With the release of Hollow Knight: Silksong upon us next week, what better time to take a good look at the original Hollow Knight to see what makes it so brilliant? Published and developed by the independent Australian company, Team Cherry, Hollow Knight was released in 2017 and quickly shot to critical acclaim amongst a rather niche fanbase. After being unveiled in 2014 on Kickstarter and backed by 2,158 people, who had faith it would be something special. With Team Cherry co-founder Ari Gibson designing its wonderful art direction, which features his own hand-drawn content, the whimsical yet dark aesthetic was one of the elements that really drew people towards it. It is estimated to have sold around 15 million copies, which, especially for an indie game, is an incredible feat. Most of these copies have been due to its release on Xbox Game Pass and PlayStation Plus, but the constant craving for a release date of its sequel has had the same effect. It has been somewhat of a meme that Hollow Knight: Silksong would never release, and that has brought the original to a lot of people’s attention. As someone who, before a couple of weeks ago, had only dipped their toe into its encapsulating world briefly, and has been swept up in the hype of the sequel’s imminent release, it has been an absolute pleasure to get really sucked in like those faithful souls did when it released. I cannot quite place where this game started to click with me, where it did not before, but there is an unbelievable richness to everything in this world, and it has really swept me away in my recent playthrough.

Hollow Knight is a 2D side-scrolling Metroidvania game that sees you play as a small insectoid-looking warrior, descending into the depths of the Hallownest. This was once a great insect kingdom that is now all but a ruin, where various creepy-crawlies roam about aimlessly. Many have been consumed by a mysterious infection, causing their aggression and madness to those who come too close. In a storytelling fashion akin to that of Dark Souls or similar ilk, you are given this setup, and it is up to you to explore the world and figure out what the cause of the infection is. The Hallownest is incredibly dangerous and punishing, full of many enemies around each corner that will test your might constantly. Bosses also stand in your way, providing the player with ultimate tests throughout their time in the Hallownest. However, there will always be things to help you. Equipped with a trusty, upgradeable nail and lots of magic powers you will find along the way, you will never be stuck for options in combat. By finding those who have avoided corruption and hidden secrets in the world, you will also get helpful charms that can completely change the way you play the game. There is so much to discover in the weaving burrows of the Hallownest, and it is truly a game world like no other.

Hallownest is split into various zones, all with their own aesthetics, assortment of enemies, and rewards. The rush of stepping into a new zone and exploring everywhere you possibly can in it, knocking through walls to unveil hidden areas full of secrets. Hollow Knight‘s label of a Metroidvania means that as you acquire different abilities by advancing the main quest, you slowly start to be able to advance to new areas using those abilities. For example, one ability allows you to cling to walls and jump to and from them, allowing the player to reach many new heights. You may go back to one of the earlier areas you unlock in the game and find yourself being able to open new paths by using these abilities, and thus finding more bosses, entrances to new zones, and, most importantly, plenty of loot. This approach is incredibly satisfying, and it gives a very obvious sense of progression built on comparing how much exploration you did the first time you came to the area and the latest. Getting maps for each area lets you see a clear visual picture of how much there is still left to explore, and it is addictive to scan each area and have a quick look at a corridor only half-scribed that you need to fully explore. Perhaps the most fascinating and engaging aspect of the world, though, is the visual palette and atmosphere that it oozes. It is all so mystical and weird-looking, almost like a cursed children’s cartoon. The closest comparison I can think of is the other world in Coraline, carrying its horror through its eerie ambience rather than anything outright terrifying. There is also such a contrast between the shallower areas to the deeper ones. Traversing the open greenery of the Greenpath feels so much different from the claustrophobic, spider-filled hell that is the Deepnest. The upcoming sequel excites me mostly because I cannot wait to see what wonders or horrors Team Cherry will have us discover next.

The feel of the gameplay is where people will either love this immediately or eventually grow to love it if they have not already given up. I am generally terrible at side-scrolling platformers, especially this new wave of almost soulslike ones like Blasphemous or Dead Cells. It definitely took a lot of adjustment and perseverance for it to click, but I would not have it any other way. Hard games are excellent for their sense of achievement by defeating a boss or just getting a feel for the gameplay in general, and Hollow Knight is no different. Comparing how you zip about the world at the start and at the end is complete night and day. This is thanks to the gradual Metroidvania progression, but it also comes from getting used to it. Dodging lethal attacks at the last moment, nailing traversal puzzles; it all becomes muscle memory the more you get used to it. I beat every boss in this game (aside from those in the pantheons), and some of the harder ones, you will get to the point of walking circles around them just by learning their attacks and mastering your own combat skills. Getting a few hits in to harvest soul, consuming that soul to heal or cast spells, you will not even think about it, and yet you find yourself doing it out of routine. The traversal challenges work in the same way, albeit they are definitely much more frustrating to learn. I have not attempted the notorious ‘Path of Pain’, but the White Palace traversal section was hard enough for me.

I am immensely glad I gave this a proper go, as it has increased my excitement for Silksong tenfold. As mentioned, more than anything, I am just so excited to see the world that is ready to explore, because that is the real beauty of this game. Traversing a weird world and uncovering all its mysteries and secrets is a simple premise, but the presentation of it here is what makes Hollow Knight so special. Team Cherry has made something wonderful, and I hope more and more people discover this great game because of its notorious sequel. That being said, Hollow Knight: Silksong has sailed its way into my most anticipated games of this year, and I really hope it hooks me in the same way this one did. Roll on September 4th.