#halberd studios

Publisher JanduSoft and developer Halberd Studios will release side-scrolling Metroidvania game 9 Years of Shadows for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One in Q2 2025 for $19.99 / €19.99, the companies announced.

9 Years of Shadows first launched for PC via Steam and Epic Games Store on March 27, 2023, followed by Switch on November 9, 2023, and iOS and Android on November 21, 2024.

Here is an overview of the game, via its store pages:

About

For nine long years, the world has been submerged in the deepest of shadows, robbing every object and living creature of their color. Once a thriving civilization, the people have forgotten the warmth of the sun, the joy of laughter and the promise of a prosperous future. Many brave souls have tried to venture inside the corrupting depths of Talos Castle, a long-abandoned orphanage from which the curse stemmed, but with each futile attempt, resignation became the daily fare for the people, all hope lost. Except for one person. Armed with little other than her halberd and sheer nerve, Europa‘s daunting quest is clear: enter the castle, find the source of darkness, and return color to the lands before it is too late.

End the Curse

Set forth to a life-changing voyage. Take on the role of Europa and brave the amazing halls of Talos Castle as you uncover the disturbing truth of its inhabitants’ fate. A moving coming-of-age tale that stresses the importance of embracing our feelings in order to heal. Embark on a journey of friendship, where Europa and her loyal companion Apino learn to rely on each other to overcome any obstacle and help others along the way.

Meet memorable and enigmatic characters.

Find the remnants of ancient civilizations.

Enter gateways that speak echoes of the past.

Restore the World Through Music

With an entrancing and soothing soundtrack tuned to 432Hz composed by Michiru Yamane (Castlevania franchise) and ​Norihiko Hibino ​(Metal Gear Solid franchise), healing music plays a major role in both gameplay and narrative.

Collect musical notes and improve your abilities.

Perform quests for the composers and their orchestra at Teatro Degollado.

Decode enemy attack patterns through music.

Master the Elements

Encounter countless foes on the path to victory, each one as impressive as they are deadly. But with the right elemental armor, Europa and Apino are a force to be reckoned with.

Strategically switch between your elemental armors to gain dominance over the various creatures that lurk in the shadows.

Harness the power of Poseidon, Gaia, and Helios to solve puzzles as well as gain access to otherwise inaccessible locations to defeat giant bosses in classic Metroidvania fashion.

Explore a Stunning Pixel Art World

Scout the vivid setting of Talos Castle, where colorful characters, awe-striking architecture of ancient peoples, and otherworldly paintings await those courageous enough to seek them. Inside, the enemies that dwell within are as beautiful as they are deadly, a mixture of biological and mechanical parts ready to strike. Explore the map to find treasure, hand-crafted scenery, and ancient secrets worthy of a hero.

Explore a timeworn mechanical giant shrouded in corruption.

Battle hidden bosses with an intuitive combat system.

Scavenge collectibles and dive deeper into Talos’ lore.

Gain power ups that grant Europa and Apino unparalleled combat potential.

Combine melee prowess with ranged spirit magic to cleanse the corrupted world.

Watch a new trailer below.

PlayStation and Xbox Announce Trailer

Gematsu Source

The Switch version of pixel art Metroidvania game 9 Years of Shadows will launch on November 9, publisher Freedom Games and developer Halberd Studios announced.

9 Years of Shadows first launched for PC via Steam and Epic Games Store on March 27.

Here is an overview of the game, via Freedom Games:

About

For nine long years, the world has been submerged in the deepest of shadows, robbing every object and living creature of their color. Once a thriving civilization, the people have forgotten the warmth of the sun, the joy of laughter and the promise of a prosperous future. Many brave souls have tried to venture inside the corrupting depths of Talos Castle, a long-abandoned orphanage from which the curse stemmed, but with each futile attempt, resignation became the daily fare for the people, all hope lost. Except for one person. Armed with little other than her halberd and sheer nerve, Europa‘s daunting quest is clear: enter the castle, find the source of darkness, and return color to the lands before it is too late.

End the Curse

Set forth to a life-changing voyage. Take on the role of Europa and brave the amazing halls of Talos Castle as you uncover the disturbing truth of its inhabitants’ fate. A moving coming-of-age tale that stresses the importance of embracing our feelings in order to heal. Embark on a journey of friendship, where Europa and her loyal companion Apino learn to rely on each other to overcome any obstacle and help others along the way.

Meet memorable and enigmatic characters.

Find the remnants of ancient civilizations.

Enter gateways that speak echoes of the past.

Restore the World Through Music

With an entrancing and soothing soundtrack tuned to 432Hz composed by Michiru Yamane (Castlevania franchise) and ​Norihiko Hibino ​(Metal Gear Solid franchise), healing music plays a major role in both gameplay and narrative.

Collect musical notes and improve your abilities.

Perform quests for the composers and their orchestra at Teatro Degollado.

Decode enemy attack patterns through music.

Master the Elements

Encounter countless foes on the path to victory, each one as impressive as they are deadly. But with the right elemental armor, Europa and Apino are a force to be reckoned with.

Strategically switch between your elemental armors to gain dominance over the various creatures that lurk in the shadows.

Harness the power of Poseidon, Gaia, and Helios to solve puzzles as well as gain access to otherwise inaccessible locations to defeat giant bosses in classic Metroidvania fashion.

Explore a Stunning Pixel Art World

Scout the vivid setting of Talos Castle, where colorful characters, awe-striking architecture of ancient peoples, and otherworldly paintings await those courageous enough to seek them. Inside, the enemies that dwell within are as beautiful as they are deadly, a mixture of biological and mechanical parts ready to strike. Explore the map to find treasure, hand-crafted scenery, and ancient secrets worthy of a hero.

Explore a timeworn mechanical giant shrouded in corruption.

Battle hidden bosses with an intuitive combat system.

Scavenge collectibles and dive deeper into Talos’ lore.

Gain power ups that grant Europa and Apino unparalleled combat potential.

Pixel art Metroidvania 9 Years of Shadows will launch for PC via Steam and Epic Games Store on October 10, followed by Switch on October 21, publisher Freedom Games and developer Halberd Studios announced.

This post initially stated that the game would launch for all platforms, including PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, on October 10, as that is what the press release provided by Freedom Games listed. However, the company has now said that the decision to delay the Switch version was a recent move by the development team, and that PlayStation 4 and Xbox One versions are to be determined.

Here is an overview of the game, via its store page:

About

For nine long years, the world has been submerged in the deepest of shadows, robbing every object and living creature of their color. Once a thriving civilization, the people have forgotten the warmth of the sun, the joy of laughter and the promise of a prosperous future.

Many brave souls have tried to venture inside the corrupting depths of Talos Castle, a long-abandoned orphanage from which the curse stemmed, but with each futile attempt, resignation became the daily fare for the people, all hope lost. Except for one person.

Armed with little other than her halberd and sheer nerve, Europa’s daunting quest is clear: enter the castle, find the source of darkness, and return color to the lands before it is too late.

End the Curse

Set forth to a life-changing voyage. Take on the role of Europa and brave the amazing halls of Talos Castle as you uncover the disturbing truth of its inhabitants’ fate. A moving coming-of-age tale that stresses the importance of embracing our feelings in order to heal. Embark on a journey of friendship, where Europa and her loyal companion Apino learn to rely on each other to overcome any obstacle and help others along the way.

Meet memorable and enigmatic characters.

Find the remnants of ancient civilizations.

Enter gateways that speak echoes of the past.

Restore the World Through Music

With an entrancing and soothing soundtrack tuned to 432Hz composed by Michiru Yamane (Castlevania franchise) and ​Norihiko Hibino ​(Metal Gear Solid franchise), healing music plays a major role in both gameplay and narrative.

Collect musical notes and improve your abilities.

Perform quests for the composers and their orchestra at Teatro Degollado.

Decode enemy attack patterns through music.

Master the Elements

Encounter countless foes on the path to victory, each one as impressive as they are deadly. But with the right elemental armor, Europa and Apino are a force to be reckoned with.

Strategically switch between your elemental armors to gain dominance over the various creatures that lurk in the shadows.

Harness the power of Poseidon, Gaia, and Helios to solve puzzles as well as gain access to otherwise inaccessible locations to defeat giant bosses in classic Metroidvania fashion.

Explore a Stunning Pixel Art World

Scout the vivid setting of Talos Castle, where colorful characters, awe-striking architecture of ancient peoples, and otherworldly paintings await those courageous enough to seek them. Inside, the enemies that dwell within are as beautiful as they are deadly, a mixture of biological and mechanical parts ready to strike. Explore the map to find treasure, hand-crafted scenery, and ancient secrets worthy of a hero.

Explore a timeworn mechanical giant shrouded in corruption.

Battle hidden bosses with an intuitive combat system.

Scavenge collectibles and dive deeper into Talos’ lore.

Gain power ups that grant Europa and Apino unparalleled combat potential.

Combine melee prowess with ranged spirit magic to cleanse the corrupted world.

Watch a new trailer below.

Release Date Trailer

Publisher JanduSoft and developer Halberd Studios will release the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One versions of side-scrolling Metroidvania game 9 Years of Shadows on July 31 for $19.99 / €19.99, the companies announced.

9 Years of Shadows first launched for PC via Steam and Epic Games Store on March 27, 2023, followed by Switch on November 9, 2023, and iOS and Android on November 21, 2024.

Here is an overview of the game, via Jandusoft:

9 Years of Shadows is a side-scrolling Metroidvania by Halberd Studios. Travel alongside Europa, a brave warrior determined to enter the mechanical giant Talos and stop the corruption within before it swallows the world in darkness. Battle through tainted creatures, meet charismatic musicians and uncover the truth behind the curse that robbed the land of all color. Many have tried to venture inside the twisted depths of Talos, a dormant fortress where several civilizations have settle over centuries. And, after losing everything she held dear, Europa has nothing holding her back from attempting what others could not achieve. As a noble fighter who refuses to be bound by the curse, she must enter the castle, find the source of corruption, and return the color once and for all. This adventure is not for Europa to face alone. Inside the giant, she befriends Apino, a cute floating bear who seems to possess magical abilities that can restore color and replenish the health of his allies. He is also able to shield his companions from the multiple dangers that roam Talos’ hallways. While exploring the castle, Apino can cleanse the corruption around Talos and shoot a variety of projectiles that can destroy dark crystals and inflict damage:

A fist that punches upwards when conjured.

A blast that travels along a surface until collision.

A cyclone that returns to Apino like a boomerang.

Use the elements to your advantage to travel the map dynamically. Acquire the elemental armors that were once treasures to ancient civilizations and change on the fly and unlock special abilities to traverse your way: from swimming against waterfalls to traveling underground tunnels or gliding through warm air currents. Harness the power of lightning, water, earth, and fire. Surprise bosses while you switch armors, perform strong halberd combos, and exploit your foes’ weaknesses to pave your way through the heart of the shadows. Music is all but the soul of the game. Revitalize the world while you listen to a moving soundtrack composed by Miguel Hasson, as well as soothing pieces scored in 432hz by celebrated composers Michiru Yamane (Castlevania series) and Norihiko Hibino (Metal Gear Solid series). Meet these guest composers as in-game NPCs who aid in Europa’s quest throughout the game. Music is the binding thread that combines gameplay and storytelling: collect musical notes and perform a healing lullaby to restore your health.

Watch a new trailer below.

Release Date Trailer

Theory of the day: The reason people cannot see videogames as art is that videogames are the last difficult artform left. This idea is presented to you today by 9 Years of Shadows. 9YoS is a metroidvania that was initially released on Steam, but arrived on Nintendo Switch just recently. Long story short, you are Europa, you’ve got a little bear buddy, and you must traverse the gigantic haunted…