Square Enix has announced that, until January 22, they will be offering free digital copies of Omikron: The Nomad Soul from the Square Enix store. First announced on their Twitter page, the free game is being offered as a tribute to David Bowie, who was the voice and model for multiple characters and helped compose the game’s soundtrack. Multiple tracks from the soundtrack appeared on Bowie’s “Hours…” album. Bowie died on January 10 at the age of 69, after a battle with cancer.
Omikron: The Nomad Soul was first released in 1999 on Windows and on the Sega Dreamcast. It almost defies definition; it is a cyberpunk RPG-adventure with some creepy, uncanny valley-esque facial motion capture and choreographed fight scenes. It repeatedly breaks the fourth wall, as you (as in, actually you) possess the bodies of people you come in contact with in order to solve the mysteries and puzzles that the game presents. It was the first game developed by David Cage’s Quantic Dream Studio, that more recently have brought us games like Heavy Rain and Beyond: Two Souls.
David Bowie does not play a huge role in Omikron: The Nomad Soul, but he does play an important one. He had several other acting roles throughout his life, notably portraying Nikolai Tesla in The Prestige, the title character in The Man Who Fell to Earth, and, in his most iconic role, Jareth the Goblin King in Labyrinth. Let us not forget his genius cameo in Zoolander:
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More notably, David Bowie is known for his music career. He brought us hits such as “Changes,” “Space Oddity,” and “The Man Who Sold the World.” Although none of his bigger hits come from Omikron: The Nomad Soul, it is a unique look at the different talents Bowie could bring to different styles of music. Hours after the announcement, the game was sold out (even though they are digital copies) on the Square Enix store. It has since been brought back up, but there’s no telling how many copies are available. Pick it up while you can, and give a toast to a great entertainment icon.
Going to pick up Omikron: The Nomad Soul? What’s your favorite David Bowie song? Let us know in the comments below!
