Unfortunately, the quest design of Narita Boy isn’t as strong as the combat. (Note: Narita Boy does not support mouse use and the keyboard buttons are not remappable, so the combat might be notably more difficult without a controller.) This variety in enemy types ensures that the combat side of the experience never becomes monotonous. For instance, there are some that should be attacked from behind or some that have shields that require special moves to break. Mechanically, Narita Boy is quite generous in offering different types of enemies and asking the player to master different skills to beat each of them. At the heart of Narita Boy’s narrative lies a very personal and sentimental story about love, loss and hope, and this emotional atmosphere will power players through sections that are sometimes filled with overly-complicated coding and programming references. The story feels heavily influenced by famous science-fiction works (most notably the seminal Tron) but it’s not only about digital life and a computer-based world. The effect can be turned off, but I would guess that those old enough to recognize it for what it is will leave it on.Īs the savior of the Digital Kingdom, Narita Boy will feature 2D action and platforming through different landscapes while fighting HIM’s minions. The game even has a ‘soft’ CRT effect that makes it feel as though it’s being played on an Apple II from the dawn of the digital era. From the lights of the digital world to the mesmerizing tone of the synthesizer, every moment pays homage to the neon-hue pop culture of the ’80s. Enter Narita Boy.īefore going further, it’s impossible to talk about Narita Boy without first mentioning its art direction and aesthetics. Now, the Digital Kingdom and the programmer need a hero. The world he’s built – The Digital Kingdom – is under attack by a program called HIM that puts the programmer into some sort of deep sleep. Narita Boy is the first game from Studio Koba and tells the story of a programmer who tricked by his own creation. WTF No remappable controls again!? Why does this keep happening to me? LOW Too many fetch quests - better to call the game Errand Boy instead! Get over to the Narita Boy Kickstarter now, and hit the Back This Project button.HIGH Unique art direction that brings back memories. Most importantly, if they meet their stretch goals, Narita Boy will be coming to PS4, Switch, and Xbox One, and if they really meet their stretch goals, there will be expansions for the game. Some of the higher and more interesting pledges include physical comic books, a physical game box, a vinyl OST, and the option to have yourself pixelated by one of the team’s artists. The Kickstarter campaign ends on March 26 and is already a fifth of the way towards meeting their goal. Studio Koba’s self-stated goal is to provide “amazing pixel art games with strong emphasis in unique plots and deep storytelling,” and so far everything about Narita Boy looks set to accomplish that. The development team, Studio Koba, was started by Eduardo Fornieles, after working as a concept artist for Vane from Tokyo’s Friend & Foe Studio. And you’ll adventure all over the Digital Kingdom as you unravel the mysteries of the story, which looks intriguing too with sort of a Tron-but-way-cooler vibe going on. You’ll hack, slash, dodge, dash, and use digital magic to mess up the Stallions. Gameplay-wise, Narita Boy looks like a retro pixel Metroidvania game by way of Sword and Sorcery. Everything about the game screams awesome from the synthy 80s-drenched soundtrack to the fact that you can surf floppy disks and turn them into giant mech suits. Your foes are the fearsome Stallions, led by the Dark Warlock, HIM, and they’re here to steal the Trichroma and rock out in their metal band, The Metallions. ![]() Taking place in the Digital Kingdom, you’ll play as the legendary hero, Narita Boy, the chosen one who is equipped with the Techno Sword, which was passed down by the Techno Fathers. Like fellow pixel-based Kickstarter darling Hyper Light Drifter, Narita Boy looks like a perfect amount of style, weirdness, and killer soundtrack to make for an endlessly charming game. The Kickstarter for Studio Koba’s inaugural title, Narita Boy, has just gone live.
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