There is a specific, warm nostalgia tethered to the Saturday morning cartoons of the 80s and 90s. It is the memory of waking up before the rest of the house, bowl of cereal in hand, to watch heroes embark on grand, episodic adventures across the cosmos. Whether it was the high-octane transformations of Dragon Ball Z or the eccentric detective work of Darkwing Duck, these programs did more than just entertain; they shaped the imaginations of a generation.
It is this precise, ephemeral feeling that developer Shapefarm aims to recapture in their debut title, Orbitals. Releasing exclusively for the Nintendo Switch 2 on September 3, Orbitals is a vibrant, co-op-focused journey that manages to capture the spirit of classic animation while modernizing the "buddy-adventure" genre popularized by Hazelight Studios’ It Takes Two and Split Fiction.
While it may not aim to redefine the medium, Orbitals succeeds in being a refined, joyous, and highly polished "smorgasbord" of cooperative gameplay that demands to be played with a partner.
The Core Concept: A Partnership Across the Stars
At its heart, Orbitals is a story of companionship. Players take on the roles of Maki, a vivacious and bubbly explorer, and Omura, a laid-back, blue-skinned humanoid with distinctive horns. The duo finds themselves stranded on the brink of disaster, tasked with scavenging power cores to stabilize their home ship as it faces an encroaching cosmic storm.
The game is strictly designed for two players, operating on a philosophy of constant communication. Much like the best co-op titles in recent memory, Orbitals does not simply ask players to work together; it forces them to rely on one another’s perspective. While one player navigates the treacherous terrain of a planet’s surface, the other may be tasked with managing ship systems or providing long-range cover fire. This dynamic is the engine that drives the game’s narrative, mirroring the evolving friendship between Maki and Omura.
Chronology of Development and Design Philosophy
Shapefarm’s development cycle for Orbitals was marked by a deliberate choice to pivot away from the hyper-realistic, "cinematic" trends currently dominating the gaming industry. Instead, the team opted for a distinct 80s and 90s anime aesthetic.
The Aesthetic Choice
The art direction of Orbitals is immediately striking, characterized by bold, thick lines and deliberate, simple shading. This is a far cry from the modern industry standard of high-fidelity ray tracing and exhaustive texture detail. By intentionally restricting their visual palette, Shapefarm has created a world that feels as if it were plucked directly from a laser-disc collection.
A Love Letter to an Era
The commitment to this retro-futuristic theme extends beyond the visuals. From the neon-soaked splash screens—reminiscent of 1980s corporate branding—to the game’s official theme song, "Accelerating Destiny," performed by legendary 80s anime vocalist Mami Ayukawa, every decision feels calculated. The developers have crafted not just a game, but an immersive period piece that respects the source material it draws inspiration from.
Gameplay Mechanics: A Symphony of Genres
One of the most impressive feats achieved by Orbitals is how it seamlessly weaves together disparate gameplay genres into a single, cohesive experience. The game is divided into 12 distinct chapters, each lasting approximately 20 to 25 minutes. This episodic structure ensures that the game remains fresh, with the mechanics evolving alongside the story.
The Role of the Pilot vs. The Gunner
In the heat of battle, the game splits the experience. One player takes the role of the pilot, tasked with high-speed evasive maneuvers, while the other manages the ship’s weapons systems. The challenge is rarely about reflex speed alone; it is about the "handshake" of communication.
In one memorable sequence, the pilot had to navigate a harrowing, bullet-hell-style asteroid field, while the gunner’s view shifted entirely to the ship’s interior, where they were forced to put out fires and reroute power before rushing back to the turret controls. These unexpected perspective shifts keep players on their toes and prevent the gameplay from ever becoming stagnant.
Asymmetrical Experiences
What adds significant replay value is that the experience for each player is inherently asymmetrical. During our testing, the player acting as the "pilot" felt the tension of vehicular exploration and platforming, often evoking memories of Gundam or Code Lyoko. Conversely, the player acting as the "gunner" navigated a faster-paced, combat-heavy experience. By swapping roles, players can experience the narrative from a completely different mechanical perspective, effectively doubling the game’s depth.
Supporting Data: Pacing and Narrative Weight
While the game is an undeniable success, it is not without its minor flaws. Orbitals is a brisk experience, clocking in at approximately five hours of total gameplay.
- Pacing Concerns: In comparison to the often bloated length of modern titles like Split Fiction, Orbitals leans toward the other extreme. While the pacing is tight and ensures there is no "filler," the final act feels somewhat rushed, as if the game is sprinting toward its conclusion just as the mechanics reach their peak complexity.
- The "Middle Ground" Problem: There is a sweet spot for co-op games that sit between the short, sharp bursts of an arcade title and the sprawling epic of an adventure game. Orbitals narrowly misses this, leaving players wishing for just one or two more chapters to fully flesh out the late-game narrative stakes.
Despite this, the brevity is a double-edged sword. It avoids the "sickly sweet" fatigue of longer games, providing a focused, high-energy experience that respects the player’s time.
Official Developer Stance
In interviews leading up to the launch, representatives from Shapefarm and publisher Kepler Interactive emphasized that the goal of Orbitals was never to create a sprawling, 50-hour RPG, but rather to craft a "tight, concentrated experience that can be finished in a weekend."
The developers noted that the core themes of the game—agency of choice and the necessity of forgiveness—were chosen specifically to mirror the deeper, often overlooked philosophical questions found in classic series like Cowboy Bebop. While the game is framed in bright colors and exciting set pieces, the developers maintain that the emotional core of the journey is intended to resonate with adults who grew up watching those very shows, allowing them to appreciate the subtext of the narrative that might have flown over their heads in their youth.
Implications: The Future of Co-op on Switch 2
The arrival of Orbitals on the Nintendo Switch 2 is a significant marker for the console’s early lifecycle. As the industry leans heavily into online-only multiplayer, Orbitals stands as a firm advocate for local, side-by-side cooperation.
Why It Matters
The success of Orbitals suggests that there is still a massive, underserved market for high-quality, two-player experiences that prioritize screen-sharing and verbal communication. By eschewing modern trends in favor of a distinct, "Saturday morning" identity, Shapefarm has created a template for how smaller studios can compete with AAA titles by offering a unique, focused, and emotionally resonant experience.
Final Verdict
While the game ends slightly sooner than one might hope, the quality of the journey more than makes up for its runtime. Orbitals is a smart, charming, and expertly designed love letter to a bygone era of animation. It is the perfect dessert for those craving a nostalgic trip that doesn’t overstay its welcome.
For those looking to recreate the magic of a Saturday morning with a friend, Orbitals is an essential purchase. It is a reminder that in the vast, often lonely landscape of modern gaming, the best experiences are the ones we share with someone else.
Orbitals launches on September 3 exclusively for Nintendo Switch 2.
