Nine Sols

The main pros of the game

• Art and Visuals: The hand-drawn art style is frequently praised for its beauty and uniqueness, combining elements of Eastern culture with a sci-fi aesthetic.
• Combat System: The parry-focused combat is highlighted as exceptionally satisfying, with many players comparing it favorably to Sekiro. The mechanics encourage mastery and precision, making victories feel rewarding.
• Boss Design: The boss fights are noted as some of the best in the genre, with many players expressing excitement and satisfaction after defeating them, especially the final boss.
• Story and Characters: The narrative is rich and engaging, with well-developed characters. Many players appreciate the depth of the story and its emotional impact.
• Soundtrack: The music is often described as fitting and enhancing the overall experience, with specific praise for the boss fight themes.

The main cons of the game

• Difficulty Spike: Many players mention a sharp increase in difficulty, particularly with the final boss, which can feel punishing and frustrating.
• Linear Exploration: Some reviews note that the game's structure is more linear compared to traditional Metroidvania games, leading to less exploration and backtracking.
• Enemy Variety: A few players expressed disappointment with the lack of diverse enemy types and the repetitiveness of some encounters.
• Quality of Life Issues: Some users pointed out minor issues such as unskippable cutscenes, non-rebindable controls, and frustrating map navigation.

The features or elements that are missing from the game according to users

• More Dynamic Exploration: Players wanted a more traditional Metroidvania experience with more backtracking and exploration opportunities.
• Better Parry Feedback: Some users felt that the parry mechanics could be improved with clearer visual feedback and more forgiving hitboxes.
• Improved Difficulty Options: While a story mode exists, some players wished for more granular difficulty adjustments to accommodate varying skill levels without feeling like they were cheating.
• More Enemy Variety: Suggestions were made for increasing the diversity of enemies to enhance combat experiences.

Summary

• Overall, while Nine Sols is celebrated for its artistic presentation, engaging combat, and deep narrative, it also faces criticism regarding its difficulty, exploration structure, and some gameplay mechanics. The game seems to cater well to fans of challenging action-platformers, particularly those who enjoy parrying mechanics.

Summary generated on: May 12, 2026