9 Years of Shadows Reviews
Halberd Studios has crafted a Metroidvania with a really encouraging number of unique elements. We have no issue in declaring it A Good Game™ and a great time thanks to its careful crafting and implementation of a number of original ideas that elevate the gameplay, rather than stifle it. It is just another Metroidvania at heart, yes, and it doesn't revolutionise the genre; but, while there are a few scrappy bits where you can see a thinning of the budget compared to works by larger studios, it holds its own as an inventive, pretty, and consistently enjoyable adventure.
9 Years of Shadows' pixel graphics are gorgeous, its story is compelling, and its boss battles are worth the slower moments you have to wade through to get there. It's a fun adventure that offers enough surprises to keep Castlevania fans engaged throughout.
It's pretty and it plays well, but this is a short, underwhelming Metroidvania with no exploration and uninteresting level design.
9 Years of Shadows is a solid 2D action-adventure title that is very pretty to look at, and could be recommendable to those who don't focus on combat.
Call it refined nostalgia. Call it a love letter to Metroid Fusion and other Game Boy Advance metroidvanias. Call it what you want. 9 Years of Shadows is a good, short, yet approachable metroidvania. While it doesn’t quite hit the depth of combat complexity and story beats of its GBA predecessors, it overdelivers via gorgeous pixel art and an orchestrated soundtrack. Its Nintendo Switch port is not the best in its current state, but it’s worth playing if you’re wanting a metroidvania to play on a lazy Sunday.
I was initially hooked by 9 Years of Shadows, and I still have nothing negative to say about the game’s music or visuals, but then I realized that the game didn’t have anything interesting to show me after the Poseidon armor. The predictable level structure, meaningless upgrades, uninteresting enemies, mechanically boring boss fights, and stale combat make it a repetitive slog to go through.
9 Years of Shadows is a love letter to the 90s, amalgamating classics such as Metroid, Zelda, Castlevania, Altered Beast – the list goes on and on. But never once does it feel as though it is plagiarising these games, rather paying homage and rejuvenating their ideas for a modern audience.
Pixeltastic 2D sidescrolling Metroidvania set inside the mechanical giant Talos
9 Years of Shadows isn't the biggest Metroidvania game, but what it lacks in length it makes up for in other ways. Its visuals are sublime, for one, and its gameplay is fantastic, too. Add in a soundtrack which includes pieces by Michiru Yamane, and you're onto a winner.
9 Years of Shadows is one of those indies that manages to leave a lasting impression. The armor mechanics are well thought out and bring fluidity to exploration, especially during boss fights. Even with its mediocre story and minor technical issues, the title makes up for it with creativity, charming pixel art, and an excellent soundtrack, a well-designed atmosphere, and well-functioning gameplay. For those who enjoy metroidvanias and are looking for something new within the genre, it's worth giving it a try.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Nine Years of Shadows is a good Metroidvania with an impressive presentation and intriguing world. Gameplay mechanics will be instantly familiar to any genre fans and easy to understand for newcomers. There aren’t too many surprises in the narrative but it is imbued with a sense of optimism that kept me engaged.
9 Years of Shadows is a great game that fans of Metroidvanias will definitely love; it's just the problems with the game crashing and freezing that make me have to score the game lower than it really deserves.
9 Years of Shadows may not shake up the world of indie games, but it comes as a metroidvania with quality, personality and a lot of good ideas. Recommended for fans of the genre.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
9 Years of Shadows is a challenging and old-school Metroidvania that never ceases to impress with its varied gameplay and striking world. 🌳
9 Years of Shadow is a very intriguing production with an excellent, old-school audiovisual style. However, it is definitely a title aimed at fans of metroidvanias, who should consider it a must-play. Other players may complain about the high difficulty level, formulaic structure, and repetitive gameplay. Nevertheless, the developers have delivered a technically solid and polished game that is undoubtedly worth attention. Play it if only for the soundtrack alone, which is truly outstanding.
Review in Polish | Read full review
9 years of shadows is a visually stunning game with amazing pixel art and a great soundtrack that employs some unique gameplay ideas, but their execution leaves a lot to be desired and the game remains more of a "what could've been".
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
9 Years of Shadows has some great ideas, but the health system is one that, while original, is flawed and can damage the momentum and pacing needed to keep you engaged. The initial wave of combat is impressive, but the game runs out of ideas to flesh out its combat systems to feel like you are progressing in your capabilities. That said, its strong visuals and boss designs are impressive, and do a lot of heavy lifting to a game that would otherwise be forgettable.
In 9 Years of Shadows, the mix of combat, puzzles, and musical mechanics can be truly amazing at times. It may not reinvent the genre and it may have some significant flaws, but fans of the Metroidvania genre will probably enjoy the experience.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
With beautiful visual presentation and exemplary pixel art, 9 Years of Shadows doesn't quite achieve the same level of refinement in its gameplay and story. Some boss fights are truly fun and challenging, but the rest falls into the realm of average quality. This is a game I would recommend to anyone looking to indulge in the aesthetic beauty of sophisticated pixel art, as that's where it truly excels.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
9 Years of Shadows is a beatiful game that shines with its atmosphere, but it is held back by some lacking combat, shallow exploration, and tiring backtracking. Still, there is a solid experience here for those willing to look past the flaws.