As time goes on and I play more and more Metroidvanias, I realize more and more how incredible Nine Sols is and how highly it ranks in the genre’s history.
While I agree its audiovisual presentation, although excellent, isn’t groundbreaking, I believe its magnificence lies in its combat and, particularly, its bosses, as it boasts an exquisite selection of main encounters.
As someone who tends to prioritize gameplay above all else, the fact that RedCandleGames’ title has such solid combat leads me to hold it in high regard, especially since the difference between it and the average Metroidvania is quite significant.
As a result, I never tire of praising the game, much less its stellar fights, which is why I invite you to read this list of the ten hardest Nine Sols bosses, ranked.
10
Kanghui
Annoying Minions and Nothing Else
Although I stand by everything I said in the introduction to this article, I must admit that none of the praise applies to Kanghui.
Generally, I completely despise fights that focus more on a horde of minions than on a proper adversary, and this one is just a collection of minor enemies, an elite, and a head to attack while evading the rest.
It has a couple of interesting features, like having to use hacking to actually damage the health bar, though it completely squanders the masterful combat mechanics Nine Sols possesses.
I wouldn’t say it’s a bad boss per se, but it hardly feels like one, as it’s more of a consequence of an area that, due to its forced stealth, doesn’t really fit into the overall campaign.
9
Yanlao
Fun but Predictable
Entering the realm of decent bosses, Yanlao ends up being fun, albeit forgettable, as there’s really nothing particularly memorable about his fight precisely because it’s accessible.
Aside from the fact that he’s the only boss fight where you face a traditional machine and not a bio-mechanical contraption, his two phases rely more on platforming than pattern recognition or reflexes, following in Kanghui’s footsteps of not making the most of the game’s combat.
However, unlike his predecessor on this list, Yanlao is actually entertaining to fight, as the game’s movement is very well done, and even without relying on parrying, it’s satisfying to dodge all the lasers and charges until you defeat him.
That said, he’s probably the boss you’ll remember least after finishing the game, as he’s neither easy nor difficult, but I prefer that to him being a minion-fest that doesn’t offer a decent challenge.
8
Goumang
Duality of Fools
Unlike what I’ve seen as common among players of the genre, I do enjoy dual battles, although Goumang’s particular encounter didn’t particularly thrill me.
While it respects Nine Sols‘ foundation and is based on the mechanical principles that distinguish it from other Metroidvanias, this Sol’s two puppets are quite accessible once you understand their patterns.
The thing is, it might take you several attempts to figure out what each one does, but I wouldn’t be surprised if, like me, you manage to defeat them on your first try by entering a flow state at the right moment, given they’re relatively easy to read.
This duel is more challenging than previous ones simply because it forces you to master the game’s direct combat mechanics, which in itself is enough to make it more demanding than its predecessors.
7
Xingtian
A Standard Versus
When you think of Nine Sols, you think of one-on-one combat where, following the traditional Soulslike philosophy, you have to get used to your enemy’s movements, rhythms, and abilities, which is why Xingtian feels like the title’s basic standard.
Although you have to constantly move due to its area-of-effect damage, it’s the kind of fight that’s resolved the way it should be: by learning the boss’s patterns and consistently reacting accordingly.
Knowing when to parry, when to move away, when to jump, how many attacks to use in each window… It’s the most essential approximation to the formula, and that’s why it works perfectly well despite not being creative.
Therefore, Xingtian is far from the most difficult thing Nine Sols has to offer, and it’s even below average, but it’s the first entry on the list that truly makes you feel like you’re facing a problem.
6
Ji
A Little Bit of Everything
Despite being one of my favorite bosses, both for its narrative significance and the presentation of the fight itself, Ji offers a duel that represents the midpoint of Nine Sols‘ difficulty.
With its projectile attacks, teleportation, and short combos, this is the kind of fight where you must master every tool at your disposal to emerge victorious.
Unlike Xingtian, simply knowing how to parry isn’t enough; you have to be able to identify patterns and even anticipate them so you can withstand the barrage of Ji’s attacks unscathed.
It’s a higher-than-average test because it requires the player to master the various aspects of Nine Sols‘ gameplay. Nevertheless, as we’ll see next, the most challenging bosses are those who specialize in one particular area.
5
General: Yingzhao
A Tutorial With Little Mercy
It’s tough to imagine Nine Sols‘ first main boss is among the most difficult, but General Yingzhao prepares you far beyond what you need for the first few hours of gameplay.
Without cheap tricks, summons, or excessive positioning requirements, this boss only knows how to attack and dash from corner to corner, with a considerable health bar and an even greater capacity to deal damage.
The moment you miss a parry, you can consider yourself dead, as his combos are extensive and his aggression practically unstoppable, given his objective is to teach you more than just the basics of gameplay so you’re prepared for what’s to come.
Many hours will pass before you encounter a challenge that demands as much from you as General: Yingzhao, creating a somewhat uneven difficulty curve, though it’s an unforgettable tutorial.
4
Jiequan
Forced to Master the Parry
Regardless, if there’s one fight that forces you to master parrying like no other, it’s Jiequan‘s, which is essentially a General: Yingzhao on steroids, with special abilities that can truly be a roadblock on your path.
Here, you have to master both regular parrying and Unbounded Counter if you genuinely want to succeed, which is much easier said than done due to the significant difference in timing between the two.
I sincerely appreciate this philosophy, as learning to discern when and how to use both styles of counterattack will be crucial for Nine Sols’ final challenges, gradually preparing you for its ultimate confrontation.
Thus, Jiequan is not only very difficult but also extremely important, so he wasn’t given any easily exploitable weakness, ensuring you absolutely have to learn to defeat him fairly.
3
Fuxi and Nuwa
Indefinable Accumulation of Frustrations
Breaking with the high level of care and balance of the other bosses, Fuxi and Nuwa are the only genuinely frustrating encounter in Nine Sols, for neither satisfying nor compelling reasons.
Given the inconsistency of their hitboxes, the sheer number of threats coming from opposite sides of the screen, and their excessive health, it’s the kind of fight that’s more a test of patience than skill.
It’s not so much that you can learn their patterns and react appropriately, but rather that you depend on luck to avoid certain attacks landing simultaneously, as many of them result in guaranteed damage.
Knowing when to parry and when to attack is useless if there will always be a moment when a projectile hits you from a distance because you’re too focused on the colossus chasing you, slowly draining your health until you run out of healing.
I’m sure not everyone had the same experience with this duo, but in my case, it’s by far Nine Sols’ least rewarding and most exasperating fight.
2
Lady Ethereal
Three Phases of Pure Pain
You know what’s worse than a two-phase fight taking dozens of tries? Discovering, after barely managing to beat it, that there’s a third, even harder phase to overcome, which is exactly what happened to me with Lady Ethereal.
Despite my blood, sweat, and tears, it’s a fight that truly broke my spirit at times, as I went through far too many attempts without feeling like I was making any progress due to the overwhelming number and depth of her attacks and projectiles.
If Jiequan forces you to master both types of parry and Ji to control movement and positioning, Lady Ethereal is a combination of the NG+7 versions of both, but contained within a nightmare with three health bars that, once you defeat it, feels wonderfully satisfying.
In any other game, this would have been the usual secret boss that developers hide from the main storyline because it would prevent 90% of players from finishing the story, but in Nine Sols, she’s not even the ultimate challenge.
1
Eigong
A Final Boss Worthy of Olympus
If there were ever a global assembly to decide which are the hardest bosses in Metroidvania history, I’d be utterly stunned if Eigong didn’t take first place almost unanimously.
To grasp her difficulty level, you have to take the strengths of every single boss in Nine Sols, amplify that mastery to its absolute maximum, and then apply it to this three-phase swordswoman, albeit with her speed cranked up to infinity.
The only way to defeat the most powerful version of Yi’s master is to perfect your ability to perform both types of parries, aerial combat, dodges, use special abilities, manage resources, and even use the Tai-Chi Kick, because anything less won’t cut it.
Interestingly, after hundreds of attempts, my game glitched when I finally managed to beat her, so I had to face her again after my victory. However, I had her so deeply ingrained in my memory that I was able to defeat her repeatedly, because I had already achieved the level of perfection her fight required.
Even so, the mere thought of fighting her again terrifies me, and few bosses in video game history can say the same. I don’t know if she’s the most difficult challenge I’ve ever overcome, but it’s certainly among the greatest.
