9 Years of Shadows

 PC
User Score
7.7

Generally favorable reviews- based on 31 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 22 out of 31
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 31
  3. Negative: 5 out of 31

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  1. Michel123
    Mar 28, 2023
    3
    Just another metroidvania. It has good boos fights and level design, but is just another castlevania be like.
  2. Marcekid
    Apr 7, 2023
    2
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. It's a simple metroidvania... it's not a big deal. Although visually it is beautiful, it lacks substance, lack of narrative, NPCs that do not imply much in the gameplay, the fights with the bosses are good but the rest of the enemies are REPETITIVE, they only change their appearance, it even encourages you to evade them when you are already stronger something that is a shame since a lot of gameplay is lost, its duration is short something that should not be a problem in a metroidvania but this game does not invite to be replayable for something as simple as the narrative, good metroidvania but it simply does not convince me buy it day one. better to wait for a good offer, I leave aside the occasional small bug since it is irrelevant.… Expand
  3. Gonzalox89
    Apr 7, 2023
    3
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Es un metroidvania Si...... Pero le falta la raiz como la historia que brilla por su ausencia. si bien los ataques son algo entretenidos no hay motivacion por seguir adelante, vamos que es lo basico de un metroid o castlevania clasico, ni siquiera hacia falta una cinematica sino contexto. No esperen algo sorprendente que les atraiga rejugarlo. Solo jueguenlo una vez y listo. No hara falta nada mas… Expand
  4. Dan_Yeni
    May 14, 2023
    2
    9 Years of Shadows is a metroidvania like that tries to inovate the genre, but kind of fails. The lore its misterious, but boring. The usual gameplay its different, but not good as the classics. You dont have a level system, so doesnt make any sense to fight enemys, just avoid them. And they are all repetitive, besides there are no intelligence at all, you can learn their pattern in 2 or 39 Years of Shadows is a metroidvania like that tries to inovate the genre, but kind of fails. The lore its misterious, but boring. The usual gameplay its different, but not good as the classics. You dont have a level system, so doesnt make any sense to fight enemys, just avoid them. And they are all repetitive, besides there are no intelligence at all, you can learn their pattern in 2 or 3 moves. The game emphasizes the colour as a major importance in the story, but the color palette is extremely flat with no contrast at all. The quests are useless, with dialogs that doent sum up to anything. The life system its strange to get use to, you have a life/energy bar that you need to use to fire your power but drains your life. And there are a lot of copy content in the game, not inspirations, copies! The elevator animations its just like samus, the armor are just like golden knights from Saint Seiya, even a boss named Andros Mask (stars fox just sayed hello here). Again, I see some critics praising this game for beeing "beatiful" and not broken, but for this are a basic need for a game exist and I feel that just not worth my time playing.… Expand

Awards & Rankings

49
#49 Most Discussed PC Game of 2023

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
74

Mixed or average reviews - based on 15 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 15
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 15
  3. Negative: 0 out of 15
  1. NPR
    Apr 21, 2023
    85
    9 Years of Shadows is an approachable pickup for anyone interested in a light and charming metroidvania. If you want some colorful and thoughtful action in your life, this one's for you.
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  2. Multiplayer.it
    Apr 20, 2023
    65
    9 Years of Shadow is not a true metroidvania and should not be approached as such. It is a scrolling action game that is linear most of the time and does not have much content, as you can get 100% in less than ten hours. The combo system is very simple, with few moves available, and attacks from a distance are far too powerful. If you are a fan of the genre you might give it a chance, as soon as you find it in a price range you think is appropriate, but don't expect it to be your new benchmark in terms of quality.
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  3. Shindig
    Apr 14, 2023
    80
    Those technical troubles aside, 9 Years of Shadows is a marvelous adventure. It’s a more intimate take on the metroidvania formula, but what it lacks in scale it more than makes up for in clever design and synergy between its moving parts. The sheer beauty of the game and the world it asks you to explore don’t hurt, either.
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