Release Date: March 27, 2023
Metroidvania realized in the convention of a platform action game. In 9 Years of Shadows, we are in an abandoned orphanage. We walk through it as a warrior named Europe, and our task is to unravel the mystery of missing orphans and crack down on the forces of evil.
9 Years of Shadows is a metroidvania type game, realized in the convention of a platform action game. The game was developed by the independent Mexican team Halberd Studios and was made possible, among other things, by a successful crowdfunding campaign on Kickstarter. Among the sources of inspiration for artists there are cult positions like Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, Super Metroid and Mega Man Zero.
9 Years of Shadows takes us on a journey to a fantastic universe devoid of colors by a dark curse. The main heroine of the game is a warrior named Europa, who explores the secrets of Talos, a giant mechanical castle that used to be an orphanage. The protagonist's task is to unravel the mystery of missing orphans and to face the forces of darkness lurking in the shadows.
In 9 Years of Shadows the action is shown from the side. As we walk through countless corridors and rooms of the castle, we jump on the platforms, avoid traps and face various enemies, headed by powerful bosses. In addition to Talos, there are places to visit that are related to the memories of missing orphans; through the paintings that depict them we can move to, among others, oriental lands or the revolutionary Mexico City.
The battles are dynamic, and during them you should not only show dexterity and reflexes (for example, to make a timely evasion and a counter-attack), but also skilfully use the skills of the protagonist. Europe fights with white weapons, but can also launch magical distance attacks. As she progresses, she gains numerous improvements (increasing her combat potential and providing access to previously blocked locations) and armour, which she can change "on the fly", gaining additional powers. Collectibles in the form of notes deserve a separate mention; in return, two composers can lengthen the bars of life and magical power of the protagonist, as well as treat us with melodies maintained at 432 Hz.
9 Years of Shadows has atmospheric, dark graphics made in pixel art technique. The game is accompanied by a soundtrack composed by such celebrities as Michiru Yamane, Manami Matsumae (Castlevania and Mega Man series) and Norihiko Hibino (Metal Gear Solid series).
Platforms:
PC Windows March 27, 2023
PlayStation 4 July 31, 2025
Xbox One July 31, 2025
Android November 21, 2024
Apple iOS November 21, 2024
Nintendo Switch November 9, 2023
PlayStation 5 July 31, 2025
Xbox Series X/S July 31, 2025
Developer: Halberd Studios
Publisher: indie.io / Freedom Games
System Requirements for 9 Years of Shadows Video Game:
PC / Windows
Minimum System Requirements:
Intel Core i3-9100F 3.6 GHz, 8 GB RAM, graphic card 2 GB GeForce GT 730 or better, Windows 10 64-bit.
Game Ratings for 9 Years of Shadows Video Game.
Niche Gamer: 6.5 / 10
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.
Use a Potion: 7.5 / 10
9 Years of Shadows is a really fun Metroidvania-style title with cool ideas and gorgeous visuals, but the technical issues do hold it back right now. It’s playable from start to end and there’s nothing severely game-breaking, but I did have to re-load my save a multitude of times to fix little issues, whilst there were plenty of occasions where the game just crashed on me. Outside of those issues? There’s a heck of a lot to like in the game, with the clever world design, unique abilities, and beautiful presentation ensuring that 9 Years of Shadows stands out in the crowd. It just needed a little bit more work before release to ensure those bugs would be fixed. And when those bugs are sorted out? You can add an extra point to the score.
Gamer Escape: 9 / 10 by Eliot Lefebvre
If it weren’t already clear from the review up to this point, I adored this game. 9 Years of Shadows is a rare delight in a subgenre that has become a bit overstuffed of late, a careful and fun romp that speaks to the best of its genre by at once feeling almost effortlessly engrossing and yet impossible to put down. Every time I stopped playing I couldn’t wait to get back into the castle, and even though I saw where the major plot twists were very early on I was still happy as they unfolded.
![[2:20] - Console Launch Trailer](https://cdn.gracza.pl/galeria/filmy/640x360/1850144734.jpg)
