The last game I had the chance to check out at Nintendo’s Summer Game Fest was Orbitals – an 80s/90s anime-inspired co-op game that oozes style. As someone who grew up with many of the anime that this game takes visual inspiration from, I wanted to see what all there was to Orbitals before its release. After playing it, I can happily confirm that, from my time with the demo, I don’t believe the game is more style than substance. There’s a remarkably fun beating heart to the title that makes it seem destined to become a modern co-op classic.
Oribtals’ creative director and game director, Marcos Ramos and Jakob Lundgren, previously worked at Hazelight Studios on beloved co-op titles like It Takes Two and Split Fiction, and it certainly shows. There’s an intrinsic understanding of what makes playing co-operatively with someone else fun that’s present in the game, with every tiny thing seeming to add a bit of charm or enjoyment to the proceedings. Every area I explored was filled with little background details to take in and interact with, which is much appreciated.
Credit: Kepler Interactive
Working together to solve puzzles and progress is the meat and potatoes of Orbitals, and it’s as satisfying as I had hoped. Though I didn’t get to partake in too many during my short time with the demo, the ones I did solve were very enjoyable. The vibration of the Switch 2 controller was surprisingly vivid and lent some extra weight to each action I took, which is a little thing I always love to see in games.
Being able to swap tools with your partner is a fantastic addition to Orbitals that I’m surprised hasn’t been done more often in similar games, as it simplifies progressing through the game with a friend – especially if they’re less experienced with gaming. If there’s a task ahead that requires a certain tool that your partner has but struggles with, you can swap with them and do that part yourself. In most games, you’d have to switch controllers or characters to do so, but it’s far more straightforward here. It might sound like a small thing, but I think it’ll go a long way toward reducing friction between partners.
Credit: Kepler Interactive
Both lead characters in Orbitals are plenty appealing.
Both characters, Maki and Omura, have vastly different personalities and, as such, interact with the world of Orbitals in their own ways. When interacting with a janitor, Maki can kick the poor guy’s water bucket, while Omura doesn’t do so because of his less bombastic nature. There were a surprising number of similar situations just in the one main area that I spent a good chunk of the demo in, so I feel confident in thinking that there’ll be quite a plethora of charming character-specific moments and actions in the main game.
Of course, the presentation of Orbitals is one of its most appealing features, and it’s even more gorgeous in motion. I was told that Studio Massket, which was one of the studios to work on series like Spy x Family and Attack on Titan, is behind the game’s anime cutscenes, and that they had to go old school in animation techniques to really nail the classic style. Every bit of effort paid off, as there’s so much clear love for the medium put into the visuals that you can’t help but admire it. Additionally, the different frame rates between background characters and the main duo are a great touch and further sell that retro anime vibe.
Credit: Kepler Interactive
As a side note, the Nintendo area of SGF Play Days featured various play areas turned into rooms based on the games being previewed there. The Orbitals area was based on a 90s bedroom, complete with beanbag chairs, old-school tech, and a cozy, basement feel that wonderfully complemented the game’s aesthetic, so kudos to Shapefarm, Kepler Interactive, and Nintendo for making such a well-suited and pleasant demo area.
I think I’ll likely play Orbitals with either my brother or my best pal when the game releases for the Nintendo Switch 2 on September 3, as it’s feeling like a seamlessly smooth and endlessly endearing co-op experience that doesn’t come around all that often. Throw in the nostalgic (and breathtaking) anime homage aesthetic, and it feels as though Orbitals won’t struggle too much to make a name for itself in the increasingly busy September that looms before us.
