Okay, let's be honest. We're all (still) waiting for Hollow Knight: Silksong, right? It feels like it's been announced for, well, forever. And with each passing Nintendo Direct, each Geoff Keighley event, the collective anticipation grows. But here's the thing: what if when it finally arrives, the hardest part isn't some insane boss fight, but just… getting around?
I'm talking about platforming. And I have a sneaking suspicion that Hollow Knight: Silksong’s Platforming Has Players Crashing Out Harder Than Any Boss Fight. Why? Well, let's dive in. Because I've got to admit, this is the part that genuinely has me both excited and terrified.
The Gorgeous Treachery of Team Cherry's Level Design
Team Cherry...those beautiful, devious minds. They've already proven they know how to make platforming that's challenging and rewarding. Think about some of the areas in the original Hollow Knight. White Palace anyone? Traitor Lord's arena? These weren't just about whacking enemies; they demanded precision, timing, and a good helping of spatial awareness.
And Silksong? It looks even more complex! Just from the trailers and gameplay snippets we've seen, Hornet's movement feels faster, more fluid, and more acrobatic. She's got those silk-based abilities, the grappling hook-esque move, the dashes... it all points to level designs built around exploiting these new mechanics to their absolute limit. Imagine elaborate sequences of swinging, dashing, and wall-jumping through a cavern full of spikes and saw blades. Sounds fun? Absolutely. Sounds easy? Not a chance. Click here to read more about other challenging games.
But here's the thing – and I keep coming back to this because it's crucial to what I'm getting at – Hollow Knight excelled at teaching you through failure. You'd mess up a jump, get impaled on something nasty, and then immediately understand what you did wrong. It's brutally fair. The question is, can Team Cherry maintain that balance with Silksong's increased complexity?
Hornet's Abilities: A Double-Edged Needle
Hornet is not the Knight. And that’s the point, right? She's faster, more agile, and has a whole suite of new abilities tied to her silk. The silk-shot move, in particular, seems to be a game-changer. It allows for rapid changes in direction, grappling onto ledges, and creating temporary platforms. Sounds amazing, doesn't it?
But consider this: with great power comes great responsibility…and also, great potential for messing things up spectacularly. The silk-shot requires precision. A slight miscalculation, a twitchy thumb, and you're plummeting into the abyss. Actually, that's not quite right. Plummets are quick. More likely you hit a spike pit and slowly bleed out waiting to respawn back at the bench. I can already feel the frustration building up, and that excites me! I can see this happening over and over and over…
Think about it this way: the Knight's abilities in Hollow Knight were relatively straightforward. Jump, dash, wall-jump. Master those, and you could conquer almost anything. But Hornet? Her move set is far more nuanced. More like Sekiro than Dark Souls. Mastering her abilities will demand a different kind of skill, a different kind of patience. And frankly, I'm not sure everyone's ready for that.
Will Accessibility Suffer?
This is the question that nags at me. Hollow Knight, despite its difficulty, was remarkably accessible. The core gameplay loop was easy to understand, and the learning curve felt gradual. I initially thought the game was going to be a nightmare, but after looking deeper I felt at home with the game. But Silksong? The increased complexity of Hornet's abilities, combined with what looks like more intricate level design, could create a barrier for entry. New players might be put off by the perceived difficulty, and even veterans of the first game might struggle to adapt.
And that would be a shame. Because the world of Hallownest (and whatever Silksong's world is called, Pharloom? I'm still learning the lore) is so richly detailed, so atmospheric, that it deserves to be experienced by as many people as possible. The challenge for Team Cherry, as I see it, is to maintain that balance between challenging gameplay and accessibility. Can they do it? I certainly hope so. But I have a nagging feeling that Silksong's platforming is going to be a major hurdle for many players. Read about other challenging survival games here.
FAQ: Platforming Peril in Silksong
Will Hollow Knight: Silksong be harder than the first game?
That's the million-dollar question, isn't it? While we can't say for sure until the game is actually released, all indications point to "yes." Hornet's expanded move set and the seemingly more complex level design suggest that Silksong will demand even greater precision and skill than its predecessor. Whether that translates to pure difficulty, or just a different kind of difficulty, remains to be seen.
How do I prepare for Silksong’s difficult platforming?
Good question! First, replay Hollow Knight and really master the platforming challenges, especially in areas like the White Palace. Second, watch gameplay footage of Silksong closely, paying attention to how Hornet uses her abilities to navigate the environment. Third, and perhaps most importantly, prepare yourself mentally for a challenge. Going in with the right mindset can make all the difference. And maybe practice some finger yoga?
What if I'm terrible at platformers? Should I even bother with Silksong?
Absolutely! Don't let the potential difficulty scare you away. Hollow Knight, at its core, is a game about exploration and discovery. The platforming challenges are just one aspect of that. Besides, overcoming those challenges is incredibly rewarding. And remember, there's no shame in using guides or asking for help online. The Hollow Knight community is incredibly supportive.
Will Silksong have difficulty options to make the platforming easier?
This is a big unknown. Team Cherry hasn't explicitly stated whether Silksong will have difficulty options. Given their design philosophy with Hollow Knight (one difficulty, but lots of ways to make it manageable), it's possible they'll opt for a similar approach in Silksong. Meaning the game is hard, but you have charms, and other items to help you complete the platforming sections.
So, there you have it. Hollow Knight: Silksong. I'm nervous, I'm excited, and I'm fully prepared to spend countless hours crashing and burning my way through its intricate levels. And honestly? I wouldn't have it any other way. Here’s hoping that we see the game released sooner than later. I am looking forward to this platforming challenge.
