9th Dawn Remake Xbox Series X Review 9/10 "A Glorious CRPG that kept me coming back for more"⚔️🛡️🧙‍♂️ @Valorware #Retrogaming #IndieGame #GameDev

Five years ago I covered 9th Dawn III: Shadow of Erthil, and whilst I had a good time with it, there were some issues that chipped away at the fun somewhat. Although this is a remake of the first game in the series (which I haven’t previously played), there’s a freshness and tightness to the experience that really makes this stand out from the crowd, and especially when compared to the 3rd title in the series, with a lot of issues ironed out, and more accessibility and snugness in the design whilst also feeling incredibly expansive and very rewarding in terms of exploration.A remaster that adds two awesome – and not so little – mini-games, 45 extra /enhanced dungeons and myriad other changes and enhancements, 9th Dawn Remake is a formidable beast that not only allows you to switch between first and third-person viewpoints, but also offers local and online multiplayer for the entirety of the game, an incredible achievement for a solo developer.

Cast as the customisable hero that needs to save the land from baddies yadda-yadda-yadda, the plot here merely exists to provide a backdrop for the meat of the enjoyment which will come from exploration and looting. The 9th Dawn series has made quite a name for itself in terms of the amount of freedom they offer the player, and this entry is no exception, as you have full reign terms of what you character is capable of, which pets will follow and assist, and which side quests and mini-games you will embark on. 

The mini-games were a real highlight for me, and one of the first laughs in the game was when an NPC standing by a pond said ‘The fishing...it seems...not quite right”, and I found out exactly what she meant moments later which I cast my rod into the water, expecting a ‘grabber’ type of sub-game, when no – this is a full-blown aquatic Vampire Survivors-esque bullet-a-thon. Good! In the villages scattered around the generously-sized overworld map, you’ll also find Card Masters that offer an in-depth deck-builder game that could almost be a separate indie title in its own right. 

It’s at moments of discovery such as this that it really ‘dawned’ on me just how impressive it is that this game was made by such a small team. Kudos also goes out for the audio, which is not only surprisingly evocative, but catchy and whimsical, painting the exact aural picture needed to accompany you on your epic quest.

SUMMARY
This is an incredible achievement for a solo developer, and the sheer scope on offer here is undeniable. This is a game that will be installed on my Xbox for quite some time, and the pacey nature of the game, combined with the addictive complexities that can be uncovered makes it an extremely rewarding experience. Valorware has created a game that they should be incredibly proud of, and all CRPG lovers should absolutely dive right in!

9/10

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