Publisher Freedom Games and developer Halberd Studios announced an October 10 release date for 9 Years of Shadows on PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store. The pixel art Metroidvania is also coming to the Nintendo Switch in Q1 2023; however, at the time of writing, it would seem that PlayStation 4 and Xbox One versions are still to be determined. To celebrate the release date announcement, Freedom Games launched an official trailer for 9 Years of Shadows, which you can check out below.
As shown in the trailer, the gameplay and overall aesthetic for 9 Years of Shadows really makes it feel like a tribute to Metroid, from its own version of the ball power-up to that fluid movement and combat animations. There’s also a bit of a lighthearted side to it, as Europa, the game’s female protagonist, is accompanied by a cute bear-looking creature named Apino.
9 Years of Shadows tells the story of a world submerged in deep, dark shadows for the past nine years. As the darkness deepened, every object and living creature was robbed of color, and the once-thriving civilization has now forgotten the warmth of the sun, the joy of laughter, and the promise of a prosperous future. Many brave warriors tried to break through the corruption within Talos Castle, an orphanage from which the curse stemmed, but none succeeded, and eventually hope dwindled. Europa, armed with her halberd and accompanied by her companion, must now undertake this journey in the hopes of giving the color back to the people before it’s too late.
In her journey, Europa travels through various handcrafted locations within Talos Castle, meeting colorful characters and battling powerful enemies along the way. She also uses three elemental armors that grant her the powers to cross otherwise unreachable places; Poseidon grants the powers of water, Gaia of the earth, and Helios of fire. She must master these powers to solve various puzzles and defeat giant bosses to access remote areas in a true Metroidvania fashion.
Music plays a major role in 9 Years of Shadows, and the game features compositions from Michiru Yamane of the Castlevania franchise and Norihiko Hibino of the Metal Gear series.
