Hollow Knight: Silksong - Unleashing the Perfect Blend of Metroidvania and Souls-like Gameplay

Highlights

Hollow Knight: Silksong should aim to be a bigger and better version of the first game by expanding on what made it great and retaining the spirit of the game.

Hollow Knight draws inspiration from Soulslike games, but its main focus is on exploration, mobility, and backtracking, making it primarily a Metroidvania game.

Silksong should aim to maintain its identity as both a Metroidvania and a Soulslike, carefully balancing its influences without deviating too far from the charming gameplay of the original game.

Hollow Knight: Silksong is often compared to a Soulslike, but its true potential lies in its Metroidvania roots, just like the original game. The immense anticipation surrounding Silksong is understandable, considering the lack of information about the game and its development. The ideal outcome would be for Silksong to surpass and improve upon the greatness of the first Hollow Knight by expanding on its core elements. This, however, must be done while retaining the essence and spirit of the game.

Since the reveal of Hollow Knight: Silksong, fans have patiently awaited its release. To get a glimpse of what to expect, one can look to the first Hollow Knight. In that game, players assumed the role of a tiny insect-like creature wielding a nail as they ventured through the enchanting world of Hallownest. As they delved deeper into their adventure, they uncovered increasingly peculiar secrets about both Hallownest and their own existence. Silksong, as a sequel, will feature Hornet, a prominently recurring character from the original game, as the player's character. Hollow Knight is renowned for its challenging gameplay that combines skillful combat with exploration, and it is hoped that Silksong will successfully continue this legacy.

Hollow Knight: Silksong Can't Lose Touch With Its Metroidvania Inspirations

Hollow Knight has often been compared to the notoriously challenging Dark Souls games. While there are indeed several similarities, Hollow Knight's uniquely eerie atmosphere is slightly softened by its charming art style. Both games are renowned for their exceptionally difficult boss battles that require players to strategize and persevere. Additionally, Hollow Knight follows a similar approach to death as Dark Souls, where players must return to the location of their demise to retrieve lost resources. Despite their differences, Hollow Knight draws inspiration from the Souls series in terms of its design.

However, it is evident that Hollow Knight is primarily a Metroidvania game. With its expansive and non-linear map, players must acquire new abilities and solve puzzles to unlock previously inaccessible areas. The gameplay emphasizes mobility, encouraging players to explore and uncover new paths. Each acquired skill becomes an incentive to backtrack and unveil its newfound potential. Similar to Metroid's renowned protagonist Samus Aran, the Knight in Hollow Knight embodies both a brave warrior and an intrepid explorer.

Hollow Knight: Silksong should strive to maintain the balance between its inspirations, offering a challenging and rewarding experience for newcomers to Soulslikes. However, caution must be exercised in deviating too far from the original game's Metroidvania core in order to prevent disappointing fans. With Hornet possessing similar fighting skills to the Knight, it is expected that she will showcase impressive abilities, such as parrying enemy blows and defeating bosses much larger than herself. However, it is crucial to avoid leaning too heavily towards the gameplay style of other Soulslike games, as this may detract from the charm of the original.

When Hollow Knight: Silksong is released, it must prioritize the quality of the game above all else. Drawing from the success of the first Hollow Knight, Silksong should build upon the elements that made it exceptional. While the Soulslike aspects played a significant role in its triumph, it should be noted that the game is predominantly a Metroidvania with some Soulslike elements. Therefore, Hollow Knight: Silksong must ensure that its exploration and platforming mechanics continue to highlight its Metroidvania essence.

Hollow Knight: Silksong is in development.