Orbitals Arrives on Nintendo Switch 2: Retro Co-op with Anime Aesthetic That Will Make Us Soar

Sometimes the past comes back with force, and when it does with retro anime style, we get nostalgic. Shapefarm, the Tokyo-based studio, has just revealed Orbitals during the Nintendo Direct Partner Showcase, and it promises to be that cooperative game we didn't know we needed until now.

Things are looking good: confirmed launch for Nintendo Switch 2 this summer. Yes, you read that right, Nintendo's new console already has exclusive content on the way.

Two Heroes, One Destiny: Save the World from a Space Storm

In Orbitals we step into the shoes of Maki and Omura, two characters who face supernatural threats to protect their home planet. The premise is simple but effective: a supernatural space storm threatens everything they know, and we are the last line of defense.

The aesthetic transports us directly to those 80s and 90s anime that we love so much. Vibrant colors, angular designs, and that sense of space adventure that never goes out of style.

Tools That Bring Game (Literally)

The trailer showed us three main gadgets that define the gameplay:

The Scraphook works as a grappling hook that allows us to grab platforms and move through scenarios with agility. Perfect for those moments when we need to escape quickly or reach elevated areas.

The Liquid Launcher shoots water, and although it sounds simple, it surely has more applications than we imagine. Putting out fires, activating mechanisms, or simply annoying your teammate (because we know you will).

And the Beam Cannon, which fires high-heat rays. This is the heavy weapon, the one you pull out when things get serious and you need to obliterate everything that moves.

Co-op as It Should Be: Flexible and Accessible

Here comes the interesting part. Orbitals bets heavily on local split-screen co-op mode, something that lately seems to be in danger of extinction. But additionally, it includes a feature called GameShare that allows a player who owns the game to share it with another to play together, either locally or online.

This feature is a masterstroke. It eliminates that economic barrier that often prevents us from playing with friends who don't have the same title. Only one needs to buy it, and both can enjoy it. Brilliant.

Nintendo Switch 2: The Future Is Already Here

That Orbitals is announced specifically for Nintendo Switch 2 tells us several things. First, that the new console is closer than we think. Second, that developers are already working with the hardware. And third, that this summer is going to be quite eventful for Nintendo fans.

Shapefarm is not a particularly well-known studio, but with Orbitals they're demonstrating that they have fresh ideas and a willingness to take risks. The combination of retro aesthetic with modern co-op mechanics could be just what many of us are looking for.

Will Orbitals be one of those games that define a console launch? It's still too early to tell, but first impressions are promising. Summer is getting closer and closer, and with it, the opportunity to defend our planet alongside a friend.

Prepare your Scraphook, load your Liquid Launcher, and calibrate that Beam Cannon. Maki and Omura are waiting for us for an adventure that smells like nostalgia and tastes like cooperative fun.