When Team Cherry, the small indie video game studio behind beloved bug game “Hollow Knight,” shared an announcement trailer for its sequel, “Hollow Knight: Silksong,” in February 2019, no one could have predicted the tumultuous release cycle that would follow. But soon enough, sporadic updates and unfulfilled release windows became synonymous with the title, becoming an internet joke from fans and onlookers alike.
But after six and a half years of waiting, “Hollow Knight: Silksong” was finally released on Thursday, Sept. 4, to all consoles. With just a $20 price tag and a cult following amassed from its predecessor’s success, hundreds of thousands of users quickly poured in, crashing various web stores.
Now, all that’s left to ask is: “Was it worth the wait?”
“Silksong” has the player controlling Hornet, one of the main characters from “Hollow Knight.” She has been taken from Hallownest, the setting of the previous game, and brought to the kingdom of Pharloom by unknown bugs. Upon escaping, you navigate through the kingdom, working towards a mysterious Citadel, trying to discover why she was abducted.
While the main objective is clear, there are infinite distractions to pull you away in classic Metroidvania fashion. Pharloom’s map is expansive and features many areas with unique enemies, bosses, environmental hazards and platforming sections. Within the maze of challenges are collectible abilities to help you traverse and fight back, along with characters lending support through shops and various side quests.
“Silksong” draws from the same DNA as its predecessor, but it’s clear from the start that it’s a whole new experience. Whether it’s the ability to climb up the edges of platform ledges, the revamped healing system that makes use of silk or adjusted trajectory of aerial attacks, there is a lot to learn as you scramble around the first few areas without many abilities.
As soon as you get used to the adjusted physics and basic mechanics, the game begins throwing in a tool system, which relies on using collectibles to craft deadly mechanisms. Soon after comes other ways to customize and revamp combat, giving the player plentiful ways to take on the hostile landscape. Where “Hollow Knight” begins as a simple game revolving around a few core mechanics and ends with that same focus, “Silksong” approaches combat and platforming with more complexity from the start.
While the freedom provided by the game’s combat is amazing, the experience sometimes falls short. To compensate for all the variety, the world is much less forgiving than its predecessor. Many enemies, including bosses and those in the regular world, deal double damage, often through heavy attacks or multihits that can hit you twice. Dodge to the wrong place or try healing too early and your health can evaporate in an instant.
This isn’t anything new, especially for a game expected to be challenging. But having to be on edge at all times can be frustrating, especially with the relative rareness of Pharloom’s currency, Rosaries. Losing a large amount amassed over a few hours of playing because the simplest enemies can hit like the hardest bosses can be frustrating for players just looking to relax and explore.
But there’s plenty more to get immersed in besides combat. Team Cherry’s worldbuilding, with cryptic lore and vibrant side characters remains top-notch, amplified by Hornet’s inquisitive nature. The sound design is also stellar, with Christopher Larkin’s score setting the scene and pace while bugs wail about with their whacky noises.
Not to mention, the game is beautiful, especially with the lush landscapes filled with layered foliage. On the other hand, the later parts of the game see Team Cherry pulling off one nightmarish environment after another, each more uninviting and macabre than the last.
The character and enemy designs also strike a comfortable balance between fearsome and cute. The sprites, numbering in the hundreds, incorporate elements of bells, wings, needles, worms and everything else in between to satisfy and unsettle you.
One of the most engaging additions to “Silksong” is the side quest system, which the game calls “Wishes.” Throughout Pharloom, you can find NPC characters with eccentric needs or consult a board with Wishes listed in settlements.
The Wishes range from locating missing characters, finding collectibles and hunting unique enemies. While sometimes necessary for progression in the main story, they often reward you with new utility and combat items or Rosaries to spend at vendors scattered throughout Pharloom.
“Hollow Knight: Silksong” may have been an agonizing wait for loyal fans, but the sheer scale of the game more than justifies the wait. Pharloom is a world just as immersive and ambitious as that of Hallownest, if not more so, demanding the player sink countless hours into its exploration to uncover its many secrets. While its ruthless difficulty, especially in some of the earlier areas, can be discouraging, it becomes a more comfortable challenge as you unlock abilities and determine your playstyle, showing that Team Cherry knew what they were doing all along.
Rating: 4.75/5
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