Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Sol Negro introduces a captivating dual-form mechanic that sets the pace for its two main stages. In the first chapter, you step into the flippers of Bully the fish, equipped with a jet pack and an M-92 laser rifle. Navigating industrial warehouses and overgrown ruins, you’ll scour every corner for the cage key that holds Mónica the hawk captive. Precise platforming challenges test your timing as you blast through mechanical sentries, while light environmental puzzles ensure that rescue never feels like a simple fetch quest.

Once freed, Mónica joins the adventure alongside Bully, and the game shifts seamlessly between aquatic stealth and high-altitude skirmishes. You’ll alternate between aquatic corridors—where Bully’s fish form can slip through tight grates—and open skies—where Mónica’s wingspan allows for swift glides and dogfight maneuvers. The synergy between the two characters underpins every encounter, whether you’re dodging torpedoes as a fish or strafing floating gun emplacements as a hawk.

Stage two plunges you into the submerged grotto of Hidrionis, where the ocean itself becomes both friend and foe. Bully’s compact fish profile lets you sneak past hulking mechanized squids, but you’ll rely on Mónica’s hydro-leak pistol to keep at bay faster, more aggressive subsurface foes. The balance of offense and defense shifts in each environment, and you’ll learn to switch tactics on the fly—streaming water currents can disguise your movement one moment and propel you into a trap the next. This dynamic keeps gameplay fresh and demanding throughout.

Graphics

From the opening cutscene, Sol Negro impresses with lush, hand-painted backdrops and moody lighting that emphasize its mythic themes. The submerged city of Hidrionis glows with bioluminescent flora, casting an eerie blue-green haze over rusted steel constructs. Surface environments—industrial catwalks and cliff-perched temples—contrast sharply with the undersea realm, giving each chapter a distinct visual identity.

Character models for Bully and Mónica are remarkably detailed, capturing the fish’s sinewy leaps and the hawk’s precise wing-beats in fluid animations. Weather and time-of-day effects—most notably the Earth’s rare Black Sun eclipse—are rendered with lens-flare artistry that heightens the narrative stakes. Enemies, from robotic manta rays to mechanized crows, brim with design flourishes that make each confrontation memorable.

The user interface is clean and unobtrusive, with health and ammo indicators that glow softly against the backdrop. Performance remains rock-steady on midrange hardware, even when dozens of particle effects swirl around you during boss fights or tidal surges. Minor texture pop-ins are almost never distracting, preserving the game’s immersive atmosphere from start to finish.

Story

At its heart, Sol Negro spins a millenarian tale of love and transformation. A spell passed through generations curses Bully to a fish’s body and Mónica to a hawk’s form every full moon, forbidding them from ever standing side by side. Only the enigmatic Black Sun eclipse holds the promise of breaking this ancient hex. It’s a simple premise, but one that unfolds with surprising emotional resonance as the two protagonists journey toward hope and reunion.

Early stages drip-feed lore through glyph-etched tablets and whispered dialogues, gradually revealing the origins of the submarine temple and the arcane rites performed there. As you rescue Mónica and venture deeper beneath the waves, carved murals depict previous couples who tried—and failed—to harness the eclipse’s power. These narrative breadcrumbs reward players who care to explore each cavern and chasm.

Dialogue is sparse but impactful, delivered via expressive body language and minimalist text prompts. You sense the weight of every transformation cycle, the heartbreak of a full moon that separates the lovers once more. When the final eclipse begins, a wordless montage conveys more emotion than dozens of cutscenes might, cementing Sol Negro’s story as both mythic and deeply personal.

Overall Experience

Sol Negro stands out as an atmospheric action-adventure that marries inventive gameplay with a touching narrative. The alternating fish-and-hawk mechanic never wears thin, and the pacing across two distinct stages keeps exploration exciting. Whether you’re evading underwater sentinels or soaring through sunlit temple corridors, the core loop feels rewarding and varied.

While the difficulty curve spikes mid-game—particularly in underwater boss battles—the challenge rarely becomes unfair. Checkpoints are thoughtfully placed, and resource pickups encourage methodical play rather than button-mashing. A handful of players might find certain platforming segments demanding, but for many, they’ll add to the sense of achievement when you finally glide through an obstacle course unscathed.

For anyone seeking a game that blends mythic storytelling, striking visuals, and inventive level design, Sol Negro offers an unforgettable voyage. Its brief runtime—around eight to ten hours for a full playthrough—leaves you wanting more, but the experience lingers long after the final eclipse has passed. Sol Negro is a shining example of how a focused premise, executed with flair, can create a truly magical gaming adventure.

Retro Replay Score

5.2/10