Launching into the imaginative worlds crafted by Red Candle Games, players of “Nine Sols” on PlayStation 5 will find themselves in a uniquely stylized metroidvania adventure. Inspired by “Sekiro” and featuring intricate deflection-based combat, it brings a hand-drawn flair to the familiar terrain of challenging 2D gaming. In this review, we’re diving deep into the experience “Nine Sols” offers.
“Nine Sols” transports you to New Kunlun, a tantalizing fusion of Eastern mythology and cyberpunk flair. Here, you step into the shoes of Yi, a mysterious Fangshi. The journey unfurls inside a seemingly primitive cave, but alongside your companion Shuanshuan, you’re thrust into a realm hiding far more than meets the eye. Your quest? To defeat the formidable nine Sols that reign over this land.
It’s noteworthy how this title took flight thanks to a crowdfunding campaign back in 2022. With a goal of NT$3,000,000, the support of 8,900 backers pushed it to an impressive NT$13,000,000. With its initial release on Steam in May, the game now lands on PS5, boasting stretch goals like an easier difficulty, new cutscenes, and an alternate ending.
Players face a choice between two difficulty modes: Standard and Story. Standard Mode sticks to the core, challenging experience “Nine Sols” was initially designed to provide. For those more interested in narrative with minimal combat stress, Story Mode lets you tweak difficulty dynamically to enjoy the unfolding tale.
One of the narrative’s pivots is a ritual where chosen individuals join the Sols, gods of this universe. In a grim twist, chosen ones are robbed of their heads by an evil device, leaving their bodies behind. Among them is your friend Shuanshuan. In a surge of urgency, you activate a talisman to thwart the machine, fueling the chaos that ensues. Your Qi explosion destroys the malevolent device, sending villagers into a panic over the repercussions, prompting you to dive into the depths to confront the source of this peril.
Gameplay is richly interactive; you control Yi with the analog stick, navigating the environment through careful jumps, dashes, and strategic attacks. Parrying with L1 is key in battles; mastering this deflection is vital as mistimed blocks still deal damage but contribute to your Qi reserve. This Qi can be used strategically to unleash powerful attacks or in essential boss encounters.
Dying in “Nine Sols” comes with a price – loss of all experience and money, a stark reminder of its challenging nature. Retrieving lost currency mandates defeating the adversary that bested you, emphasizing its risk-reward balance. Save points offer time to strategize, allowing you to manage the Skill Tree to tailor your build against upcoming threats.
Defeating foes grants experience, transforming into Skill Points that enhance Yi. Options abound: enhance your speed with Swift Runner, expand Qi capacity, or unlock Bullet Deflect to turn opponents’ projectiles against them. Spend money judiciously to craft items or augment skills using 3D-printed Jade, with essentials like the Pipe Vial offering practical advantages in maintaining health through challenging encounters.
Trophy enthusiasts will find a robust selection with the goal of acquiring the prestigious Platinum. Required feats include unlocking all skills, amassing Jade, besting every boss, including hidden ones, and completing the Standard Mode campaign, with many secrets remaining for dedicated players to uncover.
Having swung onto the gaming scene, “Nine Sols” offers a gripping, visually impressive take on the 2D Soulslike Metroidvania genre. This adventure, set in a world where ancient traditions meld with futuristic elements, provides hours of challenging gameplay on the PS5 for $29.99.
This review was based on a PlayStation 5 copy of “Nine Sols” that I received from Red Candle Games. Whether you’re lured by the promise of breathtaking hand-drawn design or the thrill of deflection-based combat, “Nine Sols” is a worthwhile expedition into the heart of a Taopunk world.
