Hollow Knight Silksongis one of contemporary gaming’s most enigmatic projects. Revealed only a few years after the firstHollow Knight, one of the breakout indie masterpieces of the 2010s,Silksonghas languished in what many have speculatedis development hell, given Team Cherry’s reluctance to show more footage or offer a firm release date. Nevertheless, hopes are high for the studio’s sophomore project, asHollow Knighthas proven to be one of the definitive games of its era.
AndHollow Knight Silksongis looking to be much more than a mere retreading of old ground, or a “Hollow Knight 1.5.” Set in a new land and following a new protagonist, who is decidedly distinct from the first game’s lead in both abilities and personality,Silksongpromises to evolve the IP’s seminal systems and narrative, rather than just spruce it up a bit. Based on the scant information available,Silksong’s protagonist, Hornet, looks to have a much different set of powers and tools at her disposal, which should open the doors to myriad new ways to engage with combat and traversal. How this will unfold throughout the course of the game, especially as it pertains to its Metroidvania elements, remains to be seen, but it will probably makeSilksong’s opening hours more enjoyable than its predecessor’s.
Hollow Knight Silksong Will Probably Have a More Exciting First Leg Than Hollow Knight’s
Hornet Is Already Rather Powerful
Even without looking atHollow Knight Silksong’s gameplay trailers, it’s obvious that Hornet will feel remarkably different to play compared to her predecessor. Encountering Hornet as a boss in the originalHollow Knightreveals her elegant attacks and swift, acrobatic movement, and sinceSilksongis likely taking place after the events ofHollow Knight, it would stand to reason that players will be able to make use of these abilities from the start.
Team Cherry could do a classic power reset on Hornet,emulating franchises likeMetroid, but this seems a bit too pedestrian for such a creative studio.
This would stand in stark contrast to the opening hours ofHollow Knight, wherein the player is very limited in their abilities, unable to even dash or wall jump, and therefore far less effectual. This can make for exciting progression over the course of several hours, but it also makes replaying the game a slog, as there are fewer options for engaging with combat, movement, and puzzle-solving until more powers are unlocked. In a word, theopening hours ofHollow Knightcan be described as barren from a gameplay perspective—an adjective that seems less applicable toSilksong’s first chapter.
Hornet’s More Substantial Abilities at Silksong’s Outset Are a Double-Edged Sword
Traditional Metroidvanias are defined by their unique progression systems: players start the game as weak underdogs, and it’s only through exploration and overcoming various challenges that they become versatile powerhouses. The best games in this genre, includingHollow Knight, have this progression synergize with the player’s own mastery, leading to a deep mechanical experience that evolves over so many hours of play.
Very few Metroidvanias give the player a broad toolkit from the beginning for this very reason; it’s hard to produce that “zero to hero” feeling if the player-character is already incredibly powerful, with a number of unique abilities. This poses an interesting challenge forSilksong, as Hornet has far less room to grow,given her suite of abilities inHollow Knight. So, while she may be more fun to play as in the opening hours, the game could run into issues with building upon her already substantial combat and movement powers in interesting ways. Hopefully,Hollow Knight Silksongmanages to strike this precarious balance, whenever it releases.
Hollow Knight: Silksong
WHERE TO PLAY
Play as Hornet, princess-protector of Hallownest, and adventure through a whole new kingdom ruled by silk and song! Captured and brought to this unfamiliar world, Hornet must battle foes and solve mysteries as she ascends on a deadly pilgrimage to the kingdom’s peak.Hollow Knight: Silksong is the epic sequel to Hollow Knight, the award winning action-adventure. As the lethal hunter Hornet, journey to all-new lands, discover new powers, battle vast hordes of bugs and beasts and uncover ancient secrets tied to your nature and your past.
