Team Cherry

“Hollow Knight: Silksong” is a long-anticipated sequel to the original “Hollow Knight” game.

“Hollow Knight: Silksong” is a bug-eat-bug world, full of predators and beasts much fiercer than any other foe. While ascending through Pharloom into the Citadel, human players must acclimate to the harrowing reality of descending the food chain–and further, being considered valuable prey as an insect. 

 Pharloom is a winding, withering city, marked by decay and haunted by the wary song of pilgrims clawing their way up to the holy Citadel. In “Silksong,” players control Hornet, a spider princess and sister to the main character, the Knight, from the original “Hollow Knight” game. After being mysteriously kidnapped by outsider bugs, Hornet weaves and spins her way through Pharloom to reach the topmost level. This Metroidvania video game was created as a sequel to the 2016 indie game, “Hollow Knight,” by Australian independent developer Team Cherry. Six years after its 2019 announcement, “Silksong” was finally released on Sept. 4, and was well worth the wait.

Immediately upon beginning the game, players are thrust into a vicious environment with nothing but danger around every corner. The weakest enemies in “Silksong” are just as strong as some of the highest-ranking enemies in “Hollow Knight.” With around 200 types of enemies and over 40 bosses, each opponent Hornet faces is unique. They each have different skillsets and attack types, which forces the player to adapt their fighting style in ways they might not have to in a simpler game. While many players may find this frustrating, the difficulty makes progressing through the game much more rewarding. 

Alongside the challenging foes the player faces, Hornet’s new moveset provides an additional challenge. As opposed to the Knight from “Hollow Knight’s” range of motion, Hornet’s movements are much faster and more aggressive. Especially if someone has played “Hollow Knight” before and is used to the old moveset, this can make the platforming and fighting significantly more difficult than if the movement was slower and simpler. That difficulty is not, however, a negative aspect of the game in any way. 

The player is expected to grow more skilled each time Hornet is defeated, whether that is by a challenging enemy or a difficult section of platforming. Sure, they may be defeated and have to restart an area, but the next time the player attempts the encounter, they know what to expect. While playing the game, someone may fail and have to retry an area dozens of times, but each time, they come out stronger after honing their skills. Practice makes perfect, so to speak. 

The game is difficult, but never unfair. Once the player finally beats a strong enemy or clears an area, the game rewards them. Even if the reward is not something like money or a new ability, clearing these areas allows the player to explore further through the extensive layout of Pharloom, which is enough of a reward itself. 

If the setting in “Hollow Knight” was extensive, Pharloom is colossal. In “Silksong,” Hornet picks her way through about 29 areas, while the Knight from “Hollow Knight” only had to traverse around 15. With this expansive world, the game truly puts the player in Hornet’s shoes as she, sometimes aimlessly, wanders through unfamiliar territory. The map size causes the game to feel like the pilgrimage that Hornet finds herself on, and it provides for a more immersive experience overall. 

The artistic direction throughout the game is phenomenal, which allows Pharloom to be immersive in more ways than just size. Each area is distinct from the others in design, but a similar gloomy, dark theme is kept constant between them. An undercurrent of religious thematic material is present throughout through small details, like the use of rosary beads as currency and bell-related imagery. As a result of these ongoing themes, the art is cohesive with diverse ideas, which allows the worldbuilding to be more expansive than before. 

Alongside the art, the characters ground the player in Pharloom in a way that the setting cannot. Each region is home to a diverse cast of nonplayer characters, most of whom are merchants that adapt to their surroundings. For example, Pharloom struggles financially, and most of its residents are poor. Therefore, merchants tend to overcharge for items or beg the player to buy items. 

Rather than being a silent protagonist or a self-insert for the player, Hornet acts as her own character. The protagonist has her own voice, and it is a strong one. She is powerful and intense, but never cruel, making her easily likable without forcing her to be funny or relatable. She is easy to connect with as a character while still being fun and interesting to play as, which balances character building and player immersion. 

Priced at only $20, “Silksong” is one of the best-value games on the market at present. Though it can be incredibly frustrating at times due to its difficulty, the game is ultimately an incredible addition to the “Hollow Knight” series. While sequels from other franchises often struggle to live up to the expectations set by the original, “Silksong” earned its title in the “Hollow Knight” duology, through its difficult but rewarding gameplay and worldbuilding. 

Contact Emma Lynch at [email protected]