Nitro Gen Omega [REVIEW] – Satisfying Strategic Mech Action Buried Under a Grind 

Let’s face it, there is ALWAYS going to be an undeniable appeal to strapping into a massive mechanical suit and saving what’s left of a post-apocalyptic world, right? Nitro Gen Omega leans heavily into that exact fantasy, with the game offering a tactical role-playing experience that absolutely wears its late-nineties and early-noughties anime inspirations right on its metal sleeve. With its deep blend of grid-based strategy and intricate social simulation, it sets out to make every single decision matter, and for the most part, it genuinely delivers on that promise. However, while it hits some incredible highs when everything clicks, a few rusty mechanics and baffling design choices do hold the experience back. 

Check out some screenshots down below: 

There’s one thing that needs to be said immediately: Nitro Gen Omega is a visual treat. The game absolutely nails that classic anime aesthetic, and whether your crew is frantically hitting buttons in the cockpit or your giant robot is unleashing a devastating melee combo, it looks and feels brilliant. The UI, while problematic in other areas (more on that in a bit), is undeniably vibrant and bursting with personality, and it all comes together to instantly bring plenty of appeal to the game and its world… I was a big, big fan. 

But, of course, it’s all well and good being pretty to look at, but what matters most is the gameplay, with Nitro Gen Omega having a lot of systems at play that mostly come together efficiently. When it comes to combat, the battle system is incredibly layered and demands your full attention. Fights take place on a battlefield split into four distinct zones, forcing you to constantly think about your positioning when performing any actions – you need to be in the exact same quadrant as your target when unleashing attacks up close, whilst ranged attacks might cover a whole area but require careful timing. If you know your way around the genre, it’ll be familiar enough to you, but the extra need for finesse can take some getting used to. 

A lot of this is owed to the game’s timeline system, where you lock in your squad’s actions while trying to predict what the enemy machines will do based on small hints. Once you commit to a tactical plan, there is no undo button to save you from a silly mistake, and since you also have to juggle your machine’s heat levels to prevent your weapons from missing, manage limited ammunition that requires mid-battle reloading, and pay close attention to turn priorities, there can be a LOT to take in. 

I’ve probably made it sound a little daunting, but it’s actually very engaging and a lot of fun. There’s just a LOT to take in and consider across each battle, and with the learning curve quite steep (and the game often unforgiving), you’ll need some real strategic prowess to survive some of the tougher encounters. Combat is rewarding, but it’s deep. 

“If you have the patience to learn its intricacies and don’t mind a bit of repetition, there is a remarkably deep and rewarding experience to be found in Nitro Gen Omega.” 

Customising your robotic behemoth is just as deep, with players able to swap out the likes of chassis types that determine how they feel to use or equip different limbs that dictate various stats and the actions that are available. This was one of my favourite aspects of the game, and building the perfect machine for your playstyle is immensely satisfying… you know… once you get the hang of it. There’s a bit of trial and error when trying to figure out what works for you, but that’s all part of the fun. 

It’s also worth noting that Nitro Gen Omega is not just about giant robots, but also focuses on the people who work on them. You command a crew of survivors, and managing them is a big part of the experience. You can use a robust character creator to build your dream team or recruit randomly generated mercenaries from local hubs, and once on board, they take on specific roles within the cockpit that are each equally important. 

In between missions, you’ll spend activity points to help the crew unwind, with a variety of tasks on offer that are used to help manage their stress and fatigue, which is where the game’s social mechanics really shine. Push your pilots too hard without a break? They can suffer mental breakdowns, abandon the squad entirely, or even die. Crewmates can even form friendships or rivalries with other crew members, and these relationships bleed directly into combat, allowing for brilliant tactical flexibility that shows your actions outside of these showdowns can be just as important as those on the battlefield. Again, it adds another engaging layer to the experience that demonstrates the sheer depth found across Nitro Gen Omega’s gameplay. 

Check out some screenshots down below: 

It’s clear that Nitro Gen Omega gets a lot right, but at the same time, it has a few issues that can really hold it back – mainly because progression can be an absolute slog. The economy is punishingly tight, especially in the early hours, and fixing your armour or looking after your crew costs a bomb… yet the game constantly throws you into severe difficulty spikes, forcing you into a tedious loop of grinding low-paying, repetitive contracts just to afford the gear needed to survive the main story missions. It’s brutal, and really takes away some of the shine of the otherwise enjoyable gameplay mechanics. 

The in-game menus can also feel needlessly convoluted, and with the game not making some important information about your crew, gear, or missions readily available, it’s easy to find yourself feeling a little confused. Throw in some awful text-box tutorials that fail to explain the game’s myriad of complex systems and the whole experience can really feel like a chore when you’re figuring things out. And it’s a shame, because behind it all, there’s a really enjoyable and deep strategic experience to be had… the game just works against itself sometimes. 

Developer: DESTINYbit 
Publisher: DESTINYbit 
Platform(s): PlayStation 5 (Reviewed), Xbox Series X, Nintendo Switch, PC 
Website: https://www.nitrogenomega.com/