With anticipation for Hollow Knight: Silksong in full swing, there’s never been a better time to go back and take another look at what made Hollow Knight one of the most beloved indie titles of the past decade. Released in 2017 by Australian developer Team Cherry, Hollow Knight is a masterclass in atmospheric world-building, challenging gameplay, and deep lore that has captured the hearts of millions. With Silksong soon coming, it’s valuable to be able to look back and understand why Hollow Knight has continued to resonate with such a large fanbase, and maybe what’s in store for its highly anticipated sequel.
The Enchanting World of Hallownest
One of the most striking aspects of Hollow Knight is the world itself: Hallownest. A large, interconnected kingdom buried deep underground, Hallownest is haunting and mysterious at the same time. From the verdant Greenpath to the eerie City of Tears, each area in this game feels distinct, adding to the diversity of all the environments one will encounter in the game. The melancholic atmosphere is gloriously complemented by Christopher Larkin’s evocative soundtrack, begetting a feeling of isolation and wonder that simply captures the attention of players.
It’s all about the exploration in Hollow Knight. The nonlinear design of Hallownest brings the player to almost every single corner, often returning to earlier areas with new abilities that unlock previously inaccessible paths. This creates a sense of discovery that keeps things fresh since every new area feels like you are uncovering some long-lost part of some forgotten civilization. Set in an entirely new kingdom, Pharloom, fans will be able to explore another intricately crafted, haunting world in Silksong.
Challenging Combat and Intricate Mechanics
Hollow Knight is renowned for its notoriously challenging yet fair combat system that handsomely rewards players with patience and skill. Controlling the silent Knight armed with a nail; a sword-like weapon serving as the primary source of offense. Players will advance deeper into the game and unlock new abilities, which include dashing and double-jumping. New abilities add a larger layer of depth and open the doors to newer paths to explore.
The boss fights in Hollow Knight are among the key points that make this game so great, where tight movement and fast reflexes are required. These are quite varied since every boss has their own unique set of challenges and patterns to master. Silksong will place players into the role of Hornet, a character with abilities different from the Knight’s, promising new combat mechanics and an exciting shift in playstyle. With Hornet’s agility and the addition of new tools and weapons, it’s bound to be faster than the original, yet with its challenging nature intact.
Storytelling Through Subtlety
Storywise, this is all but a Hollow Knight game told through environmental storytelling and cryptic dialogue. The lore might not be in short supply, but most of them remains in the player’s sense of pattern recognition or exploration and interaction with NPCs. The minimalist approach in telling the story gives players freedom of pace over narrative and enhances replayability, all in the name of mystery. With Silksong, this will likely continue much in the same vein from Team Cherry, but since Hornet plays a far more vocal and active role than Knight, there may be a bit of a more direct element to character development, even as it retains that enigmatic tone that defines the series.
What to Expect from Silksong
With Silksong right around the corner, there’s never been a better time to return to Hollow Knight. It was already announced that Silksong would include new mechanics, new characters, and a completely different kingdom in which to play, so it’s going to build upon those concrete elements that made Hollow Knight a masterpiece with challenging gameplay, intricate world design, and an atmosphere so hauntingly beautiful.
Final Thoughts
With the promise of a new protagonist, new environments, and expanded combat mechanics, Silksong might be even bigger in scope and ambition than its predecessor. Returning veterans can revisit Hollow Knight: sharpen their skills, re-familiarize themselves with the world, and ready themselves for potentially one of the most anticipated indie games in history.
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