What is it? A sci-fi metroidvania with sublimely satisfying, parry-driven combat. Release date May 29, 2024 Expect to pay $30/£25 Developer Red Candle Games Publisher Red Candle Games Reviewed on ASUS ROG ALLY, Gigabyte G5 Steam Deck Verified Link Official site Six months.
That’s how long poor Red Candle Games spent trying to come up with a combat move for their debut metroidvania that was as unique as Hollow Knight’s downward slash.
Personally, I would have given up after six minutes. Thankfully these developers were made of more disciplined stuff and their efforts have paid off magnificently.
Because I’m struggling to think of a combat system I’ve enjoyed in a 2D game more. A lucky Dead Cells run might just beat it for moment-to-moment pleasures, but for the satisfaction of mastering the fine art of slicing and blowing things up, I think Nine Sols’ swordplay had every Soulslike of 2024 beat (yes, even that one).
You play as Yi, a feline samurai who looks cute, but is actually as shadily motivated and untrustworthy as my actual cat. After taking a seemingly fatal tumble off a cliff, Yi cashes in one of his nine lives and recovers in a village full of humans.