Immersive "Taopunk" Experience Elevates Nine Sols in Soulslike Genre

Red Candle Games' upcoming 2D souls-like platformer, Nine Sols, is poised to hit Switch, PlayStation, and Xbox consoles shortly! Producer Shihwei Yang recently highlighted the game's unique qualities, setting it apart from the crowded souls-like genre.

Nine Sols: A Fusion of Eastern Philosophy and Cyberpunk Aesthetics

"Taopunk": Where East Meets Gritty Future

Ahead of next month's console launch, Yang discussed Nine Sols' distinctive blend of gameplay, visuals, and narrative, rooted in their coined term "Taopunk." This innovative style merges the principles of Eastern philosophy, particularly Taoism, with the visual flair of cyberpunk.

The game's visual design draws inspiration from iconic 80s and 90s anime and manga, such as Akira and Ghost in the Shell. These works, with their futuristic cities, neon-drenched landscapes, and human-technology symbiosis, heavily influenced Nine Sols' aesthetic. "Our love for classic Japanese anime and manga, especially cyberpunk titles like Akira and Ghost in the Shell, profoundly shaped Nine Sols' visual style," Yang explained, "blending futuristic technology with a nostalgic yet fresh artistic sensibility."

This artistic vision extends to Nine Sols' audio design, where traditional Eastern musical elements are reimagined with modern instrumentation. Yang elaborated, "We aimed for a distinctive soundscape by fusing traditional Eastern sounds with modern instruments. This created a unique identity for Nine Sols, grounding the atmosphere in ancient roots while simultaneously projecting a futuristic feel."

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

Initially, the team looked to indie classics like Hollow Knight for inspiration. However, Yang noted, "It quickly became clear that it didn't fit Nine Sols' tone." They consciously avoided mimicking other platformers, seeking a unique approach. "We returned to the game's core concepts to find a new direction. We coincidentally discovered Sekiro's deflection system, which resonated deeply with us," Yang revealed.

Rather than focusing on aggressive counterattacks, Nine Sols' combat emphasizes the quiet intensity and balance found in Taoist philosophy. This resulted in a system that "uses an opponent's strength against them," rewarding players for deflecting attacks and maintaining composure. Yang admitted that creating this "deflection-heavy" system in 2D presented significant challenges. "It's a rarely explored mechanic in 2D, requiring countless iterations to perfect. After much trial and error, it finally clicked," he explained.

"As the pieces fell into place, the narrative amplified. Themes of nature versus technology, and the meaning of life and death, organically 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 blend of gameplay, art, and narrative has left a lasting impression. For a more in-depth look, check out our full review (link below)!