Review | Hollow Knight: Silksong

A short review

It took 8 years to finally get a sequel to a legendary first game. It is one of my favorites, but having to play Silksong made me rethink whether I like it more or not. For all of you out there interested in the review of the first game:

• Review | Hollow Knight

Did you know that Silksong was planned as a DLC for the first game? Due to the scope increase in development, our new protagonist, Hornet, made it into a full game. I'm glad, because DLC that is almost 50 hours isn't really DLC (except when we talk about Elden Ring, of course). The Australian Team Cherry did it again — and probably even better in some segments. This team is really talented, has a vision, and they love what they do. How would you explain a game of this caliber to compete for GOTY? This year is an absolute banger; I can't even find time to play all the games that were released.

So, Silksong is a Metroidvania about bugs, life underground and many mysteries that you need to unfold. Like the silk, get it? The PS5 version is top-notch — I had 0 issues, 0 bugs, not a single crash. It's a well-polished, but hard game. They've even nerfed some early boss fights, but will that save you from suffering? No. Let's go!

Each and every location on the map is beautiful, well-designed and full of meaningful secrets.

Story and the characters

Silksong takes place after the events of Hollow Knight. We control Hornet, the former princess of Hollow Knight's fallen kingdom Hallownest and a supporting character from the original game. She is kidnapped from Hallownest by a group of bugs and transported to the distant kingdom of Pharloom, where she faces her past, slowly learning about herself while traveling and fulfilling many quests (known as wishes). The plot of Silksong takes place over multiple acts, following Hornet's journey through Pharloom.

I was involved — there is just something about bugs' lives underneath and how well they craft their games. When you put the awesome soundtrack on top, it screams melancholy and depression, but in a good way (if that is even a thing). Even though the story pacing is a bit off (as it usually is in such games), I was really clinging to Hornet and I wanted to explore and learn as much as I can (and that is everything). Maybe the last act was a bit weird, as you already have most of the map explored, so it's all about finding more boss fights and bugs scattered around the world. I would have been happier with more areas locked behind the last act — not parts of the old areas, but whole areas and lore behind them.

Still, overall, for a game that weighs 3 gigs — man, it sure is awesome! Hornet is such a great character.

I still remember all the sounds Hornet makes when interacting with NPCs — it's just way cool.

Game design, exploration

If you're new to the genre, I can briefly explain: this game is a souls-like side-scrolling action-adventure. The souls part is the difficulty, the loss of currency if you die, and losing progress. Don't expect much in terms of quality-of-life features — you need to buy a map, a pen, and explore. When you rest on a bench, Hornet draws the areas you've explored. It's really cool, but it can sure piss some people off.

You will be buying maps, finding secrets, overcoming challenges and learning new skills (double jump, dash, etc.). It's like an upgraded first game, just way deeper in terms of combat and skillsets. You can even heal, which combines well with taking more health loss when you get attacked. Some say it's harder than the first one, but to me, having healing is what shifted the difficulty in my favor. If you play aggressively, you gain silk which you can then use to heal.

The only downside in terms of difficulty is the constant running towards boss arenas. Some fights are hard because you lose half of your health on the way. Other than that, I had no issues with any challenge except Bilewaters — I hate that area so much. Oh yeah, and having 2 in-game currencies... What is up with that? Rosaries were hard to get at times, but easy to farm. Still, that is the negative, but only in terms of having to farm at times.

All in all, this was one properly balanced but hard game. I like the challenge, and every fight makes sense instead of being cheap. There are a lot of unique fights, so if you love the action part of this genre, this is top of the industry if you ask me.

There is so much to show, but I'd rather not spoil scenes. The animations are really awesome.

Combat

Instead of just having accessories, this time you have crests. Each crest defines your playstyle. Reaper Crest is probably the easiest one to play with, as jump plus down-strike is the simplest of them all. Also, producing more silk when you get aggressive was really my main strategy. And instead of listing everything, I'll just say the combat is easily one of the best parts of the game, and overall in the genre.

The versatility of combining tools and crests gives a whole new dimension, and there is no way to get bored. All boss fights are brilliant, so even that alone is worth the praise. Even the regular enemies are awesome, and having 230 different bugs in the game... wow! You will almost never ever be bored. The only downside was the backtracking and constantly running around until you get fast-travel in the last act (up until then you need to find the travel points and run around a lot).

I can imagine the difficulty level can get a bit high, but if you endure, the reward always tops the process.

I don't have much to say — you need to experience this yourself — but when you get all field skills like dash and combine that with crests... you open a lot of possibilities. How the hell they pulled it off is beyond me. But of course, I'm happy. I love the game so much.

Some quests can really create problems. One quest will disallow healing, which makes a hard game even harder.

Side Content

Side content is basic, but good. I mean, it's not really basic in terms of fetch quests — instead, it's more lore, more NPCs and their storylines while conquering challenges and collecting enough rewards to be stronger for tougher enemies.

You want those health points, a stronger spear... you basically need every single upgrade you can find, and every single quest can help you. I love such game design; it makes a 50-hour playthrough fun and rewarding.

The thing I cherish the most is the fact you can finish the game in different ways. I do hate missables (like some endings), but overall the approach to finishing quests is just awesome. You don't have to follow the main quest — you can almost always wiggle around. And don't get me started on secret walls... man, if you find them all, you are the best player ever. Fun, fun, fun — that is what the exploration and side content are.

Expect some grinding for rosaries (in-game, currently one of the two). You can get a lot if you don't die without collecting your silk soul after each death, but that is easier said than done.

Conclusion

If you love the first game and the genre, I can't praise this game more. It's better in almost every segment (maybe the music is not on the same level). It's fun, fast, slow, dynamic... and so much fun. It's also hard, and the backtracking is a bit too much if you ask me. I would prefer having instant fast-travel sooner, as well as the double jump, but hey — this was intended and makes sense. You will see.

Now we wait... for another 8 years? I sure hope not, but if that is the price for getting such good games — then so be it.

Hornet, you rule. Sorry I've killed you more than 1,000 times.