Epilogue: Hollow Knight
So Hollow Knight was released in February of 2017, took quite a few knowledge. However, two years later, the game with its superior sound, its hand – drawn Artstyle and an interesting Mix of Metroidvania and soul, like the elements had created in the hearts of many gamers a place. That’s why there’s here for you to look back on the biggest secret of the last few years.
The 2D Metroidvania from the Australian indie Studio Team Cherry was to Release a recommendation only among connoisseurs. Since it is almost the same time came out, such as the sector sizes of the Breath of the Wild, Horizon, Zero, Dawn, Resident Evil 7 , and more AAA titles, went Hollow Knight to do something. However, with the time made of conversations about the game of the round and at the latest, after the Hollow Knight for consoles was released, had the reputation of the game as a Must-Play fixed. But why has Hollow Knight is actually such a good reputation?
A Bugs Life
The Setting of an abandoned beetle Kingdom is already something New. A short opening sequence, your beetle knight on the way to the former Kingdom of the Saviour’s nest, right after that you can control it yourself. A short Tutorial completed on the way to the first city and your future Hub, the desolate wasteland of crap mouth, which is in the course of the game, but always lively. Just another beetle at the time of your first arrival, to warn you before, in the ruins descend. However, you are here.
In some areas, the developers of Dark Souls inspire had in it, including how the game’s Story is conveyed. This serves you Hollow Knight on the silver tray, but hiding it behind destructible walls, item descriptions or in dialogues with the scattered inhabitants of the Saviour’s nest. In spite of their sometimes lack of presence in the story is very profound and at the same time allows room for interpretation. The Monument of the Hollow Knights in the city of tears, the Colosseum of fools at the border of the Kingdom and the corpse-strewn abyss, which of your character eerily similar to see, are all puzzle pieces slowly to form an overall picture together. Here, you’re not completely on your own, there are still a few Survivors of the former insect Empire on the spot. The NPBs (Non-Playable Bugs), tell you stories and sell you Goods and ask you for a Favor. Here, too, shows a Hollow Knight of attention to Detail: At the end of a Questline asks you a character his life to end, because he is no sense in it looks. You can go to his entreaty, moves you, however, you can find him later at another place again. There he has found a friend and a new meaning of life and would like to thank you, because you have then rejected his request.
Fly like a butterfly, Sting like a bee
Of course you can Hollow Knight with more points than the Plot, for example, with its combat system: your patience and quick response are the key. I draw the Parallel to Dark Souls, because with enough Skill in Luggage you can every Boss, even without Upgrades to defeat. Each enemy has to internalize his attack pattern, this to and to take advantage of leads mostly to success. In order to attack you have a handful of options. By the push of a button your nail is swinging in a selected direction, in the process, both you and your opponent will be thrown back a bit. This nail is the only weapon in the game can use, but you can improve it, if you find the blacksmith and you need a can spare the money. In addition, your various combat skills, such as a charged blow learn. In addition to your weapon, you can also use magic, so you can get in the course of the game, up to 4 attack spells, of which you can also make an improved Version to get.
The use of this spell, however, has a Limit, because in order to use them, your soul. This is earned by harm adversaries, or in a hot spring to recover. Besides magic, your soul needs to Heal, keep a bit in Reserve.
Also, items of equipment, especially the so-called Charms play an important role: Charms give you all the hand skills, ranging from the Display of your Position on the map faster Healing to the transformation of your spells. Through this diversity, you can align the character to your own play style, as you can get with the appropriate Charms of different Combo bonuses. Each amulet required base courses, of which you can in the course of the game up to eleven get. However, you have also the possibility of more amulets to equip, as your Base is a, then, in battles, however, the double damage. Keep the eyes, to vascular and mask parts is open: you can find enough of it, increase your life bar and your soul’s vessel. And finally, you can make your health bar at the Park benches that are scattered in the whole of the Saviour’s nest. These benches also serve as storage points, from which your adventure can set, if your still dies. As in a soul like, you must then the way of re-treading to your Good lost to regain, but in most cases you achieved on the second attempt your goal faster and with more Health. You fail on a boss over and over again, is this process fast times nerve-rackingly – this game is fun break-in, however, is an exception to the rule.
The boss of the most spectacular and at the same time most annoying section of the game battles are certainly. Your frustration accumulates when your to 25. A Boss fails to clear, but you can expect more than the personal glory after a hard-fought victory. The choreography and the Design of the bosses are fluid and atmospheric, what is the game world makes it even more believable. Especially here the Soundtrack can Shine once again, because the bosses all the stops were pulled, the harder the enemy, the more powerful and dramatic the Sound is. You defeated a very difficult opponent in a heated battle with even hitzigerer orchestra music in the Background, are you a little disappointed, almost, because the fight is now over. (Fortunately, you can fight later, all again)
The journey is not to end
The world of Hollow Knight is simply designed fantastic. Crystal faces, spiders, caves, sewers – each Area retains the result of the Interaction of sophisticated Layout, the Artstyle of the game, complete, documented Design, and excellent musical accompaniment to its own individual charm, without, however, that this is too far removed from the melancholy mood of the Saviour’s nest. If you now walks dreamily through the rainy city of tears, or full discomfort in the dark deep nest dares – each area draws you in with its atmosphere of a new spell. You explore the major areas of proficient, wait a few, sometimes very well hidden Secrets to you. Your does not always find classic rewards such as money or Upgrades, but also information about the game world, you can only read, do you have the right amulet. However, this is rather something for people who can’t get enough of the interesting story of the prodigal beetle Kingdom – like me
In the many caves of the Kingdom a feeling of stress came in for me in the beginning slightly, there were too many paths to explore, to fight to many enemies and to evade many Traps. However, this feeling disappeared quickly, had the following reasons: First of all, there is hardly a wrong way. Here and there I found myself in a cul-de-SAC, but often a Power-Up waited there as a compensation to me. The opponents were a piece of cake, once I got used to the attack patterns and a few Upgrades had been found; The platforming passages called me here and very, nonetheless, the majority was cope with a bit of Practice to. Soon, all the areas were discovered, most of the bosses defeated and the Story was coming to an end, but I didn’t want to go. Cinematographic riding Japanese great staged fights best, even more of the lovingly crafted world to explore, or just sit back and listen to music – all that I wanted to enjoy a little longer. Well, that Team Cherry were not since the Release of slack.
Since the Release, a lot has happened
Now there are 4 big content updates for Hollow Knight, in the console ports are included. First came Hidden Dreams and delivered 2 new bosses, a new fast travel station and a placeable fast travel portal. Then followed The Grimm Troupe and brought new Charms, new characters and a new Questline, with one of the best boss fight in the Game. Third, was the Lifeblood of the series. With this Update, Hollow Knight got the finishing touches, in the Form of enemy balancing and Fixes. Also map markers have been introduced, so that your special places again. Most recently we received the Godseeker Update, and as always comes with the Best in new areas, New characters, new Questline, new game mode, and bosses – this time, the old also! By far the hardest challenge of Hollow Knight is hidden here. A bossrush mode, you must defeat all the available bosses in the game, and a handful of New pieces – you can believe me, this is a true test. But what reward is appropriate for a hard hitting skill test – Perhaps a new end? Or better yet, two!
CONCLUSION
Hollow Knight is a classic Metroidvania: you unlock abilities in new areas to move, you fought bosses and collect stuff. It does nothing really New, but makes it so much really. The combat system is easy to learn, but I had a lot of room for Improvement. The fights are fast and full of Effects, performance issues or input delays, but I had never. The diverse game world, I pull out sometimes and listen to the melodies. I can only say that I every second with my little beetle knight enjoyed, and driving me crazy on Hollow Knight: Silksong am. A bit of a shame I think that a Ending for all of the blocks remains, which create the Bossrush or do not have time for a long workout enough. With a game duration of about 20, including all Collectibles 30 hours (with Godseeker more on the way), offers Hollow Knight very much Content for a now narrow price. If your Metroidvanias like, and a playful challenge, not afraid, you should access each case.
A guest article by Nino Puff
What Hollow Knight is? Metroidvania with a soul like elementsPlatforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
Tested: Nintendo Switch
Developer / Publisher: Team Cherry
Release: 24. February 2017
Link: Official Website
