9 Years of Shadows review (PS5)

9 Years of Shadows brings Europa’s quest inside the hulking mechanical fortress of Talos to PlayStation 5, offering a thoughtful Metroidvania blend of elemental combat and musical healing. What distinguishes it most isn’t just the halberd-studded exploration or charming companion Apino, but the way soundtracks – literally threaded into gameplay – amplify emotion and purpose.

Set in a land robbed of color and hope, Europa is joined by Apino – a hovering bear-like spirit whose magical abilities do more than attack; Apino cleanses corruption, replenishes health, and helps illuminate darkened halls. Apino’s attacks – an ascending fist, ricocheting cyclone, and surface-hugging blast – turn out to be more than charming movesets; they grow into key tools for opening paths, purging obstacles, and even solving puzzles. Together with elemental armors – each granting abilities like gliding, underwater traversal, or climbing cliffs – the combat and traversal feel intricately linked, encouraging thoughtful switching and creative strategizing.

The weakest moments sometimes come in pacing: not every room feels necessary, and once routines settle, color-restoration quests and backtracking in the same zones can interrupt rhythm. The map helps, but secrets sometimes require pixel-perfect vertical jumps or puzzle steps that stretch patience – especially when dungeon layouts begin to feel recycled.

Where the game soars is in its musical heart. Europa gathers musical notes to trigger healing lullabies, and the in-game inclusion of guest composers as NPCs – like Michiru Yamane and Norihiko Hibino – feels poetic. The soundtrack shifts as you cleanse corruption, with soothing 432Hz tones swelling into orchestral sweeps while color blooms across corridors. This audio-meets-visual synergy gives redemption a tangible weight that is rare in most action-adventure games.

Visually, 9 Years of Shadows combines atmospheric gothic-industrial corridors with surreal color washes once corruption is cleansed. Apino’s pastel glow, the kinetic dance of shattering crystals, and elemental animations are polished and rewarding. The art style isn’t elaborate, but the lighting design and musical transitions carry emotional resonance. On PS5, performance is solid, though texture detail occasionally blurs at distance during swift movement through large rooms.

Combat is tight and responsive. Europa’s halberd swings have weight, and chaining combos with Apino’s elemental attacks can feel surprisingly kinetic for a 2D experience. Boss fights strike a gratifying balance of pattern recognition and armor-switching challenges – though some bosses lean slightly toward bullet-hell sponginess, especially in the higher difficulty tiers.

Still, some limitations remain. Europa’s animations can feel a bit stiff in cutscenes, and the UI occasionally obscures map details during traversal. Inventory menus for skill upgrades and weapon choices work well overall but sometimes feel clerical – less intuitive when building elemental loadouts mid-run. Yet these downsides rarely derail the core experience.

Playing 9 Years of Shadows feels like tending to wounded terrain, piece by piece, with both purpose and wonder. The mix of combat, puzzle, and music mechanics creates a heartbeat for exploration – not just a rinse-repeat adventure. By weaving colorful restoration into gameplay, Halberd Studios achieves something more memorable than a standard run-through. It may not reinvent the genre, but it paints it in new tones; here, every restored hue and halberd strike feels earned.

Score: 7.6/10