Angespielt: Weltraum-Koop trifft Retro-Anime: „Orbitals“ im Test

"Orbitals" is a space-adventure game developed by Shapefarm in the style of retro anime. The game follows two young, stout engineers, Maki and Omura, who live in a settlement on a space station struggling with a lack of energy sources after a devastating cosmic storm 15 years ago. With the next major storm approaching, the pair venture into space to seek help, accompanied by mechanic Kinakoko.

Throughout their journey, they explore three distinct areas, encountering various destroyed space stations and settlements across different galaxies. Their goal is to locate the energy sources of the stations, which could provide a safe haven from the approaching storm. "Orbitals" offers a mix of interesting elements, such as puzzles and boss battles, but suffers from long, tedious periods and repetitive gameplay.

The level design is inconsistent, with lengthy idle phases interspersed between action-packed moments. The constant back-and-forth between space stations, ships, and docking maneuvers proves tedious and adds no value to the gameplay or story. Unresolved plot points and unexplained events further detract from the experience, including a beautiful yet unexplained sequence featuring a glowing figure passing by their ship.

Despite the presence of numerous creatures and characters, they fail to impress and often repeat the same reactions, which may become tiresome. However, the game's soundtrack, composed by Mami Ayukawa, is outstanding, with songs reminiscent of 80s pop anime, effectively conveying emotion rather than relying on the story itself. The eight language options are also commendable, and the post-production work with the Anime Studio Massket yields high-quality cutscenes.

Additionally, the cooperative gameplay feature allows players to invite others for free play, either locally or online using a second controller or Joy-Con. The animation quality is commendable, making it notably impressive as a film, but the constant shifting between space stations, ships, and dockings may lead to confusion and hinder the overall experience.

While the game's aesthetic and soundtrack are strong points, the lack of refinement in various aspects, such as character design and game mechanics, ultimately result in a game that feels unfinished despite its ambitious premise. With a release date of September 3, 2026, for Nintendo's Switch 2 at approximately 50 Euros, "Orbitals" has the potential to be a great game, but it falls short of delivering a fully polished experience.