"Nine Sols is a
lore-rich,
hand-drawn 2D action platformer featuring intense
deflection-focused combat, immersive storytelling, and a unique
Taopunk setting.
Explore the land once home to an ancient alien race, and follow a vengeful hero’s quest to slay the 9 Sols, formidable rulers of this forsaken realm.
- Build a stylish Taopunk world that blends cyberpunk/sci-fi elements with Taoism and Far Eastern mythology.
- Recreate the deflection focused Sekiro combat experience in 2D and meld it with classic side-scrolling exploration.
- Incorporate anime/manga-influenced, hand-crafted art and dark electronic sound mixed with Eastern instruments.
Story
“Become one with the Tao…”
New Kunlun, the Solarian’s last sanctuary, has remained quiet for centuries. Inside this vast realm, the ancient gods bequeathed mortals with a promised land that is forever protected by a set of sacred rituals. Yet the truth of this world remains unknown to most. Everything changes when Yi, a long forgotten hero from the past, is awoken by a human child.
During the course of the game, you will follow Yi on his vengeful quest against the 9 Sols, formidable rulers of this forsaken realm, and obliterate any obstacles in your way using Sekiro-lite style combat. Explore a dark fantasy world where every path is fraught with danger, and unravel the mysteries of an ancient alien race as you learn about the fate of mankind.
Combat Mechanics
For the past two years, we’ve spent considerable time and effort testing and modifying our core combat mechanics. Not only should the controls feel smooth and responsive, but countless other elements must be considered when coming up with a fun, innovative, and user-friendly combat system.
As such, we have designed our fights with an emphasis on close-range encounters and the use of deflection and charging attacks. However, the traditional
side-scrolling action controls remain unchanged, so you are free to use moves like dash, double jump, and wall jump/climb in the same ways you’re familiar with.
Moveset
- Deflection – Yi’s most powerful skill. Deflecting an opponent’s attack not only allows you to avoid damage, but also to absorb and accumulate energy (Chi) with which to launch a stylish charging attack. Using quick reflexes and precise timing, you can escape numerous life-threatening situations with the simple press of a button.
- Charging Attack and Chi Explosion – Having succeeded in deflecting an enemy’s attack, you can reverse or “deflect” the damage onto enemy targets by sticking a Chi-filled talisman known as a “Foo charm” onto an enemy body during a charging attack and blowing them up with a spell.
- Slash Attack, Dash, and Double Jump – The classic action platformer controls are included in the game, so feel free to mix them up in combat situations.
- Bow – To enable more variations in the main combat loop, we will add a long-range weapon to the available arsenal. Yi’s Godly Bow offers a powerful solution to any combat situation.
Enemies and Bosses
Monsters are designed to test a player’s skill to execute the correct move in the right moment. While it might be difficult at times, when players are used to the above tools and grasp the game’s core rhythm, the experience can be both satisfying and rewarding.
Ready yourself to fight an assortment of callous ancient guardians and gruesome creatures. Be patient, utilize every tool in your arsenal, and mix it up with Yi’s Godly Bow to defeat these larger-than-life figures.
The 9 Sols of New Kunlun is your ultimate challenge. Each boss has a different personality and unique fighting style, and it’s up to you to figure out the best way to defeat them.
A Taopunk World
Almost all facets of the game have undergone countless iterations, from the hand-drawn environments and sprite animations, to the world setting elements and narrative arcs. We had a clear goal of combining Taoism with cyberpunk, melding sci-fi elements with Eastern mythology, yet the actual process of doing so has been challenging. The product of this challenge is the New Kunlun, our depiction of a Taopunk world.
Different areas in the New Kunlun are mostly interconnected, while each region has its own architectural style and environment. Explore and discover hidden secrets/treasures and put your platforming skills to the test.
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