Silksong’s Protagonist May Solve A Hollow Knight Issue

Posted by By our-little-miss-is-home January 12, 2025 2 Views 6 Min Read
Silksong's Protagonist May Solve A Hollow Knight Issue

Hollow Knight Silksong is one of contemporary gaming’s most enigmatic projects. Revealed only a few years after the first Hollow Knight, one of the breakout indie masterpieces of the 2010s, Silksong has languished in what many have speculated is development hell, given Team Cherry’s reluctance to show more footage or offer a firm release date. Nevertheless, hopes are high for the studio’s sophomore project, as Hollow Knight has proven to be one of the definitive games of its era.

And Hollow Knight Silksong is looking to be much more than a mere retreading of old ground, or a “Hollow Knight 1.5.” Set in a new land and following a new protagonist, who is decidedly distinct from the first game’s lead in both abilities and personality, Silksong promises to evolve the IP’s seminal systems and narrative, rather than just spruce it up a bit. Based on the scant information available, Silksong‘s protagonist, Hornet, looks to have a much different set of powers and tools at her disposal, which should open the doors to myriad new ways to engage with combat and traversal. How this will unfold throughout the course of the game, especially as it pertains to its Metroidvania elements, remains to be seen, but it will probably make Silksong‘s opening hours more enjoyable than its predecessor’s.

Hollow Knight Silksong Hornet Riding Shoulders

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Hollow Knight: Silksong’s Hornet Has a Lot Riding on Her Shoulders

Sliksong is likable enough, but Team Cherry’s positioning of her as a proper protagonist in Hollow Knight: Silksong comes with some unique challenges.

Hollow Knight Silksong Will Probably Have a More Exciting First Leg Than Hollow Knight’s

Hornet Is Already Rather Powerful

Even without looking at Hollow Knight Silksong‘s gameplay trailers, it’s obvious that Hornet will feel remarkably different to play compared to her predecessor. Encountering Hornet as a boss in the original Hollow Knight reveals her elegant attacks and swift, acrobatic movement, and since Silksong is likely taking place after the events of Hollow Knight, it would stand to reason that players will be able to make use of these abilities from the start.

This would stand in stark contrast to the opening hours of Hollow Knight, wherein the player is very limited in their abilities, unable to even dash or wall jump, and therefore far less effectual. This can make for exciting progression over the course of several hours, but it also makes replaying the game a slog, as there are fewer options for engaging with combat, movement, and puzzle-solving until more powers are unlocked. In a word, the opening hours of Hollow Knight can be described as barren from a gameplay perspective—an adjective that seems less applicable to Silksong‘s first chapter.

Hornet’s More Substantial Abilities at Silksong’s Outset Are a Double-Edged Sword

Traditional Metroidvanias are defined by their unique progression systems: players start the game as weak underdogs, and it’s only through exploration and overcoming various challenges that they become versatile powerhouses. The best games in this genre, including Hollow Knight, have this progression synergize with the player’s own mastery, leading to a deep mechanical experience that evolves over so many hours of play.

Very few Metroidvanias give the player a broad toolkit from the beginning for this very reason; it’s hard to produce that “zero to hero” feeling if the player-character is already incredibly powerful, with a number of unique abilities. This poses an interesting challenge for Silksong, as Hornet has far less room to grow, given her suite of abilities in Hollow Knight. So, while she may be more fun to play as in the opening hours, the game could run into issues with building upon her already substantial combat and movement powers in interesting ways. Hopefully, Hollow Knight Silksong manages to strike this precarious balance, whenever it releases.

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