It has been just over 4 years since the initial announcement ofHollow Knight: Silksong- the sequel to 2017’s critically acclaimed metroidvaniaHollow Knight. Despite recently receiving an update and trailer forSilksongfrom developer Team Cherry, fans still do not have a concrete release date other than anticipating that the title might release sometime in 2023.During the long wait forSilksongother indie developers have carried the torch for the metroidvania genre with a slew of excellent titles featuring rewarding exploration and snappy, responsive combat. One such title is the newly released9 Years of Shadowsfrom developer Halberd Studios.
Beginning life as Kickstarter project back in 2020,9 Years of Shadowsis a love letter to theclassics of the metroidvania genreand is an almost literal combination of the two franchises that serve as the genesis for the term -CastlevaniaandMetroid. The game has now launched in 1.0 full release after a strong demo in the Fall 2022 Steam Next Fest and is garnering significant praise from players and fans of the genre. With gorgeous pixel art, a unique and captivating story, satisfying combat, and a varied map to explore,9 Years of Shadowsmight be one of the best salves for the continued delay ofSilksong.
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9 Years of Shadows' Vibrant Art Style and Captivating Story
One of the first things players will likely notice when booting up9 Years of Shadowsfor the first time is the game’s use ofbreathtaking pixel art. One of the narrative conceits of the game is that the hero, Europa, is infiltrating Talos Castle to restore color to a world plagued by shadow. The use of color as a means to show Europa’s progress in her quest translates to vibrant visuals and deftly used twinges of color to mark different abilities and upgrades. As Europa succeeds in her mission, the world of9 Years of Shadowsonly becomes more colorful and alive.
9 Years of Shadowsis heavily reminiscent of a classic in the metroidvania genre -Castlevania: Symphony of the Night. Similar to Alucard’s infiltration ofDracula’s castle inSymphony of the Night,9 Years of Shadows’Europa is infiltrating a stronghold known as Talos Castle to end the curse that has plagued her world and removed all color. As players progress in their quest, they are assisted by various musicians and painters who also are desperate to see art return to the cursed world they inhabit. The thematic emphasis on art being necessary for life and subtle nods to Greek mythology and anime make for a unique metroidvania setting and story.
9 Years of Shadows' Excellent and Responsive Combat
Outside of its ability to keep players hooked with a steady stream of rewards and upgrades that give way to more exploration, a good metroidvania is often defined by its combat. Given thatHollow Knighthas some of the bestand most intricate combat of any metroidvania, the bar forSilksongand other metroidvania titles following in its footsteps is a high one to clear. Thankfully,9 Years of Shadowsprovides players with a bevy of options and upgrades to assist in combat and the fighting in game feels tight and responsive. Enemies feature different colored barriers that either buff or nerf damage output based on the armor sets and abilities equipped by Europa, and the standard three-hit combo that serves as the basis for combat encounters is satisfyingly effective.
If boss encounters are the metric by which a metroidvania’s combat system is truly tested then9 Years of Shadowswould pass with flying colors. One of the early game bosses sees players utilize a newly acquired ability to use the flooded arena to their advantage and exercise a level of speed and precision in their combat that stands toe-to-toe with some of the best boss encounters inHollow Knight. While players only have their trusty halberd as their standard weapon, the use of multiple armor sets that each have their own ability sets allows for players to be strategic in how they approach combat challenges. Thecontinued wait forSilksongmay seem like an eternity by this point, but titles like9 Years of Shadowsare a more-than-welcome distraction.
9 Years of Shadowsis out now for PC.
MORE:Hollow Knight Silksong’s Release Date is Caught Between a Rock and a Hard Place
