Orbitals for Nintendo Switch 2 is a co-op adventure game developed by the new Japanese studio Shapefarm and published by Kepler Interactive. Kepler is really shaping up to be one of the more interesting publishers in the business right now. Having games like Pacific Drive, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, and now Orbitals under your belt is pretty crazy. Shapefarm had a lot to live up to given its publisher’s other games, but I’d argue that Orbitals is not only a great game, but an incredible showcase for the new developer.
If you’ve played It Takes Two or Split Fiction, then you’ve got a pretty good idea of what to expect from Orbitals. This is a game designed for two people and only for two people. You cannot play Orbitals on your own, but you can play with a friend next to you, or through online play. Like the games that inspired it, Orbitals allows you to play online with a friend with just one copy of the game. The other person just needs to download an app that allows them to connect with you and that’s it.
Orbitals is an asymmetrical game, meaning that yes, you and your partner are working together, but you are constantly taking wildly different paths or occupying different roles to complete your objective. For example, there’s a moment in the game where one player is flying a ship, while the other player mans the gun up top. The entire game is built on moments like these. You are constantly being fed new ideas and puzzle concepts that continue to feel inventive and satisfying to pull off. Unfortunately, none of these puzzles truly baffled me or made me think all that hard. I found Orbitals a pretty easygoing experience compared to similar games in the genre. You’re almost always armed with a laser, a water gun, and a grappling hook, so there isn’t a ton of variety in the gadgets department. Where Orbitals really shines though is how often it’ll change perspective and how often it’ll change the way you use the same tools. Shapefarm isn’t reinventing the wheel, but they’re absolutely stretching out ideas as far as they possibly can.
If you’ve ever looked at a screenshot or seen a gameplay video, then you know the game’s shining ray of light is its retro anime graphics. Shapefarm really did a stupendous job mimicking this ’80s-’90s anime aesthetic that is sorely missed nowadays. Its overall look reminds me of classics like Macross and Initial D – shows that remain household names due to their iconic look. Choosing that sort of style for this game really makes it stand out in a pretty major way, and also allowed for them to make some pretty incredible visuals on the Nintendo Switch 2. Seeing characters move with every other frame removed reminds me so much of the anime I watched on TV when I was a kid. Many environments and interactables are also animated in this style, where some backgrounds are rendered in CG. It reminds me of the old Astro Boy anime in the best way possible. Regardless of how you feel about co-op adventure games, or this game in particular, the love and craft that went into building Orbitals’ aesthetic is indisputable.
My biggest issue with Orbitals is actually how little of a game there is here – you can beat Orbitals in about 5-6 hours. There isn’t anything inherently wrong with short games, but when you’re charging $60 CAD after tax, that can feel extremely steep. I understand that Orbitals can be played a second time where each player takes control of the character they didn’t pick the first time around, but that’s only an additional 5-6 hours of replayability. I think the price is way too steep for the game that is being presented. Perhaps if it was around the $30 CAD price point I could forgive it, but being over $50 CAD for a game of this scope doesn’t feel right to me.
Orbitals is a fantastic co-op experience that is absolutely worth your time, even though it won’t take up much of it. Shapefarm has proven that they are a developer to watch as they have an incredible amount of talent and inventive ideas being showcased here. There are beautifully animated cutscenes, as well as some over-the-top voice acting that totally fits the vibe. This isn’t a game you’ll be able to play on your own, so if you’ve got a friend, loved one, child, a goldfish with opposable thumbs, invite them over. The game does have a steep price point, and I’d recommend waiting for a sale, but given the fact that it’s a Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive, you probably won’t be seeing a major price drop any time soon. But if you’ve got a few dollars kicking around and you’re looking for a bite-sized adventure, this is it!
