There are a thousand and one paths that lead to excellence, and the locals at Studio Koba have set out to explore the maximum number of them through Narita Boy. Because the Catalan studio flatly refuses that its first video game is a simple visual feast, and it succeeds by wasting talent. Devoting himself to giving shape and substance to his own digital dystopia of exquisitely handcrafted finishes. As a result, Narita Boy is more than just an action game crafted with extra love: his games are an exquisite expression of art in motion.
Something that was foreshadowed from his cover letter, was already manifested with his first playable preview and is fully corroborated after having turned the Digital Kingdom upside down by purging pixelated enemies at the blow of Techno-Espada . Severing beasts and creatures of all shapes and sizes as we understand, assimilate, and internalize the mysterious nature of Trichrome. And, throughout the process, we are stunned when our gaze is lost as we travel through its most inspired settings.
With one foot on classic fantasy and the other on science fiction, Narita Boy draws on countless references from movies, video games, television, comics or literature to transport the player to a thriving digital realm in need of a savior. . Because, the plot structure of Narita Boy obeys the classic cliché of the hero’s journey, but the true story that Studio Koba opens -very little by little- to the player is that of a genius who ends up obsessed and at the mercy of his own creation. Paradoxically, plunging into that digital world will end up being ours.
And it is that the pixelart and the aesthetics of Narita Boy fall in love and radiate their own character . Its classic sensations of adventure and action, already past some complicated initial sections, are very well assembled; and its plot is right when it comes to alternating moments of intimacy, reflection and redemption with scenes of pure epicity and final battles that emanate arcade sensations. Being the group always at the service of those who have the command in their hands.
Narita Boy bets on the side-scrolling to present us an odyssey wrapped in subtle philosophical overtones. A succession of challenges in which the platform, exploration and combat are spiced up with sections in which Studio Koba lets go of its creative mane. Giving us the ability to surf digital rivers on huge floppy disks, gallop through forests and deserts or knock down skyscraper-sized enemies as we traverse cities brilliantly lit by neon-effect pixels.
An emotional spectacle that, unlike most current games, cannot and should not be played automatically. Without paying a minimum of attention to everything that is manifested in an open or subtle way on the screen. Not only because the story itself requires it, which also, but because the progression and puzzle system, Narita Boy’s less successful points, require the player to pay special attention to detail, a minimum of memory and, failing that, , a paper and a pencil.
The Rise of Narita Boy: The Trichrome Hero
A new obsession has erupted with great force in the homes of half the planet: the Narita One . A video game system popularized in the early eighties and born from the privileged talent of Lionel Pearl Nakamura, a globally revered American-Japanese creative.
The overwhelming success of Narita One is due, in essence, to the enormous depth of Narita Boy, its flagship game. An experience that transports the player to a Digital Realm, whose own conception was being forged for decades through the mind of its creator.
And it is that Lionel captured and immortalized in Narita Boy his youthful concerns, his inspirations and even his great fears. Memories, programs and even your inner demons coexist in the game’s Digital Kingdom code. What the average Japanese genius could not foresee is that it would be precisely the latter who will end up taking the initiative.
An evil emerges from the capital of the Digital Kingdom and has overridden Lionel’s will by sealing his memories. Faced with this powerful threat, the mystical energy known as the Trichrome manifests itself by bringing from the real world the only being capable of restoring balance: Narita Boy himself.
In the playable, Narita Boy was born with the essence and bearing of a new classic: its platform exploration mechanics and the inevitable confrontations with marked hack’n slash overtones crystallize the successes of the action titles of the time of the 8 and 16 bits with that marked name of author of the maximum references of the current indie scene. Studio Koba is crowned in its way of making both influences converge, taking them to an exquisite middle ground.
The superb animations are supported by an initially intuitive control system that gradually gains nuances and new layers of depth as the experience evolves. Not only through better attacks and more mobility options, but also by introducing enemies and locations that will require us to be as skilled at the controls as observers in details and routines.
In this respect, Narita Boy dazzles in the artistic . And if its pixelart falls in love and its soundtrack matches the whole, through the Unity engine and with various visual adjustments, the Studio Koba is crowned by recovering with remarkable naturalness the effect and sensations of playing on a tube television. Making the resulting aesthetics of the set, in its own way, part of the experience itself. Both of its character as a game and of its own narrative. A full extension of the identity of the title itself.
An artistic and visual milestone that, by the way, is unfairly lackluster in static screenshots. As you can see below.
Narita Boy without additional adjustments
Narita Boy with effects and filters disabled from settings.
Based on this, and for this analysis, we have opted to deactivate the retro touch of Narita Boy in the screenshots of the levels. Basically, to give more presence to the finishes and the quality of the pixelart. Although you can always see how good the original effect looks in our initial gameplay or the trailer of our conclusions.
From the first minute, Studio Koba promised to deliver exceptional visuals. And when the time has come to take Barcelona’s word for it, they have exceeded our expectations. However, among all the successes and surprises of Narita Boy, it is also possible to find design elements that can be an obstacle for the player.
In all fairness, the opening bars of Narita Boy aren’t straightforward. Going through the beginnings of the Digital Kingdom in side-scrolling levels, with no other guide than the lines of dialogue of its inhabitants and some clues that sprout from the interface make undoing the journey -when you touch- or looking for new ways to advance unnecessarily complicated .
To this we must add a constant in the puzzle system: entering the second act of the game we must activate a series of portals through a three-figure code system. Something like a three-digit key to a padlock. These figures are integrated in a more or less disguised way in the scenarios or are manifested when interacting at specific points.
The problem? While the code puzzle system during this second stage is interesting the first two times, Narita Boy ends up resorting to it more times than necessary. Inviting the player to save the game and take a short break when they see a new portal appear. Knowing that, most likely, it will not be the last one you will have to face.
Quite the opposite happens with the enemies. Its design, minimalist but with character, is great. But when the game reaches the middle of the game, these become especially interesting: not only will we have to apply what we have learned and make use of the unlocked skills, but we will also be invited to discover the most effective technique to cut them off with the Techno-Sword . Sometimes based on dexterity and others unleashing the increasingly latent power of Trichrome.
In this aspect, the genius of Studio Koba reappears by canceling out any sense of routine and repetition, integrating sensational scenarios between sections of the game that we will have to explore in new ways. Galloping, surfing, adopting our animal form or the controls of colossal robots and pixelated exoskeletons.
Resources with which the people of Barcelona once again show off the strengths of the Narita Boy experience: the fluidity of the control system and the exceptional artistic quality of the ensemble. Filling with joy the geek thirsty for news and fanservice that all passionate about video games carries inside.
Narita Boy is an emotional journey . Studio Koba is absolutely right when it comes to integrating a thousand influences into an action adventure that draws on the best of the classics and takes good note of dozens of great little gems. One of those titles that, based on talent, have equated the value of independent projects with that of blockbusters. Extracting the essence of both worlds and channeling it to an experience that evolves with you in the playable and radiates its own identity in the visual.
The Trichrome hero’s journey to the Digital Realm is a marvel that also has its own weaknesses and ups and downs. Specific aspects with solutions as simple as a map; or not as simple as a level design that does not force you to undo what you have done. In both cases, ways to avoid getting dizzy looking for a way forward. Because that happens, of course, and it is not clear if it happens intentionally.
Regarding its duration, according to my Xbox profile, the credits of Studio Koba jumped to seven hours and Narita Boy – at least, the current version – does not offer either a New Game plus option or a level selector. Of course, the experience is neither short nor light: it lasts what it has to last and knows how to unfold the plot so that it always goes for the better.
Very special mention to the brutal amount of winks and clichés integrated into the experience. From landscapes reminiscent of jewels like Another World or the pages of the eternal Moebius to sensational references to the culture of the eighties. What’s more, when Narita Boy gathers the energy of the Trichrome, the same aura that Goku and his friends emanate when they unfold their life force. There are even Shinobi-style summons!
In fact, Narita Boy’s plot is a very careful amalgamation of influences from works like Ready Player One, Adventure Time or Tron . And in fairness, all these details that in the end add additional points to the set. But the best thing is that, despite this, Narita Boy does not need them to shine with their own light. None of them overshadow their own achievements and milestones as a video game.
Narita Boy is the umpteenth proof that talent, dedication and passion for what is done are always above the formulas for success clothed with cutting-edge technology. And, in the process, the people of Barcelona give joy to everyone who left their thumbs on the 8- and 16-bit consoles. Crowning himself with a very pleasant experience that, despite his setbacks, a very special imprint on the player.
Because Studio Koba’s debut feature is not perfect, but neither does it need it to be one of the great Made in Spain jewels of this new decade . Bigger words considering our legacy. A great little game capable of captivating you in the artistic and having you fascinated as it evolves. As it takes shape, adding more textures to its gameplay and new nuances to its universe. And, in the process, it establishes itself as the perfect gift for the pixelart lover.
Narita boy
| Platforms | Xbox, PC (versions reviewed) PS4 and Nintendo Switch |
|---|---|
| Multiplayer | Not |
| Developer | Studio koba |
| Company | Studio Koba and Team17 |
| Launch | March 30, 2021 |
| Price | 24.99 euros (included in the Game Pass) |
The best
- An artistic section of ten with a pixelart that makes you fall in love
- Fierce enemies at the service of an ever-improving combat system
- Lots of winks and tributes to video games, film and science fiction
Worst
- Level puzzles and challenges get repetitive
- The design of the initial levels is confusing
- Pc
- Analysis
- PS4
- Xbox One
- Nintendo switch
