Narita Boy

 PC
User Score
7.0

Mixed or average reviews- based on 43 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 27 out of 43
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 43
  3. Negative: 10 out of 43

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  1. dynamiczero
    Apr 12, 2021
    6
    I really don't want to be harsh with this game, since it's made by such a small company and comes from Spain (my home country), no less.

    However, Narita Boy is pretty disappointing in most aspects. The combat is serviceable, it works but isn't really engaging. The main mechanic of the game is activating differently colored "modes" to kill enemies with that color quicker, but none of the    I really don't want to be harsh with this game, since it's made by such a small company and comes from Spain (my home country), no less.

    However, Narita Boy is pretty disappointing in most aspects. The combat is serviceable, it works but isn't really engaging. The main mechanic of the game is activating differently colored "modes" to kill enemies with that color quicker, but none of the bosses use the mechanic. In fact, the majority of the bosses are either easy and boring or frustrating in a badly designed way. The other part of the gameplay consists of jumping around, acquiring powerups that can only be used in very specific ways, and add nothing to the game, they're just cool ideas that aren't incorporated in any meaningful way into the gameplay. You'll constantly be talking to NPCs that have the same 5 to 10 appearances, and the dialogue is baffling. Seriously, I got into the game hoping for an engaging story about a digital kingdom, which really is my jam, but it's really badly delivered. About halfway through the game I started skipping every single dialogue because I found it really hard to concentrate on what's being explained (and I'm used to playing old-school RPGs, reading long texts is not a problem for me if they're interesting enough). The backstory of the creator was the only thing I didn't skip, and it was the most enjoyable aspect of the game.

    The final boss is probably the worst in the game, with really poor telegraphy on attacks, and being more of a big damage sponge with bullsh** moves rather than a powerful evil techno-wizard. The game ends on a high note with a big twist, but just after that you get a powerup called "Beat 'em up" and the game just ends with a "To be continued...". I guess it's a way of telling us the next game will be a beat 'em up?

    Anyways it's not awful, just frustratingly average for the potential it had.    … Expand

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
74

Mixed or average reviews - based on 27 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 16 out of 27
  2. Mixed: 11 out of 27
  3. Negative: 0 out of 27
  1. CD-Action
    Nov 19, 2021
    65
    Narita Boy’s art direction is spectacular, and the story is fun, but the adventure itself is disappointing – shallow, repetitive and stretched out. [06/2021, p.45]
  2. Checkpoint Gaming
    May 29, 2021
    70
    Narita Boy is a surprisingly melancholic experience that puts forth a narrative exploring the power fantasy that video games provide people. Or rather more accurately, it gives the player power over their own journey as well as the skills necessary to overcome obstacles. It contrasts the beautiful and fantastical pixel world it’s created, with a very human story of hardship and grief.
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  3. GameCritics
    May 7, 2021
    65
    Narita Boy’s retro style is its main selling point. It’s almost like a documentary on the early days of videogames when their creation were labors of love and dedication from passionate geeks in a garage, not industrial products focus-tested by mega corporations. Although it falls short of being a masterpiece, it’s got more than enough appeal to come recommended to those who have a soft spot for the period.
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