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. 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. View a new set of screenshots at the gallery.Captured on Nintendo Switch (Handheld/Undocked) Pump Up the Jam – Inspired by the glory days of analogue synthesizers, the pumping soundtrack turns back the clock for this techno-journey.Pixel-Perfect Story – Encounter weird and wonderful digitized characters on a journey to discover the secrets of the Digital Kingdom and its elusive creator.Might as Well Jump – The classic 2D platformer will see players explore imaginative landscapes and navigate a plethora of pixel art environments.You Have the Power! – The Techno-Sword can be used alongside mysterious magic so that players can carve and blast their way through enemies great and small.Go Back to the Future – A homage to the eighties with a new spin on classic gameplay styles, Narita Boy takes players back in time for blast from the past.During the journey, players will also explore the memories of the creator that reveals his story, from his early years in Japan, to his creation of-and connection with-the Digital Kingdom. By using this new weapon and with the help of the Motherboard, the spiritual leader of the Digital Kingdom, players will face corrupted enemies and hulking bosses to save the electronic synthwave world from the invading Stallions, a group of rogue code bent on forced rule and subjugation. Narita Boy puts players in the shoes of the eponymous digital warrior chosen to wield the Techno-Sword, a legendary weapon capable of defeating fearsome foes in melee or from afar as it instantly transforms into a shotgun or devastating laser beam. Narita Boy is a heart-felt love story to the 1980s, featuring a narrative-driven adventure that takes players to a game inside a game, battling powerful bosses and overcoming puzzles in order to uncover the secrets of the Digital Kingdom and-ultimately-its creator.
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