Posted on Apr 21, 2023
'9 Years of Shadows' Review: Symphony of the Light
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https://www.npr.org/2023/04/21/ [login to see] /9-years-of-shadows-review-symphony-of-the-light-castlevania-metroidvania
Metroid and Castlevania pioneered 2D action platformers, and now any game that resembles them gets labeled with an inescapable portmanteau — the "metroidvania." It seems like dozens come out a year — most from independent studios.
But while it doesn't completely reinvent the formula, 9 Years of Shadows, out now on PC, shines in all the core gameplay mechanics that matter: from its character progression, to its tight controls, to its creative enemy design, and even to its platforming and puzzles.
For a genre notorious for brutal difficulty, I particularly enjoyed the game's forgiving combat. You have very limited health, but you're graced by a shield bar that doubles as ammo for a projectile attack. Should you exhaust that bar, you'll become vulnerable, but the game gives you two ways to recover.
Metroid and Castlevania pioneered 2D action platformers, and now any game that resembles them gets labeled with an inescapable portmanteau — the "metroidvania." It seems like dozens come out a year — most from independent studios.
But while it doesn't completely reinvent the formula, 9 Years of Shadows, out now on PC, shines in all the core gameplay mechanics that matter: from its character progression, to its tight controls, to its creative enemy design, and even to its platforming and puzzles.
For a genre notorious for brutal difficulty, I particularly enjoyed the game's forgiving combat. You have very limited health, but you're graced by a shield bar that doubles as ammo for a projectile attack. Should you exhaust that bar, you'll become vulnerable, but the game gives you two ways to recover.
'9 Years of Shadows' Review: Symphony of the Light
Posted from npr.orgPosted in these groups: 
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Video Games
Posted >1 y ago
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I enjoyed Metroid and Castlevania as a kid. Even with advanced graphics and first person experience, 2D is still cool.
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
..."While it's quite polished, the game shares drawbacks common to the metroidvania genre. Save points can be too far from a boss. You'll miss a hint for where to go next, and end up wandering off course. But these challenges are arguably the flip-side to what makes the game enjoyable. Good exploration means getting lost sometimes, and moving too easily throughout the castle would get boring.
All things considered (#NPR), 9 Years of Shadows is an approachable pickup for anyone interested in a light and charming metroidvania. If you want some colorful and thoughtful action in your life, this one's for you."
..."While it's quite polished, the game shares drawbacks common to the metroidvania genre. Save points can be too far from a boss. You'll miss a hint for where to go next, and end up wandering off course. But these challenges are arguably the flip-side to what makes the game enjoyable. Good exploration means getting lost sometimes, and moving too easily throughout the castle would get boring.
All things considered (#NPR), 9 Years of Shadows is an approachable pickup for anyone interested in a light and charming metroidvania. If you want some colorful and thoughtful action in your life, this one's for you."
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