Orbitals Review

Hazelight pretty much invented a new genre of games with its two-player cooperative titles It Takes Two and Split Fiction. It was inevitable that we’d see copycats. Such is the way with this industry. We’re fortunate that one of the first big ones, Orbitals, actually matches the quality of its inspirations.

Like Hazelight's efforts, Orbitals is a co-op game that mixes 3D platforming and puzzles. Unlike its forebears, it stars two characters who actually like each other. 

If, like me, you found the stars of It Takes Two and Split Fiction somewhat irritating, Orbitals eschews that formula to its benefit. Its heroes, Maki and Omura, have a sibling-like relationship that is sweet and feels natural. It’s not just that they like each other, you’re going to like them too. The adorable duo is full of energy, curiosity, and enough optimism to make them question the cynical nature of others.

The characters, as great as they are, aren’t Oribitals’ strongest quality. That would be the visuals. The game has a stunning retro sci-fi aesthetic. Thanks to its detailed levels, expressive character models, and some animation framerate tricks, Oribitals looks like a playable ‘80s anime. It's  one of the prettiest games I’ve experienced, and the presentation and music do their part to keep the immaculate vibes going.

The puzzle quality is also strong. Like in the Hazelight joints, each player often has access to different tools. You then have to use these tools together to progress. For example, one player might have a gun that shoots an energy beam that can melt metal while the other player has a water gun that can then cool and weld that heated surface. The game will add new layers to the challenges so that no single idea gets dull or repetitive.

You’ll also each have different roles when it comes to flying your spaceship, with one player driving while the other mans the turret. So one of you will have to dodge enemy fire while the other focuses on the offense. Things get more complicated from there, as ship upgrades help you solve puzzles by electrifying and pushing objects around in space.

Even when you aren’t trying to progress the story, you can have fun by hanging around your ship. You’ll find fun elements to interact with, and you can also unlock minigames. This includes the likes of laser tag and even a couple rhythm games. They make for amusing distractions.

Length is another point of differentiation between Orbitals and Hazelight’s games. As much as I enjoyed It Takes Two and Split Fiction, they always felt a bit long with their 15 hours or so run times. Orbitals, on the other hand, is maybe a little too short if anything. It took my brother (my co-op buddy for my playthrough) and I about 7 or 8 hours to finish.

I’m not really saying that this is a big issue. If anything, I’d rather have this kind of game end before it outstays its welcome. But I was a bit surprised by how quickly its last act played out.

The important thing is that its runtime is a blast from start to end. You and your co-op partner are going to have a hard time putting Orbitals down and will always be excited to discover the next challenging puzzle and gorgeous destination.

We used to dream about games looking this good. Even after beating it, I still look at Orbitals with wonder.