LogFAQs > #932034663

94.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UAO2urG23S4

2017
PC, PS4, Switch

I struggle with Hollow Knight because its a game of high highs and low lows. For example, the games movement and combat systems, the two most important pieces of a metroidvania, are great, maybe even exceptional. It feels great to just move around and the give and take of recharging your life is completely unique for a game like this. The audio design of this game is strong and theres an isolation to it that even Metroid cant hang with.

But then theres the other stuff. The easiest flaw to point out is the map system. The game seems to be begging you to be lost, and if you have a sense of direction like I do, you need to be looking at a map. Hollow Knight pretty much gives you the finger until you find a map dude somewhere deep into the level and the game even makes you spend currency in order to unlock an upgrade to pinpoint where you are on the map.

The character upgrades are few and far between, and dont add a whole lot in terms of movement abilities which is a big thing for me and metroidvanias. The game is heavily focused on the combat, which makes sense given how damn good it is, but I come to the genre for traversing a big world and Hollow Knight keeps the movement basic throughout most of the game. This isnt necessarily bad because the core movement is so good, but it does feel a little stale going back and forth between hub areas.

Hollow Knight really commits to its black and white aesthetic but it ends up making every area feel the same, enhancing the feeling that youre always lost. I think this is a design decision by the team to make you feel like youre fighting against the game, but its not my favorite thing.

And yet, despite all its flaws, Im really looking forward to the sequel.

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xyzzy