Red Candle Games' Nine Sols, a captivating 2D souls-like platformer, is poised to launch on Switch, PlayStation, and Xbox consoles soon! Ahead of the console release, producer Shihwei Yang sheds light on what distinguishes Nine Sols from the crowded souls-like genre.
Nine Sols: Where Eastern Philosophy Meets Gritty Cyberpunk
A Unique Blend of Art and Combat
In anticipation of next month's console launch, co-founder and producer Shihwei Yang discussed the elements that set Nine Sols apart. The game's unique identity, encompassing gameplay, visuals, and narrative, stems from its "Taopunk" aesthetic—a fusion of Eastern philosophies, particularly Taoism, with the gritty cyberpunk aesthetic.
The game's striking visuals draw inspiration from 80s and 90s anime and manga classics like Akira and Ghost in the Shell. Yang explains, "As fans of '80s and '90s Japanese anime and manga, cyberpunk classics like 'Akira' and 'Ghost in the Shell' heavily influenced our art style. We blended futuristic tech with a nostalgic yet fresh artistic flair."
This artistic vision extends to Nine Sols' audio design. Yang describes the soundtrack as a fusion of traditional Eastern instruments and modern sounds, creating a unique soundscape. "We combined traditional Eastern sounds with modern instruments to create a distinct atmosphere, grounding the game in ancient roots while maintaining a futuristic feel."
Beyond its captivating audio-visual presentation, Nine Sols' combat system truly embodies its Taopunk identity. Yang recounts the development challenges: "We found a rhythm, creating settings that resonated with Taoist philosophy and the gritty energy of cyberpunk. But then, the gameplay presented a significant hurdle—designing the combat system."
Initially inspired by titles like Hollow Knight, the team soon realized this approach didn't align with their vision. They consciously avoided mimicking other platformers, instead aiming for a distinct deflection-heavy 2D action experience. Yang explains, "We rediscovered our direction by returning to the core game ideas. We discovered Sekiro's deflection system, which resonated deeply with our vision."
However, instead of aggressive, counter-attack focused combat, Nine Sols incorporates the quiet intensity and focus of Taoist philosophy. This resulted in a combat system that utilizes an opponent's strength against them.
The "deflection-heavy" system, while rewarding players for deflecting attacks and maintaining balance, presented its own development challenges. Yang notes, "It's a rarely explored mechanic in 2D, requiring countless iterations to perfect. After much trial and error, it finally clicked."
The refined gameplay mechanics, coupled with the compelling narrative, organically integrated themes of nature versus technology and the meaning of life and death. Yang concludes, "It felt like Nine Sols was forging its own path, and we were merely guiding it as it found its voice."
Nine Sols' unique blend of gameplay, art, and story has left a lasting impression. For a more in-depth look, check out our full review (link below)!
