Taopunk Identity Elevates Nine Sols Among Souls-Likes

Red Candle Games' upcoming 2D souls-like platformer, Nine Sols, is poised to hit Switch, PS, and Xbox consoles shortly! Ahead of the console launch, producer Shihwei Yang highlighted the game's unique selling points.

Nine Sols' Distinctive Art and Combat: A Standout Success

A Fusion of Eastern Philosophy and Cyberpunk Grit

In a recent interview leading up to next month's console release, co-founder and producer Shihwei Yang explained how Nine Sols differentiates itself from other 2024 releases. The game's distinct gameplay, visuals, and narrative are rooted in its "Taopunk" aesthetic – a compelling blend of Eastern philosophies, particularly Taoism, and cyberpunk stylings.

The game's visual design draws inspiration from iconic 80s and 90s anime and manga such as Akira and Ghost in the Shell, capturing the futurism, vibrant cityscapes, neon glow, and human-technology fusion of those classics. Yang stated, "As fans of '80s and '90s Japanese anime and manga, cyberpunk masterpieces like 'Akira' and 'Ghost in the Shell' heavily influenced our art style. We blended futuristic technology with a nostalgic yet fresh artistic flair."

This artistic vision extends to Nine Sols' audio design. Yang described the unique soundtrack as a fusion of traditional Eastern musical elements with modern instrumentation. He commented, "We aimed for a distinctive soundscape, blending traditional Eastern sounds and modern instruments. This creates a unique identity, grounding the atmosphere in ancient roots while simultaneously feeling futuristic."

Beyond the captivating audio-visual presentation of its Taopunk world, Nine Sols' combat system truly showcases this unique blend. Yang shared, "We found our rhythm, creating settings that resonated with Taoist philosophy while embracing cyberpunk's raw energy. But just as we thought we could relax, a new challenge emerged: gameplay. Designing the combat system proved incredibly difficult."

Initially, the team looked to classic indie titles like Hollow Knight for inspiration, but Yang explained, "It quickly became clear that it didn't fit Nine Sols' tone." The developers consciously avoided mimicking other great platformers, aiming for something different – a deflection-focused 2D action game. "We returned to the game's core ideas for a new direction. We discovered Sekiro's deflection system, and it resonated deeply," Yang revealed.

Instead of aggressive, counter-based combat, the Nine Sols team incorporated the quiet intensity and focus of Taoist philosophy. This resulted in a combat system that "uses an opponent's strength against them," rewarding players for deflecting attacks and maintaining balance. Yang acknowledged the challenges of this "deflection-heavy" approach in a 2D context: "It's a rarely explored mechanic, requiring countless iterations to perfect. After much trial and error, it finally clicked."

"As we refined everything, the narrative amplified. Themes of nature versus technology, and the meaning of life and death, naturally emerged," Yang added. "It felt like Nine Sols was forging its own path, and we were simply guiding it as it found its voice."

Nine Sols' compelling gameplay, captivating art, and intriguing narrative have certainly impressed. For a more in-depth look, check out our full review (link below)!