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Metascore
73

Mixed or average reviews - based on 8 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
7.6

Generally favorable reviews- based on 51 Ratings

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  • Summary: Become symphonic in Narita Boy! A radical action-adventure as a legendary pixel hero trapped as a mere echo within the Digital Kingdom. Discover the mysteries behind the Techno-sword, lock swords with the corrupt and tainted Stallions. Save the world!

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Narita Boy - Release Date Reveal Trailer
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 8
  2. Negative: 0 out of 8
  1. May 11, 2021
    90
    Narita Boy is one of those adventures so good that it's hard to forget. You won't want to stop exploring its universe, thanks to fun combat and outstanding graphics. Narita Boy 2, come now!
  2. Apr 2, 2021
    85
    Narita Boy is an experience to be lived and enjoyed, delightfully straddling two worlds (always and in any case made of pixels, complete with simulated curvature of the CRT monitor on the sides of the screen).
  3. Mar 29, 2021
    80
    After a slow start, Narita Boy engages with a unified and engrossing aesthetic, along with a surprisingly varied combat system. But that system is not pushed to its limits enough, and there are some minor photosensitivity issues. That said, Studio Koba has made something truly special that shouldn’t be missed, especially if you have Game Pass.
  4. May 24, 2021
    80
    "Style over substance" is a reflexively-bandied phrase that's diminished in meaning over time. Although I partly agree to its usage here to highlight certain gameplay flaws, I don't think that should tarnish Narita Boy's immense successes. Studio Koba designed what they knew best – reverent 80s nostalgia, inspired techno-spirituality, beautiful 2D art, & more – with a sincerity rarely seen today.
  5. Mar 29, 2021
    70
    If Narita Boy had a better handle on what it did well, and spent less time on the stuff it didn’t, we’d have a hit on our hands. Instead, we have style over substance - a Tron Evolution rather than Blade Runner, say - when it could have been a bonafide classic.
  6. Mar 29, 2021
    60
    Narita Boy's extraordinary style and presentation is let down by hollow exploration and one-note combat.
  7. Apr 3, 2021
    60
    No pixel revolution in this platformer that shines through its retro-cyberpunk vibes but not through its gameplay or narration.

See all 8 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 17 out of 23
  2. Negative: 3 out of 23
  1. Apr 4, 2021
    10
    Narita boy es un juego que no puedes evitar de comparar con TRON, esto no es malo, si no al contrario, es un juego con una ambientación muyNarita boy es un juego que no puedes evitar de comparar con TRON, esto no es malo, si no al contrario, es un juego con una ambientación muy buena, una gameplay bastante divertido, una banda sonora genial, una historia interesante, pero sobre todo un estilo artístico que te volara la cabeza. Uno de sus puntos mas débiles es su rejugabilidad ya que casi es nula, pero aun así es un juego que vale la pena de principio a fin. Naritaaaa Boooooy! Expand
  2. Apr 26, 2021
    10
    Very slow start but once you obtain new powers and moves its a super fun game.

    Sound track is so freaking epic insane! Story is crafted well
    Very slow start but once you obtain new powers and moves its a super fun game.

    Sound track is so freaking epic insane! Story is crafted well and stunning graphics.

    Narita boy is a must play
    Expand
  3. May 16, 2021
    10
    Very good game! The atmosphere is beautifull, both the visual and the sounds. Thanks for the Creators! I'm waiting for the sequel!
  4. Apr 1, 2021
    9
    Narita Boy is just awesome! I finished the game day one at 100%. I couldn't put the controller down for 9 hours straight. Amazing art,Narita Boy is just awesome! I finished the game day one at 100%. I couldn't put the controller down for 9 hours straight. Amazing art, exciting gameplay, a surprisingly interesting story and great soundtrack! I would have liked a no filter mode because it would be easier on my eyes but apart from that it was a very very enjoyable experience on Series X. Expand
  5. Apr 2, 2021
    8
    Narita Boy is a retro 2d platformer that just checks so many boxes. I will try keep this spoiler free as much as possible as the story is aNarita Boy is a retro 2d platformer that just checks so many boxes. I will try keep this spoiler free as much as possible as the story is a big part the charm, so without further ado... You play as the hero Narita Boy, your character gets pulled into the digital world to save it from the threat of "HIM", you must journey across the digital world to unlock "memories" that will aide you in your quest. The visuals of Narita Boy are retro 2D 80s style, with very pleasing level design and contrasting colours that set the tone for the game. Probably one of my favourite bits about this game does come early on with the background design and some of the none interactable NPCs that you see having some sort of mini rave to the retro synthwave music of the game that does give you a silent chuckle to yourself, also on that note the music of the game does really well to compliment the theme of Narita Boy in a way that can sometimes be forgotten in more main stream titles and this is a big thumbs up, however depending on mood it can become a bit distracting when it feels like the audio levels jump around a touch. Narita Boy is a hack 'n' slash kind of game, you unlock a sword and some basic abilities at the start after a little leg work, from a basic sword slash to a pretty awesome "beam" for longer range and a shotgun blast to just get nice and personal. There are other abilities to learn as you progress, however these do feel more situational and found myself rarely using them outside of certain circumstances. The story of Narita Boy is an interesting one and definately gives off that 80s cyber vibe and it is fed to you in terms of dialog boxes from the NPCs that you will encounter and a very nicely done flashback video that you will find on your travels (these are the memories I mentioned earlier), While the story is a great and I highly enjoyed it my main gripe with this game is unfortunately the dialog aspect of the story, I felt that at times I was just reading block walls of text and it felt tedious, despite this I felt like pushing through those sections was worth it as you unlock more of the story and find yourself wanting to find out what happened next! As for what does happen next? Well this game is well worth picking up to find out, so head on over to the Xbox Digital Games Store and download it today. Expand
  6. Apr 23, 2021
    8
    Un juego divertido, con una historia que te llega a importar, un trabajo increíble de artístico, tanto gráficamente como en música, y unaUn juego divertido, con una historia que te llega a importar, un trabajo increíble de artístico, tanto gráficamente como en música, y una duración muy correcta, hacen de este Narita boy una experiencia formidable y que nade debería perderse. Pasad de las notas de los análisis de los medios, no es una obra maestra, pero es una obra de unos maestros. Expand
  7. Apr 4, 2021
    2
    Le pongo esta nota como una llamada de atención. El juego, a pesar de estar bastante bien en lo jugable, que no sobresale pero es potable,Le pongo esta nota como una llamada de atención. El juego, a pesar de estar bastante bien en lo jugable, que no sobresale pero es potable, tiene ideas de bombero que echan de una sentada a la mayoría de jugadores. En primer lugar, la decisión de la tv de tubo me ha gustado, pero no los movimientos continuos en las franjas que no hacen más que ponerte nervioso y distraerte, eso se podía haber paliado, en los ajustes solo te deja desactivar el efecto al completo o activarlo, hubiese preferido más opciones de accesibilidad, si lo desactivo pierde gran parte de la esencia. Pero para mí, lo más loco ha sido la trama y como lo han tratado. Para llegar al núcleo jugable del juego y disfrutar mínimamente hay que pasar por una multitud de textos que no hacen más que echar para atrás al jugador, con terminología muy específica de programadores, una historia que bien poco importa y textos y más textos. Si el sacrificio para llegar a un buen juego es este, esperas encontrar al menos una jugabilidad variada, que no es así. He echado en falta un desarrollo más profundo, sus apenas 6h se me han quedado cortas. Es un buen inicio para este estudio, pero no parece tener veteranos de la industria a pesar de que se que no es así, hay gente muy sabia en el estudio Koba, no se como llegaron a esto. Expand

See all 23 User Reviews