I would say that this is a great thing if a game manages to achieve some strong feeling like that. Too me it is the art style for the most part that makes this game brilliant. I actually dislike some of the harder trial and error parts though the metroidvania formula is executed perfectly nonetheless.
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Hollow Knight |OT| Cute Insects That Just Want to Burrow Into Your Heart
- Thread starter dancrane212
- Start date
I would say that this is a great thing if a game manages to achieve some strong feeling like that. Too me it is the art style for the most part that makes this game brilliant. I actually dislike some of the harder trial and error parts though the metroidvania formula is executed perfectly nonetheless.
Crab Milk Mickey
Member
Alright, I only need to snoop around for info on the Garpede location now. Thanks!
Dito about it having a draining effect. What's telling about the game's atmosphere, is that a lot of it is attributed to the audio design. Whoever was in charge knew how to sell weight / impact, the devs realized when employing quiet time was appropriate and the ambiance in certain places attempts to get under your skin the longer you stick around in one of those areas, whether it be due to the 'soundtrack' typically being layered (taking away / adding based on specific moments) or providing uncomfortable directional feedback. The aforementioned wouldn't be as effective either if the underlying theme for its aesthetic design wasn't as inspired, so while these aspects nicely work in tandem, it wouldn't have been as successful of an end result if the game didn't keep you on your toes with its highly varied creature and environmental design. Which is further accentuated by some curve ball triggers as you progress through the storyline campaign.
It's kind of funny to me in hindsight how often I didn't trust Hollow Knight at first glance - games rarely leave room to second-guess matters - due to the sum of those parts. Takes a special and cohesive creative vision to accomplish that sort of lingering impression.
OniBarubary
Banned
The audio design really doesn't get enough praise, especially the voice work.
I can't imagine how fun it was to record some of the bug noises like those split lamprey things in the sewers.
I can't imagine how fun it was to record some of the bug noises like those split lamprey things in the sewers.
It makes getting to a beautiful location all the more satsifying.
Queen's Gardens and White Palace, for example.
I'm going to go for all achievements next. I'm waiting to see the quality of the Switch version before trying to do 100% completion speed run in soul steel mode.
I just beat
Also tried the
Died at the first enemy past Salumbra's hut. I loved the NPC's dialogue after I went back for another, though.
The White Palace. It wasn't as much hard as tedious, just wanted to be over for the last couple screens. Worst part were the up-down fences in the low corridor.
Also tried the
Flower quest.
Deepnest is especially bleak...cool area but man I always just wanted to get the hell out of there.
QisTopTier
XisBannedTier
That's where I was when I made the post
And yeah the audio direction in this game mixed with it's art is absolutely superb, honestly I feel it's one of the best in gaming in that regard
KillerIsJed
Member
I luv u 2 bb
antennaehead
Member
A bit late to the party, but I finally finished Hollow Knight yesterday (normal ending, 96%), and what a wonderful journey that was. My biggest highlight (aside from solid gameplay and startling amount of content) was the world itself - with its very Dark Souls-like storytelling and lots of charming NPCs. I'll be definitely down for another game in this universe, even if it's going to be a simple point-and-click adventure - so that I could walk around and talk to all those weird bugs all day.
That being said, I was definitely soured by the W
P
on my way to the true ending. At some point inside I realised that I don't have nor patience nor dexterity for that kind of thing (and then proceeded to Youtube to spoil myself). That tarnished my final impression quite a bit. Still, probably one of the best games of the (very packed) year.
That being said, I was definitely soured by the W
hite
alace
Glass Shark
Banned
.
hey_it's_that_dog
benevolent sexism
Keep exploring the Forgotten Crossroads. You'll find the map. And if it's too annoying, just look it up on the internet. You really should get further into the game before you decide to drop it. Looking things up won't ruin the game.
d00d3n
Member
The weird map mechanics are a bit confusing and don't improve the game in any way imo. That and the weak beginning section are my biggest issues with the game.
The game is very much a metroidvania, though. Rest assured that you will find a lot of gated stuff - by abilities, by keys and also paths that are hidden in plain sight. The density of gating is comparable with Super Metroid, the SOTN style Castlevania games and Shadow Complex, and higher than in more sectioned off metroidvania games like Ori and Momodora IV.
OniBarubary
Banned
*winkyface winkyface kissyface*
Crab Milk Mickey
Member
You can find the first map (and the ability to draw more of it per save) within the first half hour of playing, if not even sooner than that. Progression gates and discoveries are also more elaborate all-in-all than merely requiring a double jump; arguably one of the best "unlock and find shit" Metroidvanias in a long, long time.
Different strokes, like you already said. I feel the exact opposite since the map has been adequately designed without relying on the navigational luxuries.
dancrane212
Member
Minor update for the Switch port.
QisTopTier
XisBannedTier
The lack of the jump down attack made me sad lol Shit straight up turns the game into hyper speed ducktales
drotahorror
Member
Yeah towards the end of the video, especially when they're fighting the giant bug, I wish he had known you could do it. He even did it a couple times but Vinnie nor Alex realized it.
It's a gamechanger. It was one of the first things I did personally. In 2D games I always check to see what angles I can attack from.
QisTopTier
XisBannedTier
The biggest revelation I had with the game was when I noticed you could bounce off spikes with it. Some of the navigation you do using that is awesome as hell
drotahorror
Member
I didn't know that
Ive played about 3 hours of it, watching the GB QL makes me want to go back to it now though. I liked what I played but some other stuff came out.
Earthpainting
Member
I've thrown a solid eight hours into this over the past few days. I'm pretty particular about my "Metroidvanias", because I feel like most of them do not know how to capitalise on the exploration angle of the genre. I'm pretty impressed to see how the game fares in this department. I'm constantly stumbling on new things, and I'm finding secrets regularly enough to really motivate me to try and find stuff. Aesthetically it's a gorgeous world, and I'm enamoured with the character designs.
The only nitpick I have is that I feel utterly underpowered, and this feeling only seems to increase the further I get. The difficulty of the enemies and their patterns are fine, but every enemy in the game has two or three times as much HP as I would have liked. Even really early on in the game, scrub mobs took three hits or more, and bosses seemed to last forever. A bit deeper into the game, it's gotten so ridiculous that I pretty much have to have missed one or two strength upgrades. I just beat the D
D
, and the battle took close to 20~25 minutes. The area after that has the the most basic of enemies that take seven swings to kill, and the bigger ones take like 20 hits or more to fell. I've been backtracking now, because I'm certain I've missed one or more critical upgrades. If anyone can help me on my way, I'd greatly appreciate it. To be honest, regardless if I did or didn't miss any upgrades, it does kind of make me wish the game had an easy mode.
The only nitpick I have is that I feel utterly underpowered, and this feeling only seems to increase the further I get. The difficulty of the enemies and their patterns are fine, but every enemy in the game has two or three times as much HP as I would have liked. Even really early on in the game, scrub mobs took three hits or more, and bosses seemed to last forever. A bit deeper into the game, it's gotten so ridiculous that I pretty much have to have missed one or two strength upgrades. I just beat the D
ung
efender
Earthpainting
Member
I sure didn't. Do you remember if it was on the eastern or western side? I haven't really explored anything of the eastern half.
They recently started focusing on getting the Switch version out the door. The most recent Kickstarter update talks about it.
It's bottom left of the zone. Go left after you enter the city and go down to the bottom floor from the bench where Quirrel sat. You'll see signs.
It's the Western side; a small-ish area off to the side. From the entrance to the waterways, just keep heading west.
He upgrades your nail 3 times: First for 1 ore, second for 2 and last for 3.
Crab Milk Mickey
Member
Yeah, the time it takes to kill the so-called HP sponge enemies is noticeably lower with weapon upgrades.
Anyone still working on this? I returned to the game today to finally do all the steps required to get the true ending. And five hours later, victory is mine!
33 hours! I've played BotW, Horizon: Zero Dawn and Persona 5 this year. All great games but Hollow Knight remains my GOTY.
I expected the White Palace to be harder than it was. If you bring the right charms, it's mostly just a matter of patience. I had a much harder time with Radiance. Probably died ten times to that fucker and of course, the game makes you fight Hollow Knight each time you lose, which is maddening (given that he's not difficult, just tedious). None of the endings make a great deal of sense (in grand Dark Souls fashion) but they're at least stylish.
33 hours! I've played BotW, Horizon: Zero Dawn and Persona 5 this year. All great games but Hollow Knight remains my GOTY.
I've done pretty much everything in the game I can but I'm stuck in the fight against
Radiance
He's really tough. I got the upper hand by using Fragile Strength (and quitting to the menu if I was in danger of dying so it wouldn't break) and just trying, over and over again. I think I won mostly by luck.
If I recall, The fight got a lot easier once I used
The charm that increases spell damage.
Then you can stand under it at the beginning and mash the up-spell, It almost skips the first phase of the fight.
I forget what other charms I used, I think Joni's Blessing and the quick attack one?
Then you can stand under it at the beginning and mash the up-spell, It almost skips the first phase of the fight.
I forget what other charms I used, I think Joni's Blessing and the quick attack one?
Just finished getting all the grubs and charms! 93%
I think I'm pretty much done at this point. It's hard to know exactly what I'm missing. It's funny how some of the most used charms I keep reading about (quick slash, for instance) I didn't get until I was almost finished with the game.
I think I'm pretty much done at this point. It's hard to know exactly what I'm missing. It's funny how some of the most used charms I keep reading about (quick slash, for instance) I didn't get until I was almost finished with the game.
The Illiterati
Member
Yep, I feel the same way. Hollow Knight is still tops for me!
Thanks for the tips. That's the load out I've been using though 😵
I can generally get to the phase with the floating platforms with 4-5 health and then he makes short work of me
Yeah, shaman stone and the Abyss Shriek does the equivalent dmg of 6 upward slashes of the fully upgraded nail. I would just run joni's blessing, shaman stone, and spell twister. And just be careful to not tank too many unnecessary hits, and the fight should be over in a minute.
Crab Milk Mickey
Member
News of the Switch version was brought up over in the other thread by the way, for those who missed it.
Steam version it is I guess :/
Was freaky hoping to get this on Switch soon, but alas...