The Omega Virus Retro Board Game Review
Doug Larson
OCC Editor in Chief
This is The Omega Virus!
The Omega Virus was designed by Michael Gray and produced by Milton Bradley in 1992. It features eye popping art by Rick Grayson and an electronic talking computer in the center of the board that runs the game! The rule book is a surprising treat as the first few pages are a gorgeous full color comic that tells the story of the Omega Virus’ assault on BattleSat1. I’m a huge fan of any board game that bolsters its story with such stunning art.
The Year is 2051
Aboard the defense satellite BattleSat1, senior systems scientist Robert Driscoll is replacing a console keyboard when he discovers tiny flea sized robots attacking the station’s computer system! Within minutes the station is overrun and Driscoll barely escapes with his life! BattleSat1 is now host to a class 8 extremely intelligent, self replicating, highly anthrophobic OMEGA VIRUS! Humanity has limited time to regain control of BattleSat1 before the Omega Virus has access to the satellite’s weapons system.
Amidst the chaos, the world’s international alliances begin to crumble. The world’s four largest remaining powers, the North American Federation, the Euro-National Force, the Oceanic Republic, and the Asiatic Alliance each send their top commando on a daring mission to stop the Omega Virus, save the Earth, and take back control of BattleSat1!
This game is big! The box alone is roughly 22” x 15” and every square inch is beautifully illustrated.
The back of the box features a great look at what the game is like as well.
Inside the box there is a great little cardboard organizer for the game’s parts and a nice little illustrated insert featuring the commandos and their probes. This extra level of detail helps drive immersion and I’m all for it.
The board is about 30” square with personal collapsible dashboards for all four players as well as a central computer terminal situated within everyone’s reach.
The computer terminal houses all of the access cards and Anti Virus Devices (AVD’s) needed to fight the Omega Virus. The board art is reminiscent of a circuit board with various colored rooms scattered about BattleSat1.
Each player’s colored commando will have a matching colored sector to explore complete with docking bays that can be used to jump to other sectors as they scour BattleSat1 for the Omega Virus. Each player’s personal dashboard can also be folded over the board to serve as a marker for any sector that has been shut down by the Omega Virus.
Movement in the game is set, and your turn order will always be determined by the central computer. Players can move their commandos up to 3 spaces on their turn, and should they find a probe, they can move their probe to any other connected room on their path. Though this means probes can sometimes travel further than commandos, they MUST stop in any room they enter.Commandos can pass through rooms without stopping if they wish. Players will need to make the most of these movement options, as they will have a limited amount of time to find the Omega Virus before it’s too late!
To explore a room, players will enter the room’s three digit room code into the central computer. The computer or the Omega Virus will respond by either granting the player a useful item, such as an access card or AVD, informing them that the room is empty, or attacking the player. The Omega Virus does not want to be located and will do anything to slow you down. Players must listen for their secret code in every room they explore if they plan to find the Omega Virus.
Once players have collected all three Anti Virus Devices, they are ready to take on the Omega Virus! They must travel to the room that served their secret code when explored and explore it again, now with the proper AVD’s. The Omega Virus will recognize the threat that the armed player poses and reveal itself! To fight the virus, players will need to pick a number on the computer interface and hope that luck is on their side. There is no way to know what the correct number is in advance, which may annoy some players, but I actually enjoyed the fact that there is still a fair bit of chance involved in the endgame. You will get the opportunity for multiple attempts should you fail, but other players will also now be able to try their luck at defeating the Omega Virus.
I have to say every bit of this game is delightful. The art is vibrant and lively, the story is engaging, and the computer and Omega Virus’ voices are hilarious. The Omega Virus mocks and taunts both you and BattleSat1’s panicking central computer throughout the game. It is stated in the manual that the game timer does not count down while the computer or the Omega Virus is talking, but without fail, the interruptions still manage to give players a healthy dose of anxiety.
The rules and gameplay are simple and enjoyable. The Omega Virus supports 1 to 4 players and offers three difficulty levels as well. I found that the single player was actually quite enjoyable. I generally prefer multiplayer experiences for the social aspect, but the Omega Virus is a game I would happily set up for a solo play session should the mood strike.
This game was a rare treat. If you find a copy out in the wild, snatch it up! You won’t be disappointed!
See my video review here: The Omega Virus Retro Board Game Review