'Narita Boy' on Xbox Game Pass is a hack n' slash retrowave fever dream

Narita Boy Review Source: Windows Central

Xbox Game Pass features some of the best Xbox games out there, with new additions weaving in every month. Beyond some of the heavy hitters similar the huge influx of Bethesda games post-obit Microsoft'southward acquisition, at that place's a smorgasbord of high-quality indie titles hit the platform to supplement those bigger releases. One such game is Narita Male child, a championship I downloaded on an 80s-inspired whim, after seeing its thumbnail. And boy, am I glad I did.

Narita Male child plays similar a retrowave fever dream, washed in cathode radiation and sublime pixel art. Hither's why this hack n' slash-heavy, Metroidvania-lite game should definitely be on your radar.

Digitize

Narita Boy Xbox Store

Narita Boy

Save the Digital Kingdom

Narita Boy is a hack n' slash side-scroller with an intriguing digital setting and tight combat, experienced through a warm lens of 80s retro nostalgia.

Into the Digital Kingdom

Narita Boy Review Source: Windows Central

Without spoiling as well much, Narita Boy kicks off at a estimator desk, as a developer types away into a big old school reckoner. Something goes wrong with his code, however, and a red sprite appears onscreen. With his memories erased, beings inside the computer initiate the "Narita Boy" protocol and digitize a local male child, transporting him inside his calculator. It'due south a familiar motion picture trope, simply the manner Narita Male child builds its world is uniquely detailed and cohesive, marrying pixel-way graphics with punchy 80s-style synthwave overtures.

Narita Male child's visuals make me feel like I'grand raiding the vault of some expensive NFT crypto art gallery.

Sucked into the computer, Narita Boy finds himself the unlikely hero of the Digital Kingdom, a world comprised entirely of highly-spiritual computer programs, who atomic number 82 a meditative monk-like existence. However, evil programs called the Stallions accept erased "The Creator's" memory, and it's on you to explore the realm, uncover the Creator's history from within the computer's memory, and bring the fight to an entity known simply every bit "HIM."

At the get-go, the game bombards you with in-earth lore and apocryphal terms. It tin exist tough to proceed up, just after a while talking to the game's digital citizenry, you'll be a veritable adept.

Narita Boy Review Source: Windows Fundamental

Every corner of the game feels lovingly mitt-crafted with minimal repetition. Every room has a unique pixel art setpiece or character interaction to bask, even if information technology'southward but in that location to requite you lot a key. Narita Boy'southward visuals make me feel like I'm raiding the vault of some expensive NFT crypto fine art gallery, with something new to discover at every plough.

Weilding the Techno Sword

After meeting with the Digital Kingdom's elders, you're rewarded with the fabled Techno Sword — a weapon but an outsider tin wield. This sword serves equally your primary mode of attack while doing battle with the rogue programs that infest the land, with tight hack due north' slash gainsay that feels equally satisfying as it does nuanced.

Narita Boy's swordplay is easy to learn, but the subtleties reveal the studio's thoughtfulness and skill.

Some attacks produce a light knockback consequence, which can be weaved nicely in your strategies for counter-play. Narita Boy's swordplay is piece of cake to learn, but those subtleties reveal the studio's thoughtfulness and skill. It has been a pleasance to learn. Learning enemy attack patterns, ideal dodge opportunities, and specific counters are satisfying without existence too taxing, and the generous checkpointing system means you're never thrown too far dorsum away from the activeness.

As you lot explore the game's globe in more than item, you'll unlock new skills and powers to help you along the way. A peachy shoulder barge is important for stunning blocking enemies, while an aeriform assault serves as a traversal power and counter against flying adversaries. Some of the more powerful skills include a laser beam that devastates enemies in a line in front of y'all, and the Taiyon Axle, which summons a companion to bombard your enemies with explosives.

Narita Boy Review Source: Windows Central

I'm only part of the way through the game and so far, and I've already been impressed by the big variety of enemy types and mechanics the game has thrown my way. There are standard zombie-way enemies, heavies that wield giant swords, and warlocks that fly around and spawn bats. The further into the game I get, the darker the enemy designs seem to get too. I'yard at present facing off confronting skeletons, crucified corpses strewn upwards on digital crucifixes, and twisted abominations with guns for arms.

The game too has a decent variety of boss battles. I've fought a shadow with a rainbow face, screeching pixels across the screen. I've gone toe to toe with a living "Glaucoma," which spewed its digital guts across the room while spawning angry maggots. The game's horrors and their designs seem tied to the "Creator" and his memories, which you uncover as you explore the game'southward world.

You should definitely attempt Narita Boy

Narita Boy Review Source: Windows Central

Thus far, Narita Boy has been quite linear in its structure, with some minor backtracking after unlocking certain keys and gaining new powers. I'm non sure it quite reaches the level of a true "Metroidvania" only it doesn't need to. The areas in the game are various and varied enough in their designs to keep things interesting, even disregarding the intriguing story.

Narita Boy is a tremendous start outing from Studio Koba.

Indeed, the deeper I traverse into the Creator's memories, the more than I feel emotionally tied to the setting. The Creator certainly seems to have a nighttime past, and unlocking the true nature of this digital universe he has created is driving my intrigue in unison with the tight combat and intriguing fine art.

Narita Boy is a great example of a game I might have missed entirely were it not for Xbox Game Pass, and I'm oh then glad I didn't. Make no mistake, Narita Boy is a tremendous first outing from Studio Koba.

Save the Creator

Narita Boy Xbox Store

Narita Boy

Go Narita Boy

Narita Male child is the first game from Studio Koba, after a successful run on Kickstarter. This retro-futuristic hack n' slash is lovingly hand-crafted, with tight gainsay, an intriguing plot, and wonderful fine art.

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