bonuses in combat, which adds a fun (if slightly odd) layer of strategy. It’s little details like this that make OMEGA 6 feel unique rather than just another retro throwback.
Conclusion:
OMEGA 6: The Triangle Stars is a well-crafted adventure that stands on its own, even without the 16-bit aesthetic. It blends old-school charm with just enough modern touches to keep things fresh, making it a must-play for fans of classic adventure games. Yes, the combat system might not be for everyone, and yes, the static screens might feel a little dated to those expecting full movement, but these are minor nitpicks in an otherwise stellar package. Takaya Imamura has given us a game that reminds us why we fell in love with gaming in the first place.
