I know that Nine Sols came out a couple of years ago and became a darling amongst the fans of the Metroidvania genre. But for some reason we never got around to checking it out, mainly because of all the other games that are on the market. Thankfully, Fangamer recently gave us an opportunity to circle around to it by sending us a physical copy of the Nintendo Switch game. And, to no one’s surprise, this one lives up to the hype.
It follows a hero by the name of Yi who finds himself at odds with the Nine Sols of the Solarian council, unhappy with the sacrifices made to the people that saved him from a ruthless betrayal. The game follows his journey as he defeats bosses and digs deeper into the catacombs of the Sols.
Nine Sols is absolutely rich in atmospheric design. The world is quite immense – so much, in fact, that it’s easy to get lost. That’s okay, because part of the fun lies in discovery, or talking with people about new things in your home hub. The game never bores, and the boss battles are definitely amongst the best of the Souls-like genre. You’ll definitely need your reflexes to get out of these fights in one piece. Love the hand-drawn presentation as well.
If you haven’t discovered Nine Sols yet, this is absolutely the best chance to do so. Plus the physical goodies are a nice touch, which I’ll break down below.
Nine Sols Packs On the Action
This game definitely has some interesting lore to it, making for some compelling fights down the road. In it, you portray Yi, who works with a group of Solarians for balance around the planets. But for some reason he finds himself betrayed, and working alongside the folks the Solarians have taken charge of. When a personal sacrifice is offered with a young charge of his, Yi decides to fight back and bring down the Sols once and for all – a task easier said than done.
What follows is a remarkable journey, one that shows Yi’s growth beyond his role. More importantly, it shows his kinship with his newfound people, even if it’s something as simple as joking. You’ll journey through the underbelly of the Nine Sols, making new discoveries and taking advantage of cool abilities, like a little sprite bug that can activate switches. Of course, the combat gets mixed up beautifully as well, offering new skills you’ll definitely require.
That’s because the game offers some beastly boss battles. These guys are no pushovers, and have the same level of skill you’d expect from a Souls-like offering. You’ll die more than you think, but the progress points are welcome, so you can hop right back into battle.
The only real drawback here is that the world is too big. Sometimes it’s easy to get lost or find your way to your next objective, even with little things pointing them out. No matter – you’ll still find plenty to enjoy in Nine Sols, especially if you’re a die-hard Metroidvania fan. And these days, who isn’t?
There are several hours of gameplay packed in here, and new stuff you may have missed along the way. So, yeah, Nine Sols offers a lot. Don’t be afraid to dive into this realm – it’s really something. Plus the way the story told is excellent, mind a few weird jokes here and there. (That’s okay, we all have them.)
Nine Sols Is a Real Looker
Perhaps the star attraction of this Metroidvania game is the presentation. I really enjoy the hand-drawn style that Nine Solspossesses. It looks absolutely ravishing, especially with the boss battles. Plus the level layouts are really well done, right on the level with some of the best games in this genre. Yes, even Hollow Knight Silksong. Even if you play on the portable Switch screen, it looks really well done.
Plus the audio is a huge plus. That’s because the soundtrack is fully orchestrated, and tremendously fits the mood of the game as a whole. The sound effects are well put together too, especially with anything surrounding the Nine Sols. They sound like they’re in a league by themselves.
Really, you won’t see a game as gorgeous as Nine Sols is. You need to experience it for yourself.
What Is In the Physical Release?
The Nintendo Switch standard release, which is available here, is probably one of the most elegant games Fangamer has put together. The reversible cover art is dandy, especially the usage of red font on the inside. There’s also a nicely structured game manual that breaks down the basics, as well as a pair of reversible mini art cards with some splendid designs.
For those interested, there’s also a deluxe edition available. It includes the above items, along with an Epilogue comic book, a collectible Shuanshuan coin, and a folded poster with an overview of the Nine Sols world. We were sent the standard versions, but fans of the game should invest in this one if they’re truly serious about collectibles.
You Can Count On Nine Sols
We’re glad that we had an opportunity to revisit Nine Sols, even after all this time. It’s so damn good. The presentation is bonkers good and the gameplay hooks you, even if it does seem a bit too easy to get lost. Exploring is the name of the game here, and you’ll definitely enjoy the journey.
The game is also available digitally, as well as on Xbox Game Pass, so you can discover it that way as well. But, really, the physical version is best for collectors. Either way, get ready for an adventure that you can truly count on.
GAMERHUB RATING: 4.5 (out of 5) JOYSTICKS
Thanks to Fangamer for sending over a copy of the game! Check the links above for physical versions. You can also get the game digitally for Steam/Steam Deck, Xbox, PlayStation and Nintendo Switch. Don’t forget it’s on Game Pass as well!
Need another great Metroidvania adventure? Check out our review of Constance!
