How much do you value your ten dollars?
OF will run you 800 Microsoft points, or ten dollars. The game itself is very short, consisting of only four levels to my knowledge. After you beat the first level, which shouldn't be too hard, the enemies will really start to pour at you from all sides. OF's forte is maneuvering players into tight spots and flooding the screen with enemy bullets, making strategic movement and usage of your bombs important. Because the game is short but difficult, getting all of the way through to the conclusion relies heavily on repetition of the beginning levels. Eventually players should get good enough to blast their way through to the end of the game.
Natsume does attempt to add in some replay value in the form of multiple characters and perks for playing the game. From the outset, there are two playable characters, Rose and Tempest. They both have three different types of ammo that they can switch between via powerups found throughout the levels. They also have special abilities, such as Tempest's ability to throw a target onto a nearby enemy that will attract all nearby bullets. Every character can also teleport to the left or right using the LB and RB, but these abilities are largely forgotten in favor of straight-up shooting. Additional characters can be unlocked as rewards for beating the game.
The previously mentioned "perks" come as rewards for playing the game for a certain amount of time or in a certain way. For example, at the start of the game you will start the arcade mode out with only three lives. The game is very hard to beat with just three lives (I've never done it before, at least.) But if you've played the game for a total of one hour, you will be rewarded with two extra lives in the arcade mode. That way, you'll start with five lives instead of three each time.
Because of the repetitive nature of the game, OF will not appeal to everyone. The great graphics and intense action will surely draw many gamers in, just as the short length and total lack of a story will draw others away. Overall, though, I am surprisingly pleased by the quality of Omega Five.