Naturally, this takes up precious bullets that slowly reload over time.Īs you get further into the game, you’ll then gain access to ‘Wild Fire’ abilities, which come in red, yellow, and blue varieties. Alternatively, you can hold down the ranged attack button and fire off a devastating beam of energy that will wipe out most enemies in one swoop. In addition to standard melee attacks, you can also utilise the techno sword as a shotgun, unleashing major damage upon one enemy. Attacking enemies feels fluid and intuitive, and the dodge mechanic not only lets you avoid enemy attacks, but also places you behind the enemy, giving you a great opening to launch a counter-strike. Early on, you’ll pick up the Techno Sword, and from there you’re gradually introduced to more and more moves and abilities. Where the game truly shines is in its excellent combat. In addition, the NPC dialogue is purposefully vague and obscure, which for the most part is great, but there are definitely a few moments where you wish a character would just say “go here, do this… off you pop!” Captured on Nintendo Switch (Handheld/Undocked) When half the game entails collecting Techno-Keys and gaining access to new areas, a map – or at the very least some sort of guide – could make all the difference. For example, there’s absolutely no map to speak of, and while the environments are hardly as complex as your average Castlevania, for instance, there are quite a few doorways and passages for you to get lost in. On the flip side, there’s absolutely no doubt that the game could have made a few quality-of-life additions to the gameplay and structure to make things a little more digestible.
It can all feel a tad overwhelming at first, but as you make your way around, each narrative thread starts to fall into place, and you’ll find yourself thinking “ah, so that’s what that is!” There’s an abundance of seemingly nonsense names and phrases like ‘Son of Trichoma’, ‘Creator’s Tears’, and ‘Citadel of King *NumStr the Horseman’ (no, really). It drops you in with almost no build-up or introduction, and you’re left to explore the environment and meet its many weird and wonderful digital inhabitants. Narita Boy wastes no time in easing you into its surprisingly complex world. HIM deploys its minions known as Stallions throughout the world, and it’s your job to obtain the legendary Techno Sword, take down the hordes of corrupt enemies, and restore The Creator’s memories. The overarching narrative sees you take on the role of Narita Boy, who must traverse the Digital Kingdom within a video game to battle the forces of HIM, a virus that has stolen the memories of The Creator, the game’s, uh… creator. For newcomers of the Metroidvania genre, Narita Boy isn’t the most accommodating title to start with, but it’s certainly one that rewards patience and exploration.Ĭaptured on Nintendo Switch (Handheld/Undocked) The pixelated visuals feel retro and yet distinctly modern at the same time, with beautiful animations, bold environment design, and an optional CRT filter that enhances the overall tone of the game (though can occasionally feel a bit too much). It’s an action-oriented Metroidvania that absolutely leans into a heavy ‘80s, Tron-like aesthetic, but never lets it overshadow the world or its characters. Let’s be clear right from the start: Narita Boy is a great game. Thankfully though, with so many ‘80s-themed books, movies, and games to choose from recently, it’s gotten incredibly easy to filter out the great from the poor. Unfortunately, nostalgia has often seemingly taken precedence over good storytelling, resulting in some rather questionable throwbacks (looking at you, Mr. We’re at a point in time where those who were born or grew up in the ‘80s are now expressing their love for the decade through the arts, resulting in cultural behemoths like Stranger Things and Ernest Cline’s Ready Player One. It’s 2021, yet it somehow still feels like we’re in the 1980s.
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