Halberd Studios and Freedom Games announced that the musical pixel art Metroidvania titled 9 Years of Shadows, is officially launching for PC via Steam on March 27, and for the Nintendo Switch in Q3 2023!
Return hope and color to a cursed, grayscale world as Europa, a young warrior who refuses to continue to live life in the shadows. Alongside her mysterious healing teddy bear Apino. Battle against primordial enemies and bosses to reach the source of Castle Talos’s curse.
Convoke elemental powers from legendary gods like Poseidon, Gaia, and Helios to boost attacks, take advantage of enemy vulnerabilities, grant new traversal options, and dawn beautiful armor in this beautiful RPG inspired by the 90s anime aesthetic and soundtrack composed by Michiru Yamane of the Castlevania series, and Norihiko Hibino of Metal Gear Solid!
▍9 Years of Shadows Official Trailer
▍About 9 Years of Shadows
9 Years of Shadows is a Metroidvania based on Greek Mythology, with an emphasis on music and the arts.
You take on the role of Europa, a young warrior looking to take on a curse that plagues Talos castle, which has since sucked the life out of the world by enveloping it in shadows, and robbing everyone of color, and joy. Armed with a Halberd, the blessings of gods, and a magical bear that can heal and cleanse the corruption, Europa sets out on a journey into Talos Castle to rid the world of its curse.
9 Years of Shadows’ core gameplay is a 2D Metroidvania platformer, with you running around the castle solving puzzles, battling enemies, and unlocking new upgrades, and solving movement puzzles along your travels. As you progress you’ll earn new elemental armors, granting you new attacks, abilities, and control over lightning, water, earth, and fire.
These armors won’t just help you defeat enemies, but give you newfound movement abilities, such as swimming up waterfalls, or traversing through tight chasms. As you run around the castle you’ll also encounter composers that will aid you in your missions. These composers grant you bonuses through music, playing healing lullabies to restore your healing and their bonuses. Your ears will play a great role in this game as bosses also utilize music and rhythm during their attacks.
