Retro Anime Vibes Meet Modern Co‑Op Play
Orbitals lands on the Switch 2 as a love letter to the golden era of 80s‑90s anime, blending the glitter of Sailor Moon with the brooding mecha of Neon Genesis Evangelion. Players control Maki and Omura, a blue‑haired heroine and her alien companion, as they dash through a crumbling space station, solving puzzles that demand tight coordination.
Design Roots: From Magical Girls to Giant Robots
Art director Marcos Ramos admits that the game’s “pop‑oriented” facial style borrows from Sailor Moon’s iconic expressions, while the stark, rusty mechanical aesthetics echo Gainax’s Evangelion and even the industrial feel of Yoshikazu Yasuhiko’s Venus Wars. The result is a visual mash‑up that feels both familiar and fresh.
When you glance at Maki’s short blue hair, you’ll spot a nod to Ranma 1/2’s Akane Tendo, another deliberate homage that adds layers of nostalgia for seasoned fans.
Gameplay Mechanics Echo Mecha Drama
The “I.M.” respawn machines in Orbitals act like EVA sync units: stepping inside links the player’s soul to the device, letting them reprint fresh versions after each death. This mechanic mirrors Evangelion’s theme of pilots merging with their machines, giving the co‑op experience an emotional undercurrent.
Beyond mecha, Ramos wanted the adventure spirit of Dragon Ball to shine through, making each level feel like a quest for the next power‑up rather than a simple puzzle.
Mechanical Inspirations and Story Depth
The design team also looked to Hayao Miyazaki’s Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind for “tactile, rusty‑looking” machines, adding an organic feel to the sci‑fi backdrop. Ramos emphasizes that, like Evangelion, Orbitals operates on multiple layers: surface‑level fun with cute retro characters, and a deeper narrative that invites players to connect emotionally.
"On the surface, it’s a beautiful robot showdown; underneath, it’s a human drama," Ramos explains, hoping the story sticks with players after the credits roll.
Where to Play
Orbitals is available now exclusively for Nintendo Switch 2. For more updates on anime‑inspired games, check out our news section.
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