Orbitals is a game that immediately caught my attention in its initial release trailer, thanks to its gorgeous anime-inspired aesthetic and unwavering commitment to a split-screen co-op experience.
Published by Keplar Entertainment and serving as Japan-based Shapefarm’s debut title, Orbitals is a Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive that builds on the foundation laid by Hazelight Studios, elevating the resurgence of co-op-based experiences to new and exciting heights. With their home trapped in a cosmic space storm, players assume the roles of Maki and Omura, two of the brightest minds in their colony, as they seek help and try to save their space station from utter decay.
The mechanic-and-cartographer duo make a natural pair of young heroes, each bringing different skills to Orbitals’ asymmetrical adventure. Orbitals takes the concept of a narrative-driven co-op adventure and gives it a distinct 1980s- and 1990s-inspired anime aesthetic. It also features dual audio options, including a Japanese dub paired with yellow, old-school-inspired subtitles that feel like a fitting tribute to longtime anime fans.
“Orbitals takes the concept of a fun co-op narrative adventure game and imbues it with a distinct 80s- and 90s-inspired anime aesthetic…”
Orbitals is a fairly linear experience, but it manages to keep things feeling fresh by giving players the freedom to get out of the ship, which acts as the main hub area of the game, allowing players to explore and navigate various biomes in tandem. One player can control the ship, while the other takes the gunner seat, creating dynamic situations where players must navigate debris fields toward derelict space stations and other points of interest.
Maki and Omura have access to character-specific tools, encouraging cooperative problem-solving and moment-to-moment gameplay sequences that require both players to rely on each other to make progress. Orbitals includes a variety of biomes that take advantage of its unique split-screen dynamics, ranging from simple platforms that require one player to pull down a switch or gate while the other player safely moves across, to much more elaborate sequences that require precise coordination.
Examples of some of the game’s more unique mechanics include an area where one player creates platforms by crusting over magma, allowing their co-op partner to move along safely in time. Similarly, later on in the adventure, a player must take control of a small robot with limited RC-inspired controls that the other player must help guide through a series of doors, something that seems simple on paper, but due to the precise timing and intentionally unconventional controls, becomes a fun exercise in patience, akin to learning to play with a new toy or gadget.
Orbitals constantly throws fun, engaging micro-challenges at players that keep things fresh and exciting throughout its 10-12 hour adventure. Speaking of runtime, Orbitals is a well-paced game focused on environment-based puzzles, but it also features shooting sequences that keep players invested and looking for more action, including fun set pieces and boss encounters that shake up the routine of adventuring.
“Orbitals constantly throws fun and engaging micro-challenges at the players that keep things feeling fresh and exciting through its 10-12 hour adventure.”
The oni is in Orbital’s details, with the game going above and beyond to create a sense of a living and breathing anime world ripped straight out of the late 80s. From its subtle high-ISO grain that sells the illusion of old animation cels to the stepped-animation-inspired framerate of the character movements, Orbitals is one of the best-looking games on the Nintendo Switch 2.
Music and voice acting also excel at creating an era-appropriate retro-anime feel, making Orbitals feel like a true love letter to those who grew up in an analogue world. Finally, in terms of challenge, Orbitals feels just right, with everything from the simplest puzzles to the more nuanced encounters feeling satisfying to complete, plus plenty of charm and interactivity with the environment that ties it all together. For a debut title, Shamefarm have knocked it out of the park, delivering one of Nintendo Switch 2’s best exclusives and one I am happy to double dip on for its physical release.
If I had to nitpick, I do wish Orbitals allowed players to swap screens or characters on the fly when playing online, as I found this fun to do locally and it would be particularly useful for those stuck on a challenge. Ultimately, Orbitals is a standout exclusive on the Nintendo Switch 2, one more indicative of a first-party release than a debut title from a new studio, making it an absolute must-play for owners of Nintendo’s latest hybrid console.
