Developer: Halberd Studios Publisher: Freedom Games LLC Release: 03/27/23 Genre: Action
Also on: Nintendo Switch
I like Metroidvania as a genre. After subsisting on scraps for so long we live in an era where fans are spoiled for choice. The genre has expanded to cover a wide range of settings to satisfy genre fans of all stripes. I am literally happier than a pig swimming in its own shit. But it also means that sometimes I am willing to overlook flaws in a genre that I enjoy. I like 9 Years of Shadows a lot; it has beautiful art and a wonderful flow. But looking at it critically it falls short in a few areas. Depending on which side of Metroid or Castlevania you like more will determine whether it will satisfy your craving or leave you disappointed.
9 Years of Shadows takes place in a world struck by a curse. This curse has drained the land of color and left the population in shambles. Europa is a woman orphaned by said curse and spends nine years training to enter the mechanical giant Talos to confront the source of the curse and hopefully restore color to the world.
The story in 9 Years of Shadow is slight. Outside of its prologue there are only a handful of characters you meet along the way. Most only offer a side quest and a brief glimpse at what the world was like before the curse. Most of your insight in this world comes in the last hour when the game drops a massive info dump. While that is disappointing you do get more understanding of Europa during her elevator monologues a la Metroid Fusion. Despite being a hardened warrior she still doubts her mission and whether she will be successful. Bit by bit you will learn about her background and upbringing. I wish there were more overall as the premise set up in the opening deserves more elaboration.
Europa does not find new weapons in Talos. Instead you will find four elemental armors that allow you to access new areas of the castle. The Poseidon suit lets you breathe underwater and later turn in to a mermaid that can swim up waterfalls. The Gaia armor transforms you in to a serpent to access tunnels for high speed travel underground. This one sees extensive use throughout the game. Each armor is color coded and switches at the press of a button as most enemies are also elemental themed. If you enter an area requiring a specific suit it switches automatically, a cool quality of life feature. Although each armor’s attacks differ slightly your move set is sparse. This is disappointing as it grows tedious long before the credits roll.
The way they handle life is different. You have a single light bar that doubles as both a health and magic meter. It refills by attacking enemies that creates a push and pull of resources. The game has many crystal switches and armored enemies that can only be damaged with your companion Apino’s magic bullets. At most you can only sustain a few hits before your light is drained with another hit equaling death. An upgrade that lets you regain health with a well-timed button press exists but is tough to use consistently. In most cases you will rely on taking a few seconds to let Apino regenerate your health. It is quick but leads to many tense moments, especially during boss battles. This could easily have been an annoying system but its implementation works within the game’s confines.
Progression in 9 Years of Shadows differs in that there are no levels or experience. Europa develops through her armors, relics granting new abilities, and using red and blue notes to upgrade stamina and vitality. This removes the need for grinding although it makes combat feel pointless since you gain almost nothing from it. There is a consistent pace when it comes to upgrades and the game is predictable in that regard. Upon entering a new area you will find a relic endemic to the area that you will use immediately. This is followed by a new suit of armor gained from clearing malice from paintings. If you find a save room a boss battle is assuredly nearby as well. This linear progression of power extends to the map and will probably disappoint some with how straightforward it is.
Although 9 Years of Shadows is a metroidvania exploration is not its strong suit. Generally you will receive all of the abilities you need to fully explore each area while in it. Each of the game’s central locations is small by genre standards which mean the game moves at a quick clip. The upgrades come fast but the game’s brevity means a lot do not see as much use as they should. In the final area it shines as you see what could have been. You get to use all of your tools in rapid succession and it is awesome. In a way if it were not for the lacking fast travel options 9 Years of Shadows would feel more like a side scrolling action game than a Metroid contemporary. There’s nothing wrong with that but if you want a giant map with tons of secrets to find look elsewhere.
That same brisk pacing stops the game from reaching its full potential. 9 Years of Shadows is a game of unrealized promise. What is here is good but it stops just short of being great in most categories. You have a decent number of combat abilities between the four armors. But the enemy roster is repetitive and mostly consists of palette swaps. There are a significant number of epic boss battles. However their patterns are simple and they become tedious as they are damage sponges. The various traversal abilities are incredibly fun. But the compact nature of the castle means you will mostly use each one in the same area you receive it before it takes a back seat to the next. If they allowed each of the game’s elements more time to breathe it would be absolutely fantastic as the foundation is here for a near classic title.
In Closing
I like 9 Years of Shadows in spite of my faults with it. Make no mistake; this is a good game and certainly worth your time. But when it is over you will be left with the feeling that there should be more. The exquisite pixel art, exotic soundtrack and solid mechanics are enough to cover for the fact that exploration is not a high priority in my opinion. If they were to release a sequel that improves on the flaws it would be truly special.
