Orbitals Review (Switch 2)

At this point, space is the place to be. And you never really know what you might expect. A futuristic space colony living the dream or one struggling to survive. One where high-fiving an alien-creature is totally normal, or where humans have learned to breathe through an oxygen tank, some monster stalking them through tight corridors. And even then, Orbitals shows me that the limit is non-existent. When you can have ideas you’ve probably heard before, yet showcasing them through the cutest, most nostalgic retro anime theme makes all the difference to feel like something refreshingly new. 

These are ideas pulled from sources we’ve enjoyed before. Retro anime, of course, has been the joy of the ‘90s. But few games thoroughly capture the charm of those animations, Neon Genesis Evangelion, Cowboy Bebop, like Cuphead, and Studio Ghibli games like Ni no Kuni. Where playing the game might as well feel like watching an episode, through the smooth cutscenes and transitions, and in Orbitals, funneling fluidity through the 3D character models, and when moving around your spaceship during the actual gameplay. 

And that can get pretty chaotic, given that this game is also a solely co-op experience. Yup, it takes two on this one as well, exclusively on the Switch 2, and before you protest why it’s not on other platforms, here’s a review of why Orbitals still totally rules, wherever it decides to pitch its, hopefully, not too permanent tent.

Buddy Up

Locally or online, bring a spouse, girlfriend, your kid, niece, nephew, friend, or other on this one. You don’t have to get two copies. Only your own, and they can access the game through the Friend Pass. But it does have to be on the Switch 2. Co-op isn’t everyone’s top pick, but recent games like It Takes Two and Split Fiction have made it a special experience to be enjoyed together. Gaming can be shared, and yes, there may be strong verbal exchange when the pressure creases. But memories will be made. Beautiful memories when you fall in rhythm and can almost read each other’s minds.

Orbitals is also special that way, through its puzzles and platforming that do, and require two to tango. Even when some puzzles and platforming demand some decent skill, it’s still a worthwhile time with beginners. So, let nothing stop you from trying it out. At first, developer Shapefarm sets the stage. You’re in a space colony, constantly under attack by some cosmic storm. Technology has advanced here, giving the colonists a fighting chance through the I.M. machine that can replicate a person’s body and consciousness, essentially the respawn machine if you die during a run. 

Try and Try Again

And yeah, the runs are objective-based. You’re heading out into the vastness of space to scavenge for spare parts and tools that might bolster your colony’s defense system against the storm. You’re always going to be two “errand boys.” The hyper and infectious-energy Maki and the more composed, nerd, but can also let loose, Omura.  These two have grown up together, getting tossed into the I.M. machine until they’re now grown-up teens. And I can’t imagine what that many times of replication can do to a person’s psyche or will to keep going. I was curious to see how the story explored that side of ethical use and impact.

Unfortunately, the story almost doesn’t care for profundity. It doesn’t care to be deep or leave you reeling in its twisted themes and surprising twists. It’s the kind of story that hooks you on the premise, and then gets busy with the puzzles and platforming. And I’ll admit, the banter between Maki and Omura is also pretty infectious. They’re like siblings at this point, goofing around even when on dangerous missions that may turn out completely terrible. It’s the banter that carries you through the story, and seldom exposition into this world you’re excited to learn and care about, its people. Oh, yeah, the NPCs you talk to when wandering around your spaceship can be exciting, and their alien-like designs are amazing.

Take Your Pick

So, don’t expect that the story will take your breath away. It develops pretty slowly, and toward the end is when so much is happening. It’s rushed, and before you can properly sit with the finale, it’s all over. In under ten hours, you’ll have wrapped up your time with Orbitals, and only toward the end does the story rush across the finish line. Fortunately, the art style does the heavy lifting. It’s easy to forgive any grievances when the animations and characters are so damn charming. It’s so satisfying to experience the retro anime graphics of this game in their smoothness and authenticity. It just looks beautiful, with immense detail, and a variety of different biomes you’ll visit. 

You’ll partner up during exploration. One of you steers the ship forward, backward, left, and right, dodging obstacles, but also balancing the ship so your partner can aim and fire the turrets. So, traversal versus offense/defense, take your pick. And it’s always in split-screen mode, even the online option. So, you can always see what your partner is doing. You’re always on the same page, helping each other, guiding each other through the motions. I suppose you do need to be good communicators to ride smoothly through the puzzles and platforms. But I can also see a scenario where the game’s puzzle designs and platforming problems actually help you communicate better. 

Close to You

I think of co-op experiences as bonding moments of highs and lows, when things are going exactly as intended, even sometimes without needing to point things out, and then there are times when you might get stuck. Heck, one of you might get stuck, and you can’t move on without the other. So, anyone who’s always run solo may need to readjust their strategy and patience. That’s still the beauty of fostering friendship and connection. And the puzzles and platforms in Orbitals are ripe places for just that. Most puzzles and platforms shouldn’t be tough nuts to crack, but at least they’re not always quick breeze-throughs. 

You’ll be picking the tools or gadgets you need before heading out to the next stage. Different gadgets serve different roles. A hose, a laser beam, a grappling hook, always, consistently working together to push blocks, launch platforms, or clear obstacles. It’s intuitive what you do, like use the laser beam to melt the ice block or spray water over lava to cool it down.

I suppose not all that you’ll see here will be revolutionary. But it’s the variety of puzzles and platforming you do with fun designs like platforms, in addition to the striking art style, that make it a constant joy to navigate. It doesn’t get repetitive until you’ve cleared a lot of stages and are nearing the end. And the game doesn’t go on for too long. In fact, you may feel like wanting to keep on playing, but also appreciate that it’s a bite-sized game you can create some time for around busy schedules.

Space Combat

You’ll notice I’ve barely explored combat because there aren’t many sections that need gearing up for and fighting enemies. You have the dogfights, but those are relatively straightforward. Aiming is manageable and just straight-on firing, while your partner steers. I wouldn’t have minded some more direct combat when exploring the spaceship levels or even on the biomes. It’d be interesting to deal with enemies when navigating precarious lava and all. 

Verdict

But for what it’s worth, which is $40, I think Orbitals has value for money. Unless you mind how short it is (less than ten hours). Within that time, you enjoy the sweetest interactions and fun animations. Combined, they feel like watching an episode, albeit not the most profound story. The premise might have instantly caught my attention, but the way the story develops barely digs deep into character emotions, their relationships with other NPCs, or the way that everyone is dealing with the cosmic storm, or the effects of respawning over and over again. It’s because of the many avenues the story could have taken a turn that makes me think that the story was never the prime focus. 

Instead, it’s the art style and gameplay that steal the show. The art style is, hands down, among the most charming and a fantastic nod to retro anime that gaming has had. It’s striking, detailed, and showcases a variety of environments. Meanwhile, the gameplay, while solely co-op, understands what makes teamwork special. It creates puzzles and platforming challenges that will inspire communication and working together to navigate stages. It’s not too difficult to alienate beginners or younger gamers. But it’s also not too easy to get bored. You’ll find varied challenges that keep things refreshing, and before you know it, the credits roll in just in time.