I've finally played "Hollow Knight" - my expectations for "Silksong" are now huge
16/3/2024
Translation: machine translated
"Hollow Knight" is considered one of the best Metroidvanias. Perhaps the sequel "Silksong" will finally be released this year. In preparation, I played part one for the first time, which really got me hooked. From this I now deduce what I want to see in part two.
I'm seven years too late. "Hollow Knight" was released in February 2017, but only now have I piloted the Knight through the bug-infested Hallownest. In my defence: I'm only recently a fan of the Metroidvania genre - despite having played the eponymous "Metroid Prime" and "Castlevania: Symphony of the Night" as a teenager. Metroidvania computer games are characterised by a large, interconnected world. This is explored bit by bit. Only with time and acquired skills or items can the whole world be explored.
After playing "Hollow Knight" for the first time, I know why it is rated as the best game in the genre: It's great. But other representatives now come close to its genius. Titles that have taken the classic Metroidvania formula further or those that have given it a new spin. The first category includes "Ori and the Will of the Wisps" and "Blasphemous 2". The second category includes "Ultros" or "Laika: Aged Through Blood". In the following, I'll tell you where I think Team Cherry needs to improve with "Silksong".
The worldbuilding must at least come close to "Hollow Knight"
What fascinates me most about "Hollow Knight" is the worldbuilding. In every corner of the cleverly designed map, there are new creepy-crawlies or clues to discover that provide more information about the world of Hallownest. The contrast between the dark, depressing world and the cute characters creates a permanently oppressive atmosphere. In terms of the presentation of the world, the title is almost in a league of its own. I know of only "Ender Lilies: Quietus of the Knights" that can keep up. The bar for the successor "Silksong" is therefore very high. For me, Pharloom, the name of the world in the sequel, might not be quite as big as Hallownest. But at least as exciting.
It should all go a bit faster
The fact that the map of "Hollow Knight" is almost too big for me has to do with the movement options. I like backtracking, that's why I play Metroidvanias. But with a world the size of "Hollow Knight", there should be more opportunities to take shortcuts. For example, better fast travelling.
But it's not just the locomotion that makes for the slow pace of the game. There's hardly any progress at the beginning. It simply takes too long for me to develop from a cute beetle with an old nail as a weapon to an all-destroying cute beetle with a slightly fancier-looking nail. The game is not much fun at the beginning. I've read in various places (such as here and here) that many people give up on the game after a short time. This is a shame for an excellent title like "Hollow Knight". "Silksong" therefore needs to be more accessible at the beginning.
The combat system needs a makeover
When it comes to the battles, the game shows its age. Not that they're bad. The Knight still controls very well today and the mechanics still work. But in contrast to more recent representatives, such as the aforementioned titles, the combat offers significantly less variation.
Source: Team Cherry
The Knight has only one weapon. There are only a few attacks for it and most of them come late in the game. By then, I've become so used to the attack available at the beginning that I forget to use the new ones. There is no sophisticated option for blocking and countering attacks. The system with the talismans, which give the Knight various bonuses, is nice and also offers some interesting combinations. Overall, however, systems in other games offer significantly more variation.
The latest trailer for "Silksong" from 2022 shows more variety than the first instalment, at least in terms of combat gameplay. Team Cherry seems to be putting a big focus on the combat system, which is promising.
New ideas are needed
"Hollow Knight" offers many optional boss fights. There are also nice side quests with things like the "Coliseum of Fools". These things all have one thing in common: I have to fight. It's fun, but it's also monotonous. Other, newer representatives of the genre offer alternative gameplay elements, such as gardening in "Ultros". To reach new areas in the game, I have to plant the right plants in certain places. In between, mini-games such as a modified form of football provide variety. I would like to see something similar or completely different for "Silksong".
Source: Team Cherry
I can well imagine a breeding mechanic in the world of "Hollow Knight". For example, if I could breed different bugs to help me fight or interact with the world.
Long waiting time fuels additional anticipation
"Hollow Knight: Silksong" has been five years in the making. It was initially only planned as DLC, but later became a fully-fledged game. Information and news are rare - Team Cherry is about as active as I am on social media. The last major information and a glimpse of gameplay was shown at an Xbox showcase in 2022 - almost two years ago. Fans and the media therefore jump at any news. Even a change in the Steam database is making headlines. Every millisecond of the two available trailers has now been analysed.
The long wait and sparse communication make the wait a pain. In my case, at least the wait is (hopefully) short. But anyone who played the first part and has been waiting for "Silksong" since it was announced has probably lost more than a hair. If you are one of them, your expectations of the game must be gigantic. Let's hope that Team Cherry can fulfil them. <p
Kevin Hofer
Senior Editor
kevin.hofer@digitecgalaxus.chFrom big data to big brother, Cyborgs to Sci-Fi. All aspects of technology and society fascinate me.
