Red Candle Games
A studio apartment known for produce horror games pivoting to a novel genre is n’t unheard of . After all , Tango Gameworksshifted from create games such asThe Evil WithinandGhostwire : Tokyoto the cockamamie and colorfulHi - Fi Rush . The Taiwan - based studio Red Candle Games followed a similar trajectory on the way to its newest biz , Nine Sols .
Red Candle Games was founded in 2015 and debuted with the side - scroll repugnance gameDetentionin 2017 . In 2019 , the studio apartment releasedDevotion , a psychological horror game that received quite a bit ofattention after it was ban from digital PC storefronts like GOG and Steamfor containing an easter egg cite Xi Jinping , general secretary of the Chinese Communist Party .
Red Candle Games
Now , five geezerhood after that incident , Red Candle Games is getting ready to releaseNine Sols . It was first annunciate in March 2022 andblew past its fundraising goalof three million Chinese dollars ( approximately $ 93,000 ) within the first 24 time of day . As an Asian fantasyaction platformer , Nine Solscouldn’t be any further in flavor from the horror - tingedDetentionandDevotion . To make something unfermented , the studio apartment would fetch in tons of inspiration and adopt a unique aesthetic : Taopunk .
Myth becomes sci-fi
Producer Vincent Yang differentiate Digital Trends that there were several reasons why Red Candle Games wanted to create something dissimilar . The first was that after create two sequential horror titles , the development team felt burnt out from developing similar experiences . The 2nd was thatNine Solsgave Red Candle Games the freedom to experiment with different topic , music genre , and gameplay stylus . The studio also believe that it would help rejuvenate creativeness .
“ We wanted to leverage this versatility and research new possibilities , ” Yang explain . “ We aim to reach the Western marketplace withNine Sols , designing it to break language barriers through intuitive and enjoyable game mechanics . By doing so , we hope to find greater success in overseas markets . ”
Nine Solsfollows a wedge describe Yi , who aim to get the better of and overthrow the nine Sols , who are tyrannical rulers in the New Kunlun land . During the prototyping microscope stage , the team talk about various idea for the biz ’s level . A construct stand out to them : the floor of Formosan archer Hou Yi .
In Chinese mythology , there were originally 10 Dominicus that would span the sky , one at a time . One day , all 10 suns came out at the same time and scorch the globe . Hou Yi was tasked to rein in them in , but when the suns turn down to go aside peacefully , Hou Yi was forced to take more drastic meter , include shooting them down with his arrows .
“ We marvel , what if we were to employ Hou Yi ’s story and turn it into science fiction ? ” Yang say . “ As we discourse this idea further in our merging , it bit by bit expatiate into a complete story and then into a feasible game direction . ” The idea of making the different Lord’s Day as Soulslike bosses feels like a match made in heaven .
Pioneering Taopunk
The gameplay inNine Solsis heavily invigorate by specific games such asSekiro : Shadows exit double . The vision was to revivify the same diversion - focused fighting experience in a 2D platformer , along with the exploration and atmospherical worldbuilding found in games likeHollow Knight . to boot , the game ’s vivid natural action sequence were inspired byKatana Zero . WhileNine Solsborrows heavily from its contemporaries , a bounteous elbow room it stand out is with its esthetic . The game adopts a unique “ Taopunk ” aesthetic , combiningfuturistic cyberpunkelements with easterly fantasy and mythology .
The graphics team drew inhalation from traditional Chinese art , Taoist symbolism , and cyberpunk visuals to craft a classifiable mode . The script - draw 2D artistic creation also allowed for a in high spirits level of point and personality , build New Kunlun feel rich and immersive .
Many in the studio grew up watching a tidy sum of great Nipponese vitality and many Japanese game from the 1980s and ’ XC . They were amazed by how well these artists blended traditional Japanese elements with futuristic options . Works likeGhost in the Shell , Akira , andShin Megami Tenseicontained traces of Japanese culture and religion , and the former two peculiarly act upon the cyber-terrorist chemical element inNine Sols . This inspired Red Candle Games to search a standardized fusion .
“ During early development , we started combining Taoism and cyberpunk elements , ” Yang says . “ As the setting and aesthetic began to take flesh , we actualize that these two seemingly contrasting elements could coexist harmoniously , creating a unique and a compelling Earth . ”
The breathing in do n’t terminate there . Blade Runnerwas another influence for its dystopian and cyber-terrorist aesthetic , as wasPrincess Mononokefor its exploration of the nature versus technology concept . Works such as Satoshi Kon’sPaprikaandPerfect Bluewere look at for their unique storytelling techniques , as wasNeon Genesis Evangelionfor its deep philosophical report and complex part maturation .
DevelopingNine Solswas difficult , particularly since it was so different from the studio ’s previous work . transition from the 2DDetentionto the 3DDevotionalready presented obstacle . However , it was a challenge that Red Candle Games overcame with flying colors . Nine Solsrequired the studio to tackle raw design and expert challenges , but the team ’s determination and resiliency avail them across the finish line once again .
“ This project has been a Brobdingnagian leap for our studio , involve more than four years of difficult workplace and dedication , ” says Yang . “ We really trust that players will delight the game and apprize the unequalled blend of element we ’ve brought together . We ’re delirious to portion out this journey through the reality ofNine Solswith everyone . ”
Nine Solsis available now on PC .
