Crunchyroll 9 Years of Shadows – A Metroidvania That Rewards Patience Over Brute Force
After spending about a week with Crunchyroll 9 Years of Shadows, I can say this isn’t your typical action-platformer where you spam attack and hope for the best. It’s a pixel-art Metroidvania that forces you to think about every armor swap and corridor you enter. You play as Europa, a warrior climbing the cursed tower of Talos with only a spear and four elemental suits. The selling point? You never fight alone – a little glowing companion named Apino sticks with you throughout, handling health recovery and clearing environmental corruption. But don’t let the cute art fool you; the difficulty curve here is steep, and some design choices will test your patience.
Elemental Armor Switching – More Than Just a Color Change
The core mechanic revolves around four elemental armors: fire, ice, electric, and a fourth I won’t spoil. Each suit changes Europa’s movement abilities – fire gives a double jump, ice lets you wall-climb, electric dashes through gaps. What’s interesting is that you can switch mid-air, mid-combo, even while falling. This isn’t just a gimmick. In actual play, you’ll find yourself constantly cycling through suits to reach hidden rooms or to dodge boss patterns. There is a cooldown on switching, though, so spamming doesn’t work. The downside? The UI for swapping isn’t instant; there’s a slight delay that can feel clunky during fast fights. I lost track of how many times I accidentally triggered the wrong armor while trying to dodge an overhead slam.
Apino – The Companion Who Actually Matters
Many games throw in a sidekick that barely does anything. Apino is different. This floating furry creature automatically heals you when your health drops below a threshold – but only if you’ve collected enough “corruption shards” from defeated enemies. Managing that resource is key. You can also command Apino to cleanse cursed zones that block paths, which is essential for progression. The pet isn’t invincible; if it gets hit too many times, it retreats and leaves you vulnerable. That limitation forces you to protect it, not just rely on it. For a game that can feel punishing, having Apino around prevents the frustration of constant backtracking to save points. But don’t expect it to solo fights – it’s a support tool, not a damage dealer.
Boss Exploitation – Pattern Recognition Over Gear Checks
Bosses in Crunchyroll 9 Years of Shadows aren’t damage sponges. Every major enemy has a clear elemental weakness and a telegraphed moveset. For example, the first boss (a giant crystal golem) requires ice armor to freeze its arms before you can hit its core. If you try brute-forcing with your basic spear, you’ll die in three hits. This design rewards observation and adaptability rather than grinding for higher stats. However, the telegraphing can be subtle – some attacks have a half-second windup that’s easy to miss on a small screen. I played on PC, but I imagine the game would be tougher on mobile if the versions are ported. Also, there’s no difficulty slider, so casual players might hit a wall around the third boss. That’s a real limitation – no way to tone down the punishment if you’re stuck.
What the Game Struggles With – Honest Limitations
First, the map system is bare-bones. You get a basic layout of each floor, but it doesn’t show room connections clearly. I spent twenty minutes wandering a single level because I missed a hidden crack in the wall. Second, save points are sparse. Dying means respawning at the last checkpoint, which can be several rooms back. In a game where one misstep can kill you, that feels punishing rather than motivating. Third, the story is delivered in fragments via readable notes and brief cutscenes. If you’re looking for a narrative-driven experience, this isn’t it. The lore is there, but it’s buried behind gameplay. For those who enjoy pure exploration and combat puzzles, that’s fine. For players who want context for why Europa is climbing the tower, you’ll need to piece things together yourself.
Should You Download This App?
Crunchyroll 9 Years of Shadows is a solid choice if you enjoy tight platforming, tactical combat, and don’t mind a steep learning curve. The elemental armor system is genuinely creative, and Apino’s support makes the journey feel less lonely. Just go in expecting a trial-and-error experience where death teaches you the level layout. It’s not a casual pick-up-and-play title. On Android, I’d recommend a controller – touch controls for armor switching would be frustrating. The game runs smoothly on my mid-range device (Snapdragon 695) with no frame drops, but battery drain is noticeable after 40 minutes. If you’re okay with those trade-offs, this app offers a rewarding, handcrafted world that respects your intelligence more than your reflexes.
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