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Metroidvania games are, as the name implies, based on the Metroid and Castlevania games, placing an emphasis on exploration and unlockable abilities that facilitate said exploration. These games initially came out in the late 80s and in the decades that followed have inspired countless others; some good, some bad.
But there are very few that utilise the format as well as Nine Sols does.
Nine Sols has an engaging story, filled with lore and collectibles that flesh out the world. The world design is incredibly beautiful, blending futuristic environments with traditional Chinese landscapes and architecture, which creates a unique and vibrant world. It also features very dark themes and elements that can actually catch you a bit off guard with how cute the characters are. Although that said, the title card with blood splattered across the main character’s face should’ve been a sign that he isn’t having a walk through the park.
Speaking of, Nine Sols focuses on the character Yi as he seeks revenge on the nine rulers of the land. As the plot progresses, Yi’s relationships to his enemies and allies are continually explored.
The game begins with Yi near death at the hands of a mysterious individual. Little is revealed in this moment before Yi is shown awakening to the sound of a young boy playing the flute. This boy, Shuanshuan is an orphaned human child that takes a liking to Yi and builds a strong relationship with him after his fall from the life he once lived. But after some basic tutorials and exposition, it is quickly revealed that Yi has not forgotten the betrayal he suffered, and he soon reveals his true intent to Shuanshuan and those in the village that they lived in.
As the game progresses, Yi’s past and motivations are slowly revealed via various cutscenes and items that can be found. The number of cutscenes makes Nine Sols one of the more cinematic and explicitly told stories in the metroidvania genre; something which isn’t often seen. It’s part of what sets it apart from some of the games that inspired it.
Nine Sols is a tough metroidvania, drawing heavy inspiration from Sekiro, another massively successful game. Specifically, it emulates the parry system that is a defining feature of Sekiro. There is of course a dodge that can be used in several instances to avoid dangers, but the only way forward is to engage with the parrying system. This is because of how parrying interacts with the various combat systems.
For starters, there are enemies that can only be defeated by parrying them first. This is the easiest way to make parrying a required system to engage with – after all, if you can’t defeat an enemy without first parrying, then you’re going to have to parry. But beyond that, the game becomes significantly more manageable the more you engage with the parry system.
When an enemy attacks, if the parry isn’t perfectly timed, Yi will still take damage. However, this damage is only temporary and can heal automatically, so long as Yi doesn’t take a direct hit. It also provides a talisman charge; a powerful attack that allows Yi to dash through an enemy, stun them, and end fights much quicker. Timing the parry perfectly ignores all damage and can allow the chance to heal from imperfect parries as well.
New parry and dodge mechanics are unlocked as the game progresses, and these abilities are used to enhance both combat and platforming. Enemies become more challenging to combat, whilst environmental hazards are more present, and bosses become relentless.
Nine Sols’ form of rest points are nodes, flower bud shaped points that come alive with pulsating roots that play a significant role in the lore of the world. These nodes can be used to rest and respawn enemies, assign new abilities, and quickly teleport back to the main hub area of the world. This hub slowly fills with allies and is a respite from the world of things that want to kill you.
Dying, like in the Souls games that inspire it, will result in the loss of experience and money that can be lost if not reclaimed before your next death. Gaining enough experience will grant skill points which can be used to expand Yi’s arsenal of abilities, but thankfully any skill points that are earned aren’t lost upon dying; only the experience towards the next skill point. Money is another matter though, which is lost for good should you die before reclaiming it.
Fans of challenging metroidvania games, those on the lookout for tons of story and lore to explore, are in for a treat with Nine Sols. In fact, there really isn’t much to criticize about the game as a whole. Whether Nine Sols is the game for you is going to come down to whether it is the kind of game you want to play. Even then, though, Nine Sols offers an easier difficulty mode which makes it accessible to those who wouldn’t normally be interested in immensely difficult games.
Granted, playing through Nine Sols on the standard difficulty is what gives the strongest feeling of satisfaction. Overcoming each challenge and seeing Yi’s story unfold for yourself is part of the fun and excitement of Nine Sols. It’s a beautifully crafted game full of character and personality, and the combat feels amazing when you engage with its systems.
Anyone looking for a tough metroidvania game, one with an immersive story, needs to check Nine Sols out now.
Nine Sols Rises on Game Pass, Xbox and PC: A Hand-Drawn Action Platformer with Sekiro-Inspired Combat – https://www.thexboxhub.com/nine-sols-rises-on-game-pass-xbox-and-pc-a-hand-drawn-action-platformer-with-sekiro-inspired-combat/
Download Nine Souls from the Xbox Store (and on Game Pass) – https://www.xbox.com/en-gb/games/store/nine-sols/9n3lgkgf3cc2