[Nine Sols]2D side-scrolling action game!

“Nine Sols” is an action-adventure game title for PC by indie game developer “RedCandleGames” that has been officially distributed on the Steam store since May 29, 2024.

In a world featuring ancient Chinese mythology, the game offers an exhilarating experience in which you control the heroic cat as you engage in 2D action battles, as well as unique animation-style graphics and thrilling boss battles.

Recommended for those who like playing indie action games with an Asian flavor, those who like thrilling battle scenes that require exquisite control styles, and those who want to discover unknown indie games.

An action game with a cat character as the main character.

“Nine Sols”, which is currently being officially distributed on the PC game portal site “Steam” store, is a recommended new indie action game title with a worldview featuring ancient Chinese mythology. It is a PC game that features an agile main character in the form of a cat, and allows you to experience exciting battles on a 2D horizontal school play screen.

The most distinctive feature is the game's graphics that recreate the elegant world of ancient China, and the style that combines hand-drawn illustrations by the development artist with digital graphics, and the emphasis on the outlines of the line drawings makes it feel like you're reading a comic. The content shows an artistic style and is very interesting in terms of artistry.

Players will descend into the game world as the cat-shaped hero “E'' and engage in action battle elements in order to defeat the nine Sols. It's an indie game title with a world setting and story elements where the theme is “revenge,” and if you play it, you'll be drawn to the martial arts novel-like story setting.

New product from a Taiwanese developer

This game is being developed and published by RED CANDLE, an indie game developer formed in Taiwan in September 2015. The studio, whose members are game enthusiasts from all over the world, is working on the development, and has a history of releasing this work after about five years of development.

This is a studio that has high expectations for its future activities.

The creators of the award-winning psychological horror game title “Detention and Devotion” are involved in the development of “Nine Sols”, so it is recommended for those who have already played the same work. A new game from a developer passionate about creating immersive gaming experiences through both storytelling and innovative gameplay.

Game features

The biggest feature of “Nine Sols” is the exciting action battle system that unfolds on a 2D side-scrolling play screen that many game fans will be fascinated by. The genre, which the developers themselves call “Taoist science fiction fantasy,” and the highly action-oriented gameplay elements are appealing, and action game fans will be hooked.

The developer also created this work in which “cyberpunk” collides with “Taoism”, and science fiction elements and oriental myth/fantasy elements are fused. It is expressed by the newly coined word “Taop Punk''. It is an experimental game work that explores new genres on their own without pandering to existing genres, and their high aspirations and desire for development are honestly admirable.

The game progresses as you experience the activities of the main character, Yi. The player's ultimate goal is to defeat all nine “Sols”, the terrifying rulers of this “forsaken realm”, while exploring various locations that were once home to an “ancient alien race”. Enjoy the adventure of a vengeful hero while playing.

By the way, cats are creatures that are said to have nine souls, and in this game, it is possible that these souls are hooked onto the enemy boss “Sol.” The Japanese title of the store is written as “Sole,'' so this article follows that reading, but the correct English pronunciation is “Sols.'' This is probably a “pronounced'' reading.

Looking at the battle scenes, the fast-paced battle scenes, including the “flip” where you instantly dodge the attacks of enemy characters, are said to incorporate the essence of “Sekiro,” which was a huge hit not only in Japan but around the world. The developer also refers to the game system of this work as “2Dsekiro-lite''.

The key point is that you can enjoy battle action including assaults and explosions while chopping enemy characters with Taoist amulets and sometimes using “deflection” to avoid attacks. The game's appeal lies in its combination of fast and brutal action sequences with classic platform mechanics, and you'll be sure to enjoy the real thrill of an action game to the fullest.

The boss battles that stand in front of the heroic Yi are also the real thrill of the game, and you'll be able to make great progress in strategic play by discovering each character's weaknesses while making the most of the items. The gameplay element of facing a boss character that is much larger than you is an exciting experience that transcends national boundaries and genders, and the joy of defeating a boss after all the effort is even greater. It's a new game that you can play for a long time.

The play element of uncovering the “secrets” hidden in the game while exploring the area is also attractive. By progressing through various areas, you will be able to understand the “true story'' behind the revenge of the hero Yi. Meet friendly NPCs, receive upgrades and gain new abilities to make your hero even more powerful.

Filled with meticulously hand-crafted anime-style scenery and sprite-based hand-drawn animation, the game also features cutscenes inspired by Japanese manga. Although the setting is set in an ancient Chinese style, the style of expression is one that is easy for Japanese users to relate to. This is a new game with a visually enjoyable style.

Supports Japanese environment

The selling price on Steam is 3,400 yen, and you can currently purchase it for 10% off at the “release commemorative sale price” of 3,060 yen. The game supports a Japanese interface and subtitles as standard, and also fully supports operation with Xbox controllers and PlayStation controllers. This is a new game with an environment that makes it easy for players of a wide range of ages to participate.

In addition, the store also sells an “original soundtrack” containing BGM that can be heard in-game for 1,200 yen. There are a total of 35 types of Steam achievements that can be unlocked, so it is also recommended for those who consider themselves to be “achievement hunters''. By the way, the game is a solo play-only title and does not support local or online multiplayer.

The game is a hybrid title that supports operation on Mac OS as well as Windows OS. System requirements are low, and the graphics board presented in the recommended environment is NVIDIA's GTX 970 class or higher. The recommended amount of main memory installed is also modest at 8GB, and there should be many PC gamers who can clear this number.

Nine Sols, a recommended new action game set in a world featuring ancient Chinese mythology, is currently available on the Steam store. It is an attractive indie game title that is compatible with many PC configurations, and is an action game that is definitely recommended for those who want to play solo.

If you are interested in this new game, please visit the store now and check out detailed game information.

[Recommended points]Hero E's journey begins!