14 DAY TRIAL // 
I carefully time my jumps to get to the platforms a moment before the energy barriers activate, giving my character time to crouch and avoid the damage they deal. I then hit an electric switch, revealing a new path to explore.
A jumping attack kills one flying enemy and then an energy bolt from my teddy bear companion eliminates a weird crystalline entity. I move across a few other platforms before I have to face a more complex opponent, who’s throwing his offspring at me when I try to get my hits in. I have to avoid touching him or his bio-projectiles, then kill the smaller enemies, and then find space to jab my halberd into his carapace.
I take a few hits while I understand his array of moves, so I hug my companion to get back some energy. Once his pattern is clear, it’s easy to defeat him. I know that I am heading for a boss encounter, so I need to locate a save point and then explore a little more before the big fight.
Nine Years of Shadows is developed by Halberd Studios and published by Freedom Games. I played on the PC using Steam and the game is also offered on the Nintendo Switch. The title uses exploration and combat inspired by classic Metroidvania titles to show off its interesting world.
The game’s world has been plunged into shadows for the nine long years, with only one traumatized hero named Europa ready to try and do something about it. She is quickly defeated but meets Apino, a cute little teddy bear. It heals her wounds and accompanies her, giving crucial help as she navigates Talos Castle, trying to deal with the curse and find her identity as a hero.
There’s lore to discover and some interesting characters to meet, some based on real-world musicians, as Europa reveals more lore and herself gains a better understanding of the castle. There’s nothing groundbreaking in terms of storytelling but the execution is pretty good and does the strong theme justice.
Nine Years of Shadows uses a classic approach to screen-based exploration and combat. Europa is nimble and able to deal with a range of platforming challenges. Her trusty halberd strikes quickly, with a basic attack that’s useful throughout the game. There’s no dodge but a backslide allows her to avoid big enemy swings.
The twist to these familiar elements comes from the teddy bear. Apino is magical, which opens up a set of actions that complement Europa’s capabilities. It can launch magical projectiles that damage most enemies and are the only way to eliminate some. He will also eliminate corruption and open up new exploration options.
Most importantly, Apino is eminently hug-able, and when Europe draws him near she regains energy, which both protects her from incoming strikes and allows her to use the teddy bear to attack. It’s an interesting idea that makes it easier for players to avoid failure when they navigate complex environmental challenges or quickly lose health but can find a place to execute a hug move.
When Europa takes damage that would kill her, players can also master a quick time event to fill her energy and protection bar. Combat against basic enemies rarely requires such extreme measures but when bosses show up it can be hard to react to their patterns, find space to get some strikes in, and also worry about the blue bar. Don’t forget that enemies re-populate any room the protagonist leaves.
Progress in Nine Years of Shadows is linked to armor sets. They improve both a player’s ability to deal with enemies, by matching elements, and give Europa more ways to move through the environments of the castle. By finding notes and materials, our heroine can also improve her abilities by visiting a group of musicians, who also offer side-quests that usually feature a mini-boss battle.
Make sure to always try and remember where the closest save point room is and visit after making decent progress. I often found myself so focused on seeing more of the beautiful world that when I died, mainly because I hadn’t learned a boss routine, it led to a rude surprise. There are a few difficulty spikes but, as long as you save, the overall frustration level remains low.
Nine Years of Shadows doesn’t try to tweak the main mechanics of its genre too much, which is a shame. The Apino elements of the game are interesting but not groundbreaking. Maybe his abilities should have been more closely integrated with those of Europa. I like that the castle is easy to navigate but the world, while gorgeous, holds limited surprises.
Nine Years of Shadows is a beautiful-looking experience, especially at the start, when there’s a shift from black, white, and shadows to full and bright color. The game pulls the same move a few times and it is always effective. There’s a lot of care evident both in the world and the enemy design and the main character’s moves and attacks are a joy to watch. The entire presentation uses beauty to suggest surging hope, despite the bleak state of the game’s world.
The soundtrack is also impressive. There’s jazz in there, with plenty of characters that get their own theme linked to their personality, but also more modern influences. It’s uplifting and fun, another element that projects optimism and the possibility of renewal. There’s a clear connection between music and the gameplay. The main theme is a banger but I would have loved more variety.
The Good
- Impressive presentation
- Good soundtrack
- Solid Metroidvania mechanics
The Bad
- Limited innovation
- Some boss difficulty spikes
- Needs more variety
Conclusion
I wanted more variety for combat encounters and a smoother difficulty curve for the bosses. The game also has a weird tendency to put its save rooms just outside of the way enough that it’s easy to forget about them and lose progress. But otherwise, Nine Years of Shadows execute a good idea well and its look allows it to distinguish itself from competitors.
A review key was provided by the publisher
