Omega Quintet - Aria character design was great! Story was a bit too convoluted.
Omega Quintet (オメガクインテット) is a turn-based RPG developed by Compile Heart under the "Galapagos RPG" project, which aimed to build completely new IPs for the company. The game failed to gain widespread popularity, but I still think it is a nice addition to the lineup built by Compile Heart.
The story follows Takuto, a boy who becomes the manager of the Verse Maidens, a group of idols who seem to be the only force able to fight back against a destructive phenomenon called "Blare" using song and dance. The Blare seems to affect humanity by degenerating their minds.
The previous Verse Maiden, Momoka, reached the age limit for her role and had to retire, but thankfully the country identified a number of girls with the aptitude to take her place. Together with Takuto, they need to overcome their fears and become the shining beacon that protects the world from demise.
Yes, it is an idol story with RPG elements on top, such as combat, leveling, and farming for materials. This can be hit or miss depending on how much you like the idol world, but it never felt completely overwhelming to me, and I am not really that fond of idols in general.
The gameplay is your traditional, run-of-the-mill turn-based RPG with normal attacks, skills, and an extra Voltage bar that can be summarized as the "EXE Drive" gauge seen in other Compile Heart RPGs. This is basically a way to unleash special skills or transformations for the heroines. There is also a clothing-break mechanic where the heroines lose pieces of their costumes when they are attacked.
There are five main Verse Maidens that you will encounter in the story:
Otoha, the "main heroine" of the story. She is a complete airhead who is easily distracted and sometimes even forgets the point of what she was talking about. She is very motivated in the fight against the Blare and is sometimes able to find innovative ways to solve the problems that appear in front of the party.
Aria, a mysterious and taciturn girl. She was a Verse Maiden before Otoha, but an encounter with the Blare left her unable to continue for a while. With the arrival of Takuto, she returns to help everyone else. She seems to have a secret, and it is clear from the beginning that she is not just any Verse Maiden.
Nene, a shy and timid girl with a small figure. She is quite capable in battle, which makes you wonder why she is actually more scared of humans than monsters. She was not very keen on becoming a Verse Maiden at the beginning, but the bond with the other girls gave her courage.
Kanadeko, a tomboy with the most mature figure among the girls. Do not be fooled by her looks; she is rough and acts before thinking, often putting herself and others in danger. She is quite caring toward the people around her, even though her attempts to help often end in disaster.
Kyouka, defined best by her strong sense of responsibility. She always acts like a serious, cool beauty, but that is merely a facade she puts on for others to accept her. Her true self is much more vulnerable, and she only shows that side to people she really trusts.
My favorite character was definitely Aria, mainly because of her mysterious aura and generally silent personality, which fits her character design perfectly. She is extremely cute, and her backstory was one of the best developed, as it explored how the Blare affects humans.
Overall, I think Omega Quintet is a safe choice for a decently long (30-ish hours) RPG that will keep you entertained with decent gameplay and a reasonably interesting story. However, do not go in expecting a masterpiece. There is none here.
