Omega Five(Hudson Soft)

Side scrolling shooters have been done to death, but none add so much variety to the mix as Hudson's impeccable Omega Five. Ditching space ships in favour of zany characters riding jet packs, this is a breath of fresh air into an ageing genre. With virtually no story but reams of action, this is a treat.

Choosing either lingerie-clad Ruby or four-armed alien Tempest you travel the galaxy blowing up everything in sight. It looks fantastic too, with the best Live Arcade graphics to date as hulking 3D battleships do battle in the background. Controls are simple so you don't get confused contending with the thousands of onscreen bullets swarming towards you - it's left stick for movement and the right for firing.

Each of the characters and the three unlockables have varied attack methods so all of them make for quite different experiences. Ruby has three upgradable weapons and a satellite that can be thrown and latched onto enemies, while Tempest has more devastating weapons but less defense.

It's Japanese-esque image and abstract nature will put off some gamers but there is a real challenge here and one that wont get old fast. Replay value is awesome thanks to the superb hidden characters such as samurai grandmaster Sensei and his sword swipes and throwing star attacks.

With more technical clout than any other online release this is the jewel in Live Arcade's crown. Just overlook the weird appearance and you should see why it's the best thing since Geometry Wars. (Dave Cook)