I was discouraged from risk-taking behavior in my exploration throughout the game. This translated into a playstyle that I wouldn’t have adopted if the game was designed differently. In addition to the punishment of moving you physically far away from your goal, the game requires you to traverse enemy-infested screens and platforming sequences from hell. Some games even lock the door behind you once you’ve decided to conquer a boss, but Hollow Knight seems to do the opposite, sending you halfway (or further) across the intricate map. To remove you so far from the action discourages the tendency that most games teach, which is to keep trying. Hollow Knight sparingly places its benches across the map, a design decision that I can’t really understand in terms of player motivation. Instead, you spawn about ten screens away. Here’s the rub: when you die, you don’t spawn ten steps away from the boss arena. Though the boss encounters require you to learn a boss’ attacks, patterns, and phases, the fights are always fun and encourage you to reach new skill ceilings. Hollow Knight is more frustrating than it is difficult, in my experience. Hollow Knight is not an easy game, but it certainly doesn’t require the kind of player persistence of games like Sekiro. In Dark Souls, your spawns are anchored to bonfires in Hollow Knight, your spawns are anchored to benches. No doubt that the developers of Hollow Knight, Team Cherry, were influenced by From Software’s Souls series, and one of those influences is the checkpoint system. The game maintains a deliberately difficult combat system that many players think should allow for easier, or at least customizable, options. But the game has one design decision that ultimately drove the nail through the coffin of my playthrough, and that decision was to limit respawn points to far-away benches.ĭifficulty in video games has become a trending topic due to the recent release of From Software’s newest title, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. The game boasts perfectly unique and immersive environments, a glorious soundtrack, and high-energy fun combat. This was an emotional decision to make, because Hollow Knight is such a masterfully crafted piece of art. Take in the sights and uncover new wonders hidden off of the beaten path.This past weekend, after 27 hours in the game, I made the decision to stop streaming Hollow Knight. The world of Hollow Knight is brought to life in vivid, moody detail, its caverns alive with bizarre and terrifying creatures, each animated by hand in a traditional 2D style.Įvery new area you’ll discover is beautifully unique and strange, teeming with new creatures and characters. Complete Hollow Knight to unlock Steel Soul Mode, the ultimate challenge!.The score echoes the majesty and sadness of a civilisation brought to ruin. A haunting, intimate score accompanies the player on their journey, composed by Christopher Larkin.Buy compasses, quills, maps and pins to enhance your understanding of Hollow Knight’s many twisting landscapes. Chart your journey with extensive mapping tools.Beautiful painted landscapes, with extravagant parallax, give a unique sense of depth to a side-on world.Uncover a whole other side to the characters you meet and the enemies you face. Track down every last twisted foe and add them to your Hunter's Journal! Over 130 enemies! 30 epic bosses! Face ferocious beasts and vanquish ancient knights on your quest through the kingdom.An enormous cast of cute and creepy characters all brought to life with traditional 2D frame-by-frame animation.Choose your favourites and make your journey unique! Equip Charms! Ancient relics that offer bizarre new powers and abilities.Evolve with powerful new skills and abilities! Gain spells, strength and speed.Choose which paths you take, which enemies you face and find your own way forward. Forge your own path! The world of Hallownest is expansive and open.Explore a vast interconnected world of forgotten highways, overgrown wilds and ruined cities.Dodge, dash and slash your way through even the most deadly adversaries. Classic side-scrolling action, with all the modern trimmings.Explore twisting caverns, ancient cities and deadly wastes battle tainted creatures and befriend bizarre bugs and solve ancient mysteries at the kingdom's heart. Hollow Knight is a classically styled 2D action adventure across a vast interconnected world.
Many are drawn below the surface, searching for riches, or glory, or answers to old secrets. New Music.īeneath the fading town of Dirtmouth sleeps an ancient, ruined kingdom.
Hidden Dreams - Mighty new foes emerge! New Boss fights. The Grimm Troupe - Light the Nightmare Lantern. Tweaks and Refinements across the whole game.
Lifeblood - A Kingdom Upgraded! New Boss. Godmaster - Take your place amongst the Gods.