An action-adventure Metroidvania-style game
9 Years of Shadows is an action-adventure and Metroidvania-style game about bringing color back to a monochromatic world. The game features a range of fantasy settings and characters, as well as a narrative appropriate to that fantasy world. The visual style is retro pixel art along the lines of 16-bit era games.
The side-scrolling nature of the game and the style of the character controller makes it comparable to games like Ori | The Will of Wisps and Hollow Knight. In addition to the core gameplay style, the game also features some puzzle elements.
Bring color back to the world
The story, as the title suggests, takes place 9 years after a sorrowful event that plunged the world into shadow, represented in the game by a lack of color. The player takes control of Europa. Armed only with a halberd, the hero must venture into Talos Castle to find the source of the darkness.
Metroidvania-style gameplay
The gameplay style of 9 Years of Shadow is 2D side-scrolling action that follows the typical Metroidvania blueprint, with interconnected, nonlinear worlds with progressively unlockable abilities, which allow players to explore and backtrack through previously inaccessible areas. This encourages discovery and puzzle-solving while offering challenging combat and platforming gameplay. The player also has a ghostly companion to help them.
End the Curse and Uncover the Truth
Embark on a journey to end the curse in the action-adventure Metroidvania game, 9 Years of Shadows, and experience a moving coming-of-age story. As Europa and her loyal companion Apino, encounter memorable characters, discover remnants of ancient civilizations, and traverse mysterious gateways echoing the past.
Healing Music in 9 Years of Shadows: A Unique Gameplay Feature
With an entrancing soundtrack tuned to 432Hz, composed by Michiru Yamane (Castlevania Franchise) and Norihiko Hibino (Metal Gear Solid Franchise), music plays a major role in the gameplay and narrative of 9 Years of Shadows. Collect musical notes to improve abilities, perform quests for composers at Teatro Degollado, and decode enemy attack patterns through music.
Elemental Armors Mastery: A Strategic Advantage
Switch between elemental armors for Europa and Apino to gain dominance over various creatures in the shadows. Harness the power of Poseidon, Gaia, and Helios to solve puzzles and access hidden locations. Defeat giant bosses using elemental mastery in classic Metroidvania fashion.
Pixel Art World: Discover the Beauty of Talos Castle
Explore the vivid, pixel art setting of Talos Castle in 9 Years of Shadows. Encounter colorful characters, awe-striking architecture, and otherworldly paintings. Face beautifully designed enemies, a blend of biological and mechanical parts, ready to strike. Uncover treasures, hand-crafted scenery, and ancient secrets while battling hidden bosses with an intuitive combat system, and dive deeper into Talos’ lore through collectibles.
A rich and detailed game
Fans of Metroidvania-style games will almost certainly find this game compelling. It features a full soundtrack and a richly detailed game world, all rendered in high-quality pixel art. The gameplay, while not groundbreaking, features different elements to add variety. The game may lack appeal to players who are not fans of pixel art games, however.
