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Back in the 1980s (because everything recently is set then) a genius developer referred to simply as the Creator, invented the Narita One console and a game called Narita Boy. The narrative of Narita Boy is probably its strongest element, so let’s start there.
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Does it live up to the four year wait if you were part of the kickstarter, or is it a disappointment? Part Metroidvania, part 2D adventure platformer, Narita Boy lures you in with its striking pixelart visuals, and distinct synth soundtrack. Heroes from outside the world coming in to save it. It’s the Never-Ending Story crossed with the Matrix. It’s like the world inside Daft Punk’s helmets. It’s a distillation of Tron and The Dark Crystal, combining high fantasy with retro sci-fi in a way that’s somehow modern and ancient at the same time. It takes the escapism, that world beyond the screen and it mythologises it. It’s a technological Narnia where from the moment you boot up a game, or slot in a quarter, you’re somewhere else. And that world is being created inside that console, somewhere beyond the screen. It’s time to be a warrior, a tomb raider, a superhero, a Narita Boy, anything but yourself. You press that power button, hear the startup chime on your flashy console, and you know you’re about to get whisked away from your everyday life. The world of the Digital Kingdom is certainly striking, but does it live up to its promise? The Finger Guns Review.įor many of us, games are escapism, pure and simple. Four years after its Kickstarter, 2D adventure Narita Boy is finally here.
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