Scrolling through the news, I was looking for a game that could brighten up the wait for the release of Torment: Tides of Numenera. The appearance of Hollow Knight screamed about this. The art, shining with a cartoonish atmosphere, beckoned, reviews about medium difficulty – take it right now, and I was simply stunned by the music from the trailer. Based on the video, one could form an opinion about a small but beautiful game that will be forgotten in a day.
Now those thoughts seem funny.
Hollow Knight is a Metroidvania game, and when you enter it you’re expecting a fun exploration of the world. Waiting for secrets and hidden locations. You take the presence of battles, platforming and puzzles for granted. And my expectations were met.
The first surprise is related to the initially missing mini-map. When I went down into the dungeon for the first time, I didn’t expect to have to run blind. An interesting feature is the following: location maps must be found and even then, if it is purchased, the character icon will not be displayed on it. A talisman that takes up an extra equipment slot can save you from this – sacrifice a little strength, but it will be easier to navigate. A solution that pleases with elegance.
Cute drawing style, and its content… wonderful.
Metroidvanias are famous for allowing the player to get lost in a series of enticing and closed passages, not knowing where to go. But often there is only one way. Hollow Knight, after some time from the start, provides the opportunity to explore most of the locations. Reasonable limits are respected: a number of secrets and zones still cannot be reached without useful skills, but there is no impression of a single path.
It’s a big world.
If the game had small locations like in Ori, it would be completed in a short time. The drawing, enchanting with a childish spirit, flashed past, but did it manage to leave a trace?? I can’t say whether a 30-50 hour journey is justified: it may feel drawn out, but I won’t regret the time spent. If the game was fleeting, then it was not destined to become the first contender for “indie of the year” for me.
About 30 hours. How long https://casinoquatro.uk/ will it take to complete the game?. You may want to spend more time, because in addition to drawing and OST, the game offers secrets and a mind-numbing second playthrough mode without the possibility of resurrection. You will meet eye-catching locations, be it a fairy-tale city in the rain, a forest or a dream palace. Don’t we play games for the spirit of adventure and exploration, playing them expecting good gameplay and atmosphere??
The game features characters with stories. A nod to Dark Souls.
It’s impossible to call platforming something outstanding, but some variety has been created. The difficulty in this regard is represented by only one optional location, and the joystick can be broken on it. The rest of the platforming is easy.
The game has many secrets: walls to small passages that collapse under blows, shortcuts in the style of Dark Souls, optional bosses or full-fledged locations. The spirit of exploration is maintained here. Memorizing interesting places, the player studies the zones up and down. He doesn’t want to forget about passages that have not been fully explored, and as he gains new opportunities he will return. Inaccessible places, tested for strength, sooner or later give way to curiosity, driven by the beautiful execution of the world.
Opponents don’t let you get bored. Those using various motion sets require an approach. Carelessness can lead to you losing half your lives when fighting them, but their weaknesses allow you to emerge victorious without losses. Study carefully – and you will stop noticing. There will also be surprise ambush rooms, but the bosses will be a rewarding challenge.
Bosses that test the player’s reaction.
When I met them, I knew that I had to study their every move. I planned that I would constantly avoid crushing attacks. I was ready for a lot of replays. And when, having suffered a knockout blow, he ended up in the grave, I would return again and again.
This doesn’t always happen. Clearing some bosses is not a problem. I still haven’t decided what’s to blame for this: a combination of talismans suitable for certain bosses, or the small number of lives of some of them allows me to cope without problems, even if I lose on purpose. The challenge is present, and you will fight with some opponents more than once, studying every move. But some will be disappointed.
Pleasant atmosphere in a kind of sadness. She’s in every frame.
Hollow Knight immediately grants the ability to heal, and the mana spent accumulates in battle. While exploring the map, you upgrade your character using slots for talismans hidden in locations, the talismans themselves and various pieces of parts to increase the number of lives, mana, and weapon damage. Other options provided. We are talking about improvements used specifically in metroidvanias, which I will call “story”. You may know them as "double jump", "wall bounce" and others; and optional, but desirable finds will upgrade them, giving them new properties.
The main improvement is the talismans. There are 36 of them scattered throughout the game and only a third can be found from sellers. You have to get to the rest yourself. Granting passive effects, talismans vary in the number of slots they occupy. Put on a lot of improvements with a small effect from each or two or three with a large one – this choice depends on your preferences. There are also those that break upon death. By wearing certain talismans, you can discover their combined effect. Although you can build a full-fledged build using combinations that match each other, the number of such things is limited: talismans only customize the character. It will not be possible to radically change the gameplay.
Now we take a look at the full-fledged disadvantages or questionable solutions.
Frame rate drop and optimization. The Witcher runs on ultra without 4K, here I encountered slowdowns in one location. This is not an isolated case according to reviews.
When striking at point-blank range, the character leans back. There is one talisman that reduces this effect, but some may find this annoying.
Personal: places where without prior knowledge you will not escape death. I would include thorns in unexpected places as such things.
Grind for a couple of story items. I didn’t mean to talk about this in the context of annoying flaws. But some people may not like it.
Lord bless this wonderful world.
Cold analytics, which breaks down the game into pieces, is able to list various disadvantages, analyzing every detail of it. In one place, the eye sees a lack of full-fledged builds, in another, experience gropes for some bosses that lend themselves to rushing, patience encounters brakes in a couple of places. However…
I remember the spirit of adventure that fills games with life, which is what Hollow Knight is so full of.
Having spent more than 40 hours with you, I understand: not a single mediocre game could be as addictive as you were. Your City of Tears landscapes and your hate-worthy White Palace, your OST and gorgeous cartoon style, and much more make you a top contender for Indie of the Year for me. Starting with a $45,000 kickstarter, your path should reach hundreds of thousands of players.
Hayao Miyazaki once said: “Animation is not something where you take a pencil and draw a straight, regular line.”. Animation – when you try to find that line that is hidden inside yourself. If, when you pick up a pencil, you are going to use only your mind, only your reason, the result cannot be successful.”.