beat the game, loved it and in the process of trying to get the true ending

i'd recommend this to people who love sekiro or hard metroidvanias (or both)

i saw a lot of negative reviews and its 99% of them complaining about the difficulty and what not
i feel like the game is balanced as is, you can deflect pretty quickly just right after an attack (not a heavy one though) and although i havent collected every jade the jades ive got makes me extremely op (its a parry focused jade build) and i heavily disagree with people who struggle at the FIRST REAL BOSS

please dont expect every game to be an easy walk in the park for you, and dont discourage others to play a game simply because you struggled at it and only complained about the skill issues you've had instead of actual flaws with the game

the only issues i have with the game is the content after you beat it, theres just none for now not even NG+

it still lets you get the true ending after defeating the final boss but i'd still like to fight prior bosses especially since theyre extremely fun to fight against
and the other final issue is the lack of consistency between hitboxes when you get behind an enemy

i feel like its purposefully done for balance purposes as to not make the bosses too easy to dodge but still

PLEASE give this game a shot i love sekiro i love parrying in games overall and this one doesnt miss

Don't you dare lazily compare this piece of art to other games that have completely different specialties.
Nine Sols is a dance; a unique feast of an experience in lore, with intense yet methodical gameplay.

Nine Sols understands GOOD GAME DESIGN.
In the very beginning of the game, if you die right after finding your first "root node" (this game's version of resting points, or in souls like design, "bonfires"), it calmly places you in a different space just to tell you, No, this is how to play the game. Take a deep breath and focus,

Also, the game wants you to parry. You need to parry. The game explains this, but if you're used to fast-paced slap-fightery and taking every blow to the face, you're going to need to adjust, but it will help you so much to just know it's a parry game.

Could you play this game on Story mode and still enjoy it?
Yes.
In fact, I encourage it if you are struggling. Don’t listen to people saying “get gud”. You deserve to have this experience. Play on story mode if you want. That’s literally what it’s there for.

Nine Sols has extremely well done lore, world-building, and characters, with a plot of importance. Nothing is ever given to you too quickly, and the things you learn along the way are put into writing even further later, just in case you were confused. I think this game's writing is phenomenal and the lessons it teaches, if someone would be learning or hearing about for the first time, are some of my favorite lessons in “what life is all about.” I don’t think it’s one to miss.

And in the same way that the game sprinkles lore onto you, it sprinkles abilities, too. Remember how I said Nine Sols is a parrying game? The game wants you so much so to not be dependent on things like dashing or dodging out of the way so early in the game that bosses would absolutely wipe you down the line, that it specifically gives you better traversal mechanics pretty late into the game. I sound like a broken record saying it: The team that crafted Nine Sols absolutely understood how to get their audience to play a specific way so they wouldn’t be confused later on. It’s amazing. It's Masterclass level.

I highly recommend Nine Sols, and to take it slow. Play the game the way it wants you to. You’re in for a story and experience that will stick with you for a long time.

If you're into platformers with challenging combat, Nine Sols is definitely worth checking out. The game features a unique art style inspired by traditional Asian aesthetics, which creates a visually stunning and immersive world. The gameplay is smooth, with fluid combat mechanics that make every fight feel satisfying, especially when facing tough bosses. The difficulty can be intense, which might be frustrating for some players, but the feeling of accomplishment after overcoming these challenges is rewarding. If you're a fan of games that test your combat skills and perseverance, Nine Sols is a solid choice