Narita Boy – Review

Our Rating: 6.5/10

Narita Boy is an 80s-themed pixelated adventure story. Take your Techno-Sword, look for Techno-keys, defeat Techno-Villain, and save Techno-Kingdoms.

• Producer: Studio Koba
• Publisher: Team 17
• Platforms: Playstation 4, Switch, PC, Xbox One

You enter a digital universe as part of a weirdly biblical story. The Creator is the only one who can stop an evil entity known as “Him” from conquering everything. Sadly, He erased the Creator’s memories, and it is now Narita Boy’s responsibility to visit the Techno-Kingdom, awaken the Creator, and save the virtual (as well as the real) universe.

Story Overview

The Creator is ambushed by the Him entity, which begins our journey. The “Creator” is merely a brilliant developer who created the Narita One pc and even the whole Techno-Kingdom that occurs solely within him.

Trichroma is a vibrant digital empire with three distinct tribes coexisting peacefully. That is until He took control of the red tribe and declared war on the yellow and blue tribes.

Realizing the danger posed by this entity, the Creator included a safeguard in the world’s code. Narita Boy code is initiated in the event of impending global chaos, summoning the chosen one in the actual world to rescue the digital. And this is how we seize authority of the Chosen One, and we must travel through the three tribes’ domains to recover the Creator’s memories.

Gameplay

The game’s primary goal is to retrieve the Creator’s memories. Only then will he be able to run code that will put an end to Him’s danger.

This concept is present throughout the game. The monologues of the characters we approach, as well as their duties in civilization, depict people who are deeply spiritual and passionate about their Creator.

We also go to a lot of shrines and towns that are full of religious buildings, but they are all run by computers, codes, and electrical lines.

Thanks For the Memories

There are a total of 12 memories, plus one hidden, that depict life from birth till death, as well as the creation of cyberspace.

The spiritual icons play an important role in this world and the search for memories. You must locate portals and enter the appropriate symbols to move between stages. The stage conceals such symbols, which can be hard to distinguish because some are not in readily accessible locations.

As a result, it can be aggravating when you overlook something and have to go back through the scene again, looking for small detail.

Fighting Digital Monsters

The combat in this game is fairly straightforward. You only have a sword and a few unique skills like double jumping and evading. You will receive a piercing blow skill near the end of the game, as well as a shock wave. Additionally, a super shot dismantles almost anything in front of you.

Meet the Manos

Combat becomes a little more complicated when we encounter the “Manos.” The tribes’ heroes, each of whom represents a different color, are depicted here. A colored fire appears above the head of some creatures, indicating their vulnerability.

You can invoke the power of one of the Mano to deal more damage to a creature of the same color while also taking more damage. You’ll be able to alter the color you activate and adjust to the foes you encounter this way.

Each tribe has a prevailing color, and all of the scenarios revolve around that color. We begin in the blue tribe’s homeland, where cities are on the banks of rivers and within blue-toned caves.

Yellow tribe’s towns, on the other hand, are by the desert sands and the inhabitants’ mantles. Thirdly, the red tribe inhabits a barren landscape of red and scarlet stones.

The Good, the Bad, and Overall Experience

Narita Boy’s combat is excellent thanks to a straightforward blend of quick strokes, well-considered skills, and this color-changing scheme. As a result, the situations and instances that make you sit on the edge of your seat and sweat.

The game’s exploration is like a traditional Metroidvania but on very small maps. As we advance through the game, the character receives new abilities to face adversity and access previously inaccessible areas.

You won’t have to go back to old maps or look for hidden chambers in areas you’ve already visited in this case. The exploration is in much smaller areas where everything is easy to find.

An explosion of Sound and Colors

Narita Boy’s pixelated look, combined with an 80’s vibe, is one of the things that draws people in. Thankfully, the game does not waste time referencing historical events. The mood, color scheme, appearance, and music all serve as references here. And what a fantastic appearance.

Foes and bosses we encounter have a layout that resembles a cross between meat and machine. Humanoids are the most common enemies. Some brandish swords, while others hurl fireballs and leap across the screen. The bosses, however, are the real draw, with each one requiring a unique strategy to overcome.

The game’s soundtrack is delightful. Knowing when to be “80s” and when to be contemporary, to round out the theme. Narita Boy understands the importance of proper fitting. It regulates to set a tone and transport you further into this universe, whether you’re walking through ancient temples or a high-tech neon-covered city.

Final Thoughts

Narita Boy is a fantastic game that masterfully blends exploration and combat in just the right proportions. Despite a weak start, the game has a positive impression by the end when the pace is 110%.

The narrative by the Creator’s memories, on the other hand, was not as captivating. It does, however, express a very imaginative and intriguing world to discover. Narita Boy is a pleasant game with a great soundtrack, combat, and fluid visuals.