Hollow Knight

[rynling]

Hollow Knight is objectively excellent, but also, it’s as if someone sat down, made a list of everything that appeals to me, and then devoted themselves to putting the entire list into one beautiful game.

I had trouble with Hollow Knight when I first tried to play it at the beginning of 2020, but I’m happy I returned to it under better circumstances.

To begin with, the game isn’t as hard as I thought it was. I suspect the problems I was experiencing the first time around weren’t so much a matter of the game being difficult and more a matter of me being completely exhausted, which was exacerbated by an incipient case of the infamous Nintendo Switch controller drift.

I’m in a much better place now, psychologically speaking, and thankfully I managed to get a new set of Joy-Con controllers before the pandemic decimated the market.

Hollow Knight is a somewhat dark game palette-wise, so it helps that I’m now playing it at night in pitch darkness while using the Switch as a handheld console instead of trying to squint past the glare on a large television screen. A lot of the hidden areas are indicated by various faint sounds instead of visual cues, so playing it at night in near-total silence also helps.

This is a bit off-topic, but I hope that the Nintendo Switch release of Skyward Sword provides a similar set of “better circumstances” so that I can finally enjoy the game without all the horrible frustrations that accompanied the highly flawed Wiimote motion controls.

Comments

[runicmagitek]

it’s as if someone sat down, made a list of everything that appeals to me, and then devoted themselves to putting the entire list into one beautiful game.

This is the best feeling when playing a game. Absolutely fantastic! Bask in that sensation, my friend!

Also 100% get the "I am too exhausted to handle these mechanics right now" sentiment. A big part of why I've been pushing off Hollow Knight myself is because I don't want to stomach platforming after an 8 hour work day and however long it takes me to do daily upkeep stuff (you know, like make food and eat). I'm hoping once I move and settle in, I'll have more energy to submerge into this and also flail with you over it. The ambience alone sounds amazing.

Also also, I'm thrilled to experience Skyward Sword without screaming and throwing a Wiimote across the room because Link fell off the damn rope while trying to get the last thing in That One Silent Realm, forcing me to do that ALL OVER AGAIN.

[rynling]

Hollow Knight is very chill in between boss fights, and it’s less about platforming and more about picking up on environmental clues and remembering where things are as you explore. It’s not challenging, but you definitely need to be awake and focused to enjoy it. I don’t think this is the sort of game that’s ever going to feel dated, so it will be waiting for you.

It’s nice to have games waiting for you, you know? Like, I’ve got Spiritfarer downloaded onto my Switch – on your recommendation, thank you! – and I’m really looking forward to playing it one day.

In the meantime, the Hollow Knight OST is good writing music. I had to move things around in the playlist and delete most the battle music, but I’ve been listening to it on and off as I write for about a year now and I’m not sick of it yet. It creates a nice lo-fi ambience that really does make you feel like you’re wandering around underground ruins.

[runicmagitek]

Awww, the idea of a game waiting for me had me tearing up just now. Maybe it's the stress from moving, but yeah, I really needed to hear that, so thank you 💕💕💕

I hope you enjoy Spiritfarer! Such an underappreciated gem. Definitely bring tissues, too.

I've actually had Hollow Knight music pop up now and then while rotating through easy listening instrumental stuff. What lovely vibes! Can't wait to snuggle into it and enjoy the everything even more 💕