Narita Boy
Narita Boy | |
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Developer(s) | Studio Koba |
Publisher(s) | Team 17 |
Director(s) | Eduardo Fornieles |
Producer(s) | Chie Wakabayashi |
Programmer(s) | Robert Casas |
Artist(s) | Nito Diez |
Composer(s) | Salvador Fornieles |
Engine | Unity (game engine) |
Platform(s) | Microsoft Windows. MacOS, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch |
Release | March 30, 2021 |
Genre(s) | Action-adventure |
Mode(s) | Single-player |
Narita Boy is a 2021 action-adventure video game developed by Spanish[1] team Studio Koba and published by Team17. The game is an action platformer and it follows Narita Boy as he tries to save the Digital Kingdom from the Stallions.[2] The game was released on March 30, 2021 for Microsoft Windows, MacOS, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch.[3][4][5]
Gameplay[]
Narita Boy is a 2D platformer with Metroidvania elements, as the player explores the Digital Kingdom using their abilities to travel across the level. In each level the player must find "Techno-Keys" which allow the player to access new areas.
There are also various story segments throughout the game, where the player relives the Creator's memories and learns about why he created the Digital Kingdom.
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/6/6f/Narita_Boy_Gameplay.png/220px-Narita_Boy_Gameplay.png)
Combat revolves around using the game's Techno Sword in order to defeat enemies, called Stallions. The player can do a standard melee attack by pressing a button, or hold it down in order to do a stronger attack. In combat, the player can also dodge, which avoids enemy attacks, and allows the player to get behind enemies. Alongside these moves, the Techno Sword can be used as a shotgun as a high-damage attack.
Throughout Narita Boy, the player gains access to various abilities such as the Wild Fire attacks. They come in three different colors, which allows the player to do increased damage to enemies of the same color, but also decreases the player's resistance to attacks. Each Wild Fire ability also allows the player to summon one of three NPC companions to fight by the player's side in combat.[6]
Development[]
Narita Boy was funded through Kickstarter in 2017, raising €160,946. Eduardo Fornieles, Narita Boy's director, states that his childhood experiences in Spain and his time spent living in Japan influenced the story and the aesthetic of the game. When discussing the game's mix of technology and natural environments the director added, "I find beauty in the mix between organic and non-organic."[7] The game was initially set to launch in December 2018, but was delayed to Spring 2021.[8] The game launched on March 30, 2021.[9]
Reception[]
Aggregator | Score |
---|---|
Metacritic | NS: 74/100[10] PC: 74/100[11] PS4: 77/100[12] XONE: 73/100[13] |
Publication | Score |
---|---|
Edge | 6/10 |
IGN | 6/10[14] |
Jeuxvideo.com | 16/20[15] |
Nintendo Life | 8/10[16] |
Nintendo World Report | 7.5/10[17] |
PC Gamer (US) | 70/100[18] |
Narita Boy received "mixed or average" reviews according to Metacritic, except for the PlayStation 4 version which received "generally favorable" reviews.[10][11][12][13]
Rachel Watts of PC Gamer praised the world building of the Digital Kingdom, noting how the game used spirituality in the world.[19] They also praised the segments where the player relives the Creator's memories saying, "These flashback moments are quietly reflective and act as a great counterbalance to all the satirical '80s macho power-fantasy present throughout the rest of the game." Ollie Reynolds, writing for Nintendo Life, enjoyed the game's combat and mentioned how each ability gave the combat more depth.[20]
Edge enjoyed the game's music and its retro art style, but felt that the gameplay did not live up to the standards of Narita Boy's audio and visuals.[21] Mitchell Saltzman of IGN appreciated the visuals of the game, but strongly disliked Narita Boy's gameplay, writing "Narita Boy is at best serviceable, with hollow exploration filled with constant backtracking, simple puzzles, and combat that never really evolves in ways that make tougher enemies any more fun to fight."[22]
References[]
- ^ "Studio Koba". Twitter. Retrieved 2021-03-29.
- ^ "Narita Boy | STUDIO KOBA" (in Japanese). Retrieved 2021-03-29.
- ^ "Narita Boy on Steam". store.steampowered.com. Retrieved 2021-03-29.
- ^ "Narita Boy for Nintendo Switch - Nintendo Game Details". www.nintendo.com. Retrieved 2021-03-29.
- ^ "Buy Narita Boy". Microsoft Store. Retrieved 2021-03-29.
- ^ "Review: Narita Boy - Pay Homage To The '80s In This Marvellous Metroidvania". Nintendo Life. 2021-03-29. Retrieved 2021-03-30.
- ^ "Short Interview: Narita Boy's Eduardo Fornieles – indiegraze.com". Retrieved 2021-04-02.
- ^ Wales, Matt (2021-02-03). "Neo-retro side-scroller Narita Boy re-emerges with stunning new trailer". Eurogamer. Retrieved 2021-04-02.
- ^ "Nostalgic metroidvania Narita Boy is out now". Rock Paper Shotgun. 2021-03-30. Retrieved 2021-04-02.
- ^ a b "Narita Boy for Switch Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved January 6, 2022.
- ^ a b "Narita Boy for PC Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved March 29, 2021.
- ^ a b "Narita Boy for PlayStation 4 Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved January 6, 2022.
- ^ a b "Narita Boy for Xbox One Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved January 6, 2022.
- ^ "Narita Boy Review". IGN. Retrieved March 31, 2021.
- ^ "Narita Boy : La nouvelle pépite pixel art ?". Jeuxvideo.com. Retrieved March 29, 2021.
- ^ "Narita Boy Review (Switch eShop)". Nintendo Life. 29 March 2021. Retrieved March 31, 2021.
- ^ "Narita Boy (Switch) Review". . Retrieved March 31, 2021.
- ^ "Narita Boy review". PC Gamer. Retrieved March 29, 2021.
- ^ Watts, Rachel (2021-03-29). "Narita Boy review". PC Gamer. Retrieved 2021-04-01.
- ^ "Review: Narita Boy - Pay Homage To The '80s In This Marvellous Metroidvania". Nintendo Life. 2021-03-29. Retrieved 2021-04-01.
- ^ Edge Magazine (March 25, 2021). "Narita Boy Review". Edge. No. 357. p. 123.
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: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Narita Boy Review - IGN, retrieved 2021-04-01
- 2021 video games
- Action-adventure games
- MacOS games
- Nintendo Switch games
- Side-scrolling platform games
- PlayStation 4 games
- Team17 games
- Video games developed in Spain
- Windows games
- Xbox One games
- Indie video games
- Single-player video games