A stellar reason to grab a friend
By Paul Hunter
I've been eagerly looking forward to Orbitals every since in saw it on the Nintendo Direct presentation some time ago. I love the recent trend of co-op buddy games, having recently played through REANIMAL and Split Fiction, and course the incredible It Takes Two. Developed by Tokyo-based Shapefarm and published by Kepler Interactive, Orbitals is a Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive that builds its entire adventure around two kids who share an epic retro science-fiction anime adventure.
From the intentional low-framerate gameplay, to the expressive characters, to the old-school space adventure vibe, Orbitals has an identity that immediately stands apart, and the couch co-op focus gives you somebody to enjoy all that fun weirdness with.
So, is this cosmic adventure worth joining forces for? Let’s find out!
The story then jumps ahead to present day where Maki and Omura have grown up together inside the ageing settlement, while another storm now threatens the place they call home. Togen sends them into deep space to recover three mysterious Cassettes that could help protect the colony.
I quickly gelled with Maki and Omura as a pair. Maki tends to act on instinct, while Omura is steadier, and their youthful vibe and relaxed conversations have the familiarity of two people who have grown up together for most of their lives. They tease each other, playfully disagree, and occasionally bug each other in a way that made their friendship believable to me.
Throughout their cosmic journey, Togen remains an important authority figure for both of them, while Kinakoko (the pair's guardian who also serves as the mechanic) shares a closer bond with Maki. Jaga, an eccentric merchant you'll meet throughout the journey, and his child also give Maki and Omura a glimpse of life beyond the colony.
The One Mind system becomes increasingly important as the story develops, bringing questions about memory and survival into the foreground. I enjoyed where those ideas eventually took Maki and Omura, and thought the friendship between the two gives the game a warm emotional centre that kept me invested through the finale. While the campaign lasts about 8-10 hours, I would have gladly spent more time with Maki, Omura and the supporting cast because I enjoyed this trip immensely.
On top of moving about and jumping, you have a few gadgets to help you overcome obstacles. The Scrap Hook lets you grab and move objects from a distance, while the Liquid Launcher lets you put out fires or oherwise cool objects down. Your Beam Cannon projects an energy beam to melt metal and other objects, while the Spirit Microwave, which you acquire late in the game, is perhaps the most interesting as it allows you to project your consciousness into ceetain machines or creatures to control them. Some missions give you temporary gear as well, like a het pack or a ground pound, so learning what each new tool can do becomes part of solving the room.
I thought it was clever how Orbitals keeps finding different uses for your equipment instead of making every puzzle a simple connect-the-dots exercise. You first learn a tool and experiment with it, then later on you'll discover new ways to use the tools, especially novel ways to combine tool powers with your partner to dolve the current puzzle-at-hand.
Beyond puzzle solving with gadgets, missions offer platforming or flying challenges that spice up the gameplay. Thankfully, Maki and Omura are responsive to control, and generous checkpoints get you back into the action quickly after a mistake. Lock-on assistance can also identify useful objects in a particular room and helps you save time.
Spaceship flying also lets you flex your co-operation muscles. One person handles navigation while the other mans the turret gun to blast hazards in front of you, and there are even flying boss encounters that will really test your team's coordination.
As far as how to play co-op, you can play together locally or connect through GameShare and GameChat, and the included Friend Pass makes bringing somebody else along a snap.
Maki and Omura themselves are highly expressive and you can't help but fall for their goofy reactions and energtic body language that make for a lightheated expetience, even during more serious moments.
Studio Massket created the animated cutscenes, and they straight out of a 90s televised sci-fi anime. I enjoyed how detailed the cutscenes are that really shows off the scale of the ships and surrounding space, while also having character-focused scenes full of heart.
Sound-wise, the opening theme from Mami Ayukawa is remiscent of older anime like Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam. The rest of the soundtrack draws from city pop, energetic space-adventure music, and softer pieces when the story turns inward.
The sound effects deserve praise as well. Machinery thumps and rattles as it operates, lasers cut through the action, and the various creatures have their own odd noises. Combined, these help immerse you in this sci-fi world adventure.
As for performance, it stayed smooth throughout my local co-op sessions, including busier platforming and spaceship sections. Playing this game docked is essential in my view, because the larger screen lets you clearly see both halves of the split-screen to aid in puzzle solving. All in all, Orbitals pairs its fantastic anime-inspired art with memorable music, expressive animation, and buttery-smooth performance on Nintendo Switch 2.
Final Score: 8.5/10 - Great
Developer: Shapefarm
Publisher: Kepler Interactive
Genre: Adventure, Puzzle
Modes: Multiplayer Co-op
By Paul Hunter
I've been eagerly looking forward to Orbitals every since in saw it on the Nintendo Direct presentation some time ago. I love the recent trend of co-op buddy games, having recently played through REANIMAL and Split Fiction, and course the incredible It Takes Two. Developed by Tokyo-based Shapefarm and published by Kepler Interactive, Orbitals is a Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive that builds its entire adventure around two kids who share an epic retro science-fiction anime adventure.
From the intentional low-framerate gameplay, to the expressive characters, to the old-school space adventure vibe, Orbitals has an identity that immediately stands apart, and the couch co-op focus gives you somebody to enjoy all that fun weirdness with.
So, is this cosmic adventure worth joining forces for? Let’s find out!
Story and Narrative
Orbitals opening moments are a rapid-fire disaster. Fifteen years before the main story, a catastrophic storm tears through the colony where Maki and Omura live, leaving both children in serious danger. Togen, a sort of parental figure in the settlement, saves them using the One Mind system (also called I.M.), which preserves their consciousnesses and allows them to continue living in replacement bodies.The story then jumps ahead to present day where Maki and Omura have grown up together inside the ageing settlement, while another storm now threatens the place they call home. Togen sends them into deep space to recover three mysterious Cassettes that could help protect the colony.
I quickly gelled with Maki and Omura as a pair. Maki tends to act on instinct, while Omura is steadier, and their youthful vibe and relaxed conversations have the familiarity of two people who have grown up together for most of their lives. They tease each other, playfully disagree, and occasionally bug each other in a way that made their friendship believable to me.
Throughout their cosmic journey, Togen remains an important authority figure for both of them, while Kinakoko (the pair's guardian who also serves as the mechanic) shares a closer bond with Maki. Jaga, an eccentric merchant you'll meet throughout the journey, and his child also give Maki and Omura a glimpse of life beyond the colony.
The One Mind system becomes increasingly important as the story develops, bringing questions about memory and survival into the foreground. I enjoyed where those ideas eventually took Maki and Omura, and thought the friendship between the two gives the game a warm emotional centre that kept me invested through the finale. While the campaign lasts about 8-10 hours, I would have gladly spent more time with Maki, Omura and the supporting cast because I enjoyed this trip immensely.
Gameplay and Mechanics
If you've played Split Fiction or It Takes Two, the setup here is similar, focusing on split-screen action requiring co-operation and coordination. Quite often you're physically separated from your buddy, so seeing their side of the screen gives you useful information on how to solve the current puzzle-at-hand, although actually putting the plan to action still requires both people to coordinate their moves amd actions.On top of moving about and jumping, you have a few gadgets to help you overcome obstacles. The Scrap Hook lets you grab and move objects from a distance, while the Liquid Launcher lets you put out fires or oherwise cool objects down. Your Beam Cannon projects an energy beam to melt metal and other objects, while the Spirit Microwave, which you acquire late in the game, is perhaps the most interesting as it allows you to project your consciousness into ceetain machines or creatures to control them. Some missions give you temporary gear as well, like a het pack or a ground pound, so learning what each new tool can do becomes part of solving the room.
I thought it was clever how Orbitals keeps finding different uses for your equipment instead of making every puzzle a simple connect-the-dots exercise. You first learn a tool and experiment with it, then later on you'll discover new ways to use the tools, especially novel ways to combine tool powers with your partner to dolve the current puzzle-at-hand.
Beyond puzzle solving with gadgets, missions offer platforming or flying challenges that spice up the gameplay. Thankfully, Maki and Omura are responsive to control, and generous checkpoints get you back into the action quickly after a mistake. Lock-on assistance can also identify useful objects in a particular room and helps you save time.
Spaceship flying also lets you flex your co-operation muscles. One person handles navigation while the other mans the turret gun to blast hazards in front of you, and there are even flying boss encounters that will really test your team's coordination.
As far as how to play co-op, you can play together locally or connect through GameShare and GameChat, and the included Friend Pass makes bringing somebody else along a snap.
Presentation and Audio
Orbitals has a visual style that looks fresh and made me keep stopping to admire the gorgeous environments. From the painted space backdrops to the strange alien wildlife, environments are teeming woth personality. This universe has an older, mechanical look wore down by storms through time and I loved that approach.Maki and Omura themselves are highly expressive and you can't help but fall for their goofy reactions and energtic body language that make for a lightheated expetience, even during more serious moments.
Studio Massket created the animated cutscenes, and they straight out of a 90s televised sci-fi anime. I enjoyed how detailed the cutscenes are that really shows off the scale of the ships and surrounding space, while also having character-focused scenes full of heart.
Sound-wise, the opening theme from Mami Ayukawa is remiscent of older anime like Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam. The rest of the soundtrack draws from city pop, energetic space-adventure music, and softer pieces when the story turns inward.
The sound effects deserve praise as well. Machinery thumps and rattles as it operates, lasers cut through the action, and the various creatures have their own odd noises. Combined, these help immerse you in this sci-fi world adventure.
As for performance, it stayed smooth throughout my local co-op sessions, including busier platforming and spaceship sections. Playing this game docked is essential in my view, because the larger screen lets you clearly see both halves of the split-screen to aid in puzzle solving. All in all, Orbitals pairs its fantastic anime-inspired art with memorable music, expressive animation, and buttery-smooth performance on Nintendo Switch 2.
The Verdict
Orbitals is a fantastic two-person co-operative adventure that made sharing the experience with your buddy every bit as important as reaching the end. Maki and Omura give the story plenty of heart, while the co-op design constantly gives both players a meaningful role in solving problems and moving the mission forward. Its retro-anime presentation gives the entire journey a distinct personality I loved, and the music fits that world beautifully. I had a blast playing Orbitals, and it easily ranks among my favourite co-op experiences on Nintendo Switch 2.Final Score: 8.5/10 - Great
Orbitals details
Platform: Nintendo Switch 2Developer: Shapefarm
Publisher: Kepler Interactive
Genre: Adventure, Puzzle
Modes: Multiplayer Co-op