There is an interesting tradition: every year one or two beautiful, melancholy games are released, which, for all their splendor, remain in the shadow of the big games. Actually, Hollow Knight came out back in February, but I, for example, only noticed it in early autumn. As it turns out, I wasted my time before getting to know the game.
The action takes place in the fading kingdom of beetles, where one day the nameless protagonist arrives. And that’s all that can be said about the plot at the beginning of the game. The world here has its own backstory, which is presented through rare records, details and hints, but its study depends only on the curiosity of the player.
Genre Hollow Knight is http://casino-sky.co.uk/ a 2D platformer with a strong emphasis on exploration. The player is free to move around the lands of the kingdom, however, many paths are initially closed. Sooner or later there is a boss, the main character fights him, and after victory he receives a new ability. And thanks to it, the player will be able to open the road leading to new lands and challenges. As I explore, I realize how huge the game is. If at first the player explores a small area, then later the map grows to incredible sizes. And in every corner there is a secret hidden, waiting for a curious seeker.
Traveling around the world is done perfectly. Jumping, running and numerous movement abilities are very responsive in terms of controls and not once in the entire game was there a situation where the controls failed. The combat system is extremely simple, but never feels boring or monotonous. Much in combat depends on understanding the actions of enemies and the ability to calculate movements and strikes. Adding depth is the system of talismans, with which you can customize your character to suit your gaming style or specific opponents. In terms of overall complexity, the game is well balanced: there were no frankly hair-raising moments or too easy episodes. In general, Hollow Knight adheres to the principle “If you want to become stronger, earn it”. All things are achieved either through observation or dexterity. I don’t remember a single improvement that I would have gotten for nothing.
Finally, I’ll tell you how the game looks and sounds. It is made in a hand-drawn style, with nice animation. Each of the lands is made in its own style, in a certain color scheme, so you will never confuse one place with another. They also did a good job on the sound: the music was written for each place and, despite its simplicity, is well remembered. The voice acting of the characters is also excellent. They all speak fictitious gibberish, so the authors focused on intonation and pronunciation features. So the local cartographer hums cheerfully to himself as he draws another map, the transport beetle wheezes heavily, and the talisman merchant accompanies her speech with a deep laugh. It would seem that there is not much dialogue in the game, but the beetles encountered are truly memorable due to their voice acting.
Let’s summarize. Hollow Knight is wonderful, good from all sides, when reviewing it is difficult to find at least one major flaw. Perhaps I’ll just emphasize the peculiarity of the game: no one leads by the hand. For quite a long time, Hollow Knight hides the final goal from the player, and this can be confusing. The question “Where to next?”?" will occur frequently because there are usually at least two roads to go. For those who like linear games, Hollow Knight may not be for you. And who likes to explore and find ways on their own, be sure to try this wonderful game!