Summary
Hollow Knight: Silksonghas been in development for quite some time now, but Team Cherry remains optimistic that the long-anticipated title will still be released sometime in 2023. The first game was incredibly successful when it was released in February 2017 andHollow Knight: Silksonghas a lot of riding on its shoulders. Though there’s a great deal of pressure for the Metroidvania platformer to do well, Team Cherry should take the opportunity to lean into the features and characters that madeHollow Knightso beloved.
Unfortunately, the indie team behindHollow Knight: Silksonghas been rather secretive about the details of the game. Keeping the cards close to its chest makes sense from the perspective of story-telling, but it could be nice for Team Cherry to tease elements who may be returning. After all, the hype for the sequel is at an all-time high because the game is expected to debut soon.
RELATED:Hornet as Silksong’s Protagonist Means One Big Change to Hollow Knight Besides Gameplay
An Item System Similar to Charms
Unfortunately for those who enjoyed using the45 different charms inHollow Knight, it’s already been confirmed by Team Cherry that they won’t be reappearing in the sequel. This news was disappointing for some of the player base, but thankfully there is going to be an item system that acts almost identically. Hornet will be able to craft her own tools, in addition to using items like spike balls and bombs. Hopefully, the number of items that can be equipped will be just as diverse as the charm system was since charms allowed people to test which combinations worked best for them in different environments.
The Hollow Knight
The Hollow Knight was one of the most complex characters of the 2017 game. Thestory behind the characters inHollow Knightis quite deep, especially considering how the Infection corrupted the vessel and the kingdom of Hallownest. Interestingly, the Hollow Knight isn’t shown dying in all five endings. There are theories that they disappear with the Knight into the Void, lost forever, while others think they’re still out there. If they are alive, it could be exciting to see them make an appearance, perhaps in the final boss fight to aid Hornet as she once did herself.
Quirrel
The mystery ofwhat happened to Quirrel after the events ofHollow Knighthas haunted some players for years. The last time people see anything related to him is his weapon planted firmly in the soil of the Blue Lake, but he’s nowhere to be seen. After his help in the events of the first game, some people are hoping that he’ll come back inHollow Knight: Silksong. Acting as a guide would be a fitting role for him, but it’s just as possible that Team Cherry simply won’t be continuing his storyline.
Stag Stations
In the originalHollow Knight,there are multiple Stag Stationsscattered across the map. These waypoints are best used to fast travel to different locations, but they can also help players determine where they are on the map. The kingdom of Pharloom is expected to be quite massive, based on comments from Team Cherry, so keeping Stag Stations, or something similar, in the game could help save people a lot of time when exploring.
Grubs
Savable NPCs are onequality-of-life feature that needs to be inHollow Knight: Silksong. Grubs specifically were a fan-favorite for many of the community as they have very cute appearances. Rescuing them also grants rewards from the Grubfather such as currency or rare items. In spite of some people advocating for the return of grubs, there’s a belief that a group of flea-like creatures called the Caravan will be their replacement. Unfortunately, this information has not yet been confirmed or denied.
Maps
Pharloom is going to be an entirely new experience for players and as such navigating it is expected to come with its own trials and tribulations. Havingmaps of Pharloomwill be absolutely necessary, just as using them in Hallownest was vital. While there are players who managed to find all the hidden secrets ofHollow Knightand complete the game without filling out their maps, this isn’t ideal. Though Cornifer, the mapmaker, may not return, maps definitely need to.
Optional Boss Fights
Boss fights in the world of Hallownest are notoriously intense, though many people agree it can be extraordinarily satisfying when they finally conquer a difficult fight. There areseveral bosses inHollow Knight, but players don’t actually have to engage with all of them. Some people noticed that there are actually far more optional bosses than required ones in the first game as there are plenty of ways to “cheat” past them or traverse areas without the rewards one would have gotten. Still,Hollow Knight: Silksongshould keep these bosses in the game as they help players learn new mechanics and can drop special items.
The Hunter
The Hunter inHollow Knightis one of the first NPCs that aids players after entering Greenpath. His bestiary turns out to be immensely helpful for cataloging enemies and allies alike. At one point during the game, the Hunter states that he doesn’t live in Hallownest and is planning on departing. This could be a one-off statement, but it could also imply that players will get to see him again in the distant kingdom of Pharloom. Maybe he’ll provide a unique journal for Hornet.
It’s clear thatHollow Knight: Silksongis meant to have its own identity since the developers decided to turn it into a full-fledged sequel rather than the DLC it was intended to be. Hornet’s distinctive and fast-paced mechanics are proof of this, alongside the fact that it will take place in the withered lands of Pharloom. Despite this, it would be nice for Team Cherry to continue building on theuniverse ofHollow Knight, or at the very least include nods to lose threads.
Hollow Knight: Silksongis in development for PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
