Nine Sols

Nine Sols is an 2D action-platformer developed and published by Red Candle Games. The game is set in an Asian fantasy-inspired, futuristic taopunk world. In gameplay, combat emphasizes on the player deflecting attacks from enemies to build up energy to perform special attacks. It features a hand-drawn animation and a storyline for players to experience. The game was released on Windows and macOS on May 29, 2024.

Premise

The story follows legendary hero from the past named Yi who is on a quest for revenge to overthrow the titular nine Sols, the powerful, tyrannical rulers of a deserted realm known as New Kunlun.

Synopsis

Five hundred years ago, the Tianhuo virus infects the Solarians, an anthropomorphic cat race. With no cure in sight, the leaders -- the Ten Sols, develop the Eternal Cauldron Project, in where Solarians may rest in a virtual reality to delay the virus while searching for the cure. However the energy to power the project requires the brains of intelligent lifeforms, hence they set sail for a 500 year long journey on an island-ship named New Kunlun to the "pale-blue planet" (Earth) where "apemen" (humans) were discovered, leaving their home planet Penglai. Yi, the Tenth Sol, is betrayed and put in a temporary state of hibernating shortly before the ship's launch. He survives due to a special connection with the Primordial Roots, a plant that produces vast amount of energy which the Solarians harness for their technology.

Yi wakes up a few hundred years later in Peach-Blossom village, an area within New Kunlun where the Solarians had kidnapped humans to breed as livestock. He develops a friendship with a human named Shuanshuan and subsequently saves him during the brain-offering ceremony, waking up the Nine Sols in the process.

To take back control of the Eternal Cauldron Project and enact revenge, Yi seeks out the Nine Sols in various locations within New Kunlun to take their Sol Seals.

During the process, Yi stays in the Spring Pavilion, which is defended by an artificial intelligence system called Abacus. As he progresses, more residents comes to the pavilion: Shennong, a skeptic human who realizes the truth behind the village and who took Shuanshuan to the pavillion. Chiyou, a battle robot who became sentient. Kuafu, a Sol and friend of Yi who chooses to betray the other Sol and upgrades Yi's weaponries. Yi also receives periodic messages from his sister Heng, who had chosen to remain in Penglai when New Kunlun departed.

After defeating eight of the Sols, Yi has his obtained their Sol Seals which were stolen by Eigong, the last Sol and leader of the Sols, and who betrayed him in the past.

It is also revealed throughout the story that Yi was the main perpetrator behind the Eternal Cauldron Project, and that the Tianhuo virus was created by Eigong while attempting to research immortality.

Depending on the player's choice, there are two endings:

• In the True Ending, Yi deepens his connection with Shuanshuan and other humans, and chooses to save them. He evacuates and sends them back to Earth before confronting Eigong. During the battle, Eigong fuses with Primordial Roots while infected with Tianhuo. Yi chooses to destruct New Kunlun, killing himself and the remaining Solarians in the process, effectively ending the Tianhuo virus. He reunites with his sister Heng in the afterlife.

• In the Normal Ending, Yi kills Eigong and obtains the remaining Sol Seals. He takes control of New Kunlun and goes back to Penglai. The remaining Solarians are still in hibernation, with human brains being used to power the virtual reality. The Tianhuo virus is still at large and it is unknown if there will be a cure.

Gameplay

Nine Sols is a 2D action-platformer where player is in the role of Yi whose overall goal to defeat the nine Sols to get revenge. The focus is on close-range combat mixed with classic side-scrolling platforming and deflection mechanics. Basic attack is slashing with a sword, but can the player can deflect enemy attacks. When deflecting attacks from enemies, Yi while absorbing and accumulating Chi energy to unleash stylish charging attacks on enemies by a technique called "reverse deflect". When reverse deflecting, Yi will dash through his opponents and sticks talismans called "Foo charms" to blow up as they are activating. Deflecting also requires precise reflexes and timing to fill up on Chi. The higher the energy bar the more damage the attacks. In addition, Yi possesses the powerful Godly Bow to mix up in combat situations. In regards to movement, Yi can run, dash, mid-air dash, double jump, wall jump, climb, wall run, and grapple.

Development

The game was announced on March 22, 2022. Red Candle Games, the Taiwanese company behind Detention and Devotion, led the game's development. The game's combat was heavily inspired by Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice.

References

External links

• Crowdfunding campaign official site