Nine Sols from Red Candle Games offers a riveting 2D experience, rich with hand-drawn graphics and inspired by games like Sekiro, all set within the Metroidvania style on the PlayStation 5. This captivating adventure unfolds in the intriguing Taopunk-themed world of New Kunlun, where Eastern mythology seamlessly blends with cyberpunk vibes. Players step into the shoes of Yi, an enigmatic Fangshi, and embark on a journey starting in a cave where they team up with Shuanshuan in search of a unique flower imperative for an impending ritual. As you traverse through what initially appears to be a classic, albeit primitive setting, you’ll soon discover there’s much more lurking beneath the surface. Your quest will involve taking down the nine Sols that tyrannically oversee this realm.
The birth of Nine Sols traces back to a 2022 crowdfunding campaign, where Red Candle Games aimed for NT$3,000,000 to propel the game’s development. Thanks to the generous backing of nearly 8,900 supporters, they amassed an astounding NT$13,000,000. Initially launched on Steam in May, Nine Sols has now made its way to the PlayStation 5, bringing with it added features made possible through stretch goals, including a new easier difficulty, additional cutscenes, and an alternate ending.
The game offers two distinct modes: Standard Mode, which maintains the original challenging experience filled with action-packed combat and vast exploration opportunities, and the Story Mode, introduced as a result of the stretch goals. This mode lets players immerse themselves in the narrative with less emphasis on combat difficulty, allowing for dynamic adjustment of damage multipliers.
The tale unfolds as a ceremony commences, promising the chosen ones eternal life with the gods known as the Sols. However, an ominous machine disrupts this promise, violently decapitating the blessed and casting their bodies aside in a secret facility. Shuanshuan, a friend from years past, becomes one of these tragic participants. Realizing the impending peril, you hastily intervene, using your talisman to thwart the machine’s deadly intent.
With a burst of your Qi’s explosive power, you shatter the contraption’s helmet, causing panic among the villagers who fear divine retribution. As the chaos ensues, you bid Shuanshuan farewell and utilize your abilities to commandeer the lift that transports these bodies underground, gearing up to confront the nefarious forces responsible.
In this gripping gameplay, players guide Yi with the left analog stick, jumping with the X button, dashing with R2, attacking with Square, and firing arrows using Triangle. Interactions and contraption activations involve the Circle button, which also doubles as a grappling mechanism when you jump. Yi can scale certain walls marked by undulating tentacles, so stay vigilant!
Combat hinges on a deflection system, where mastering the L1 button to parry at the perfect moment becomes crucial. Mistimed parries still allow blockages but inflict minor damage on Yi while accruing Qi. Accumulated Qi can then be unleashed against enemies, dealing substantial damage — a tactic especially vital during boss battles. Regain health using your Pipe with the up button on the D-Pad, and the Mystic Nymph skill, activatable with L2, allows you to send it through narrow passages to hack obscure devices.
Should you fall in battle, all your accumulated experience and currency are forfeited. Unlike many "Soulslike" games, Nine Sols requires you to defeat the adversary that bested you to reclaim lost funds — fail, and they disappear for good. Resting and saving revive enemies, but you’ll have the chance to revisit your Skill Tree at rest points to maintain your edge over opponents.
Victory against foes earns experience, leading to Skill Points to enhance Yi’s abilities. You might invest in Swift Runner for faster traversal or Qi Boost for expanded ability usage. The Bullet Deflect skill allows you to repel specific projectiles back at your foes, offering a strategic advantage.
The currency accumulated can be used at the 3D printer to forge new items or enhance existing skills with Jade. For instance, Ricochet Jade complements Bullet Deflect, boosting projectile repulsions even when parries are slightly off. Prioritize acquiring the Pipe Vial to extend your Pipe’s healing use, a boon for extended survivability.
For trophy enthusiasts, Nine Sols presents a comprehensive trophy list with a coveted Platinum trophy. To earn it, you’ll navigate through tasks like mastering the Skill Tree, collecting all jade, and conquering the game on Standard Mode. It also features numerous secret trophies, maintaining an element of surprise. Explore additional guidance through resources like the Nine Sols Trophy Guide if needed.
In summary, Nine Sols stands as a demanding and beautifully illustrated 2D Metroidvania, thriving on PlayStation 5 with its Sekiro-inspired, deflection-centered combat. Set in the enthralling and rich tapestry of Taopunk New Kunlun, the game follows Yi, a mysterious Fangshi, on an adventurous quest. Starting with an exploration of a cavernous setting in search of a ritualistic flower, this expedition to topple the nine ruling Sols offers an enigmatic allure. Are you ready for this challenge? Nine Sols is now available on PlayStation 5 for $29.99.
Note: This review was made possible by a PlayStation 5 copy generously provided by Red Candle Games.
