Red Candle Games' upcoming 2D souls-like platformer, Nine Sols, is poised to hit Switch, PlayStation, and Xbox consoles soon! Producer Shihwei Yang recently shed light on what makes this title stand out from the crowd.
Nine Sols: A Unique Blend of Art and Combat
Eastern Philosophy Meets Gritty Cyberpunk: The "Taopunk" Aesthetic
Ahead of next month's console launch, Yang discussed Nine Sols' unique identity. The game's gameplay, visuals, and narrative are rooted in "Taopunk"—a fusion of Eastern philosophies, particularly Taoism, and cyberpunk aesthetics.
The game's striking visuals draw inspiration from iconic 80s and 90s anime and manga, such as Akira and Ghost in the Shell. This influence is evident in the futuristic cityscapes, neon-drenched environments, and the blend of human and technological elements. Yang stated, "Our love for '80s and '90s Japanese anime and manga, especially cyberpunk classics like 'Akira' and 'Ghost in the Shell,' heavily shaped Nine Sols' art style, blending futuristic tech with a nostalgic yet fresh artistic sensibility."
This artistic vision extends to Nine Sols' audio design, which cleverly combines traditional Eastern musical elements with modern instrumentation. Yang explained, "We aimed for a distinctive soundscape, fusing traditional Eastern sounds with modern instruments. This creates a unique atmosphere that's both ancient and futuristic."
Beyond its captivating visuals and sounds, Nine Sols' combat system truly embodies its "Taopunk" identity. Yang described the development process: "We found a rhythm, creating settings that reflected Taoist philosophy and cyberpunk energy. But then, the gameplay presented a major challenge."
Initially, the team drew inspiration from games like Hollow Knight, but this proved unsuitable for Nine Sols' unique tone. They consciously avoided mimicking other platformers, aiming for a distinct deflection-focused 2D action experience. Yang revealed, "We rediscovered our direction by returning to the core game concepts. We discovered Sekiro's deflection system, which resonated deeply with our vision."
Instead of aggressive, counter-attack-based combat, Nine Sols embraces the quiet intensity of Taoist philosophy, rewarding players for deflecting attacks and maintaining balance. This "deflection-heavy" approach, rarely seen in 2D games, required extensive iteration. Yang commented, "It was a challenging mechanic to implement in 2D, requiring countless iterations. But eventually, it all came together."
This refined combat system, coupled with the overarching narrative exploring themes of nature versus technology and the meaning of life and death, solidified Nine Sols' unique identity. Yang concluded, "The narrative amplified as we developed the game, organically incorporating these themes. It felt like Nine Sols was forging its own path, and we were simply guiding it."
Nine Sols' compelling blend of gameplay, art, and narrative has certainly left a lasting impression. For a more in-depth look, check out our full review (link below)!
