From the outset, 9 Years of Shadows has a really cool and enticing start. With its gorgeous pixel art, emotionally resonant world design, and a unique gameplay hook centered around elemental armor-swapping, it is a love letter to the Metroidvania genre. The game is full of sincere direction and ambition. A gorgeously tragic story that aims to bring color and sound back to a world engulfed in quiet and darkness is at the heart of this side-scrolling adventure, which was developed by Halberd Studios, an independent developer with headquarters in Guadalajara, Mexico.
You begin as Europa, a knight with a mission and a history of loss. In addition to being about fighting, her journey through a cursed world devoid of happiness and music is also about healing. Her goal is to revitalize a land that has been silent. Additionally, the game begins in black and white to emphasize its desolate atmosphere, but color gradually reappears as a narrative and visual reward. Without a question, Halberd Studios had a clear vision when they created 9 Years of Shadows. But beneath its shimmering surface, this world is sometimes betrayed by gameplay that lacks the same level of polish. We’ll dive into that more later.
A Stunning, Sonic Tapestry
The world, once revitalized, gleams with golden flourishes, details, and vibrant colors that make every area feel hand-crafted. The character designs are expressive, the environments diverse, and the animations fluid and satisfying. When the screen floods with color after restoring a new area, the effect is breathtaking and reminds me a bit of Okami. But the visuals are only half of it.
The soundtrack, composed in part by genre legends Michiru Yamane (Castlevania: Symphony of the Night) and Norihiko Hibino (Metal Gear Solid), adds a layer of emotional depth that is rare to hear in indie games. With 32 original tracks, the game delivers a rich experience that underscores its themes of restoration and rebirth. Sound and color are both precious and scarce in Europa’s world, and as you progress, each returned note feels earned. However, this audiovisual magic isn’t always enough to compensate for the game’s mechanical stumbles. After the initial wonder begins to fade, cracks start to show in the game’s pacing and design.
More Style Than Substance?
While it nails the aesthetic, it sometimes falters in delivering fun gameplay. The elemental armor system, a central mechanic, allows Europa to switch between different suits tied to water, fire, and other elements. These not only offer protection and traversal skills, but also encourage players to think strategically about how to overcome enemies and environmental puzzles.
In practice, this feels more like a chore than an exciting feature, making it a lot more frustrating than it should be. The suits can be changed on the fly, but you rarely really need them, as most enemies can be dispatched with standard attacks regardless of your current form. There is potential here; the idea of adjusting your strategy based on elemental matchups is not new, but the implementation doesn’t demand or reward that level of thought. Instead, the system feels underused.
Combat itself is a mixed bag, too. Europa’s halberd attacks are functional, but they lack a sense of weight and impact and don’t really hit well. Enemy encounters often feel repetitive, with many foes simply existing as obstacles rather than meaningful threats. Some reappear mere moments after being defeated, which makes the sense of progress feel useless and makes fighting them feel like a waste of time. The satisfaction that should come from chaining attacks or mastering enemy patterns is silenced by uninspired enemy design and the absence of a real challenge, and it just falls flat really fast, unfortunately.
Exploring A Shallow World
The game world also has its flaws, and while beautiful, it often lacks cohesion and memorable landmarks. Exploration, a cornerstone of any Metroidvania, suffers from the repetition of environments. Instead of discovering a new world that feels alive and interconnected, you navigate biomes that seem constructed and lacking something, at least that was what it felt like for me.
Platforming is fun, though, and Europa controls well enough to make moving around enjoyable. She even has a back-dash ability that proves useful for dodging enemy attacks, especially in tighter combat situations. But the layout of many rooms doesn’t really encourage or reward that. In areas with stacked platforms or narrow passages, it feels clunky, pulling you out of the flow.
Backtracking is another issue. While expected in the genre, the best Metroidvanias make returning to earlier areas feel exciting. Offering new ways to interact with the world through fresh powers, insights, or something. In 9 Years of Shadows, this process often feels like a slog. Rewards are rarely worth it, and the act of revisiting locations lacks the element that can turn tedium into triumph.
Boss encounters are perhaps the most disappointing part of this uneven experience. Visually, they are impressive as the rest of the game and distinct, drawing on the same flair that makes the rest of the game stand out. But in terms of challenge, they are surprisingly shallow. Many rely on simple patterns that do little to evolve or surprise, and most can be beaten without much trial and error. What should be climactic moments instead become lacklustre.
A Touch of Warmth Amidst the Shadows
Despite these flaws, 9 Years of Shadows does manage to endear itself in several ways. Among them is the relationship between Europa and her adorable floating companion, Apino. This magical teddy bear is more than just a cute sidekick, as he serves as a key gameplay component. Apino can shoot ranged projectiles, allowing you to engage with enemies and puzzles from a distance. When Apino’s energy meter runs out, the solution is really lovely and charming. You hug him.
This hug recharges his energy, and although players are vulnerable during this time, the mechanic is clever, endearing, and perhaps one of my favorite things in the game. It subtly shifts your focus from pure reflexes to resource management and timing. Adding a layer of depth where many other systems fall short. It’s this emotional nuance that makes the game stay longer in your mind. While its mechanical execution may not always satisfy. Its world, characters, and symbolism carry real heart and soul. Europa’s journey, aided by Apino’s quiet support, resonates as a metaphor for healing.
9 Years of Shadows is a game that struggles at first glance. Its art direction is beautiful, its soundtrack magnificent, and its thematic core is really moving. However, as the hours pass, it becomes clear that its beauty cannot endure. Core gameplay elements like combat, exploration, and progression lack the depth and refinement needed to expand the experience from solid to great. Still, for those willing to embrace its slower pace and forgive its shortcomings, there are rewards to be found here. The game offers a unique perspective, and moments of warmth and creativity shine through the cracks. It may not redefine the Metroidvania genre, but it adds a unique voice to it.
Disclaimer: JanduSoft provided a PlayStation 5 copy of 9 Years of Shadows for review purposes.
