Hollow Knight: Silksong’s Hunter’s March is Home to an Invaluable Metroidvania Lesson

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In the realm of the Metroidvania genre, a challenge often lies at its core. Both of its pioneers are celebrated for their complex level layouts and formidable adversaries. Many successful entries in this genre have mirrored these traits closely. Hollow Knight: Silksong, unsurprisingly, adheres to the same formula.

As a dedicated fan of Hollow Knight from 2017, I was eagerly anticipating the long-awaited sequel, but what I didn’t foresee was just how challenging it would be. The enemies and bosses in Hollow Knight: Silksong seem to pack a heavier punch than ever before, and their platforming leaves minimal margin for error.

Initially, this high level of difficulty can feel a bit jarring during the first few hours, but as I’ve progressed, areas like the notorious Hunter’s March have provided some priceless Metroidvania lessons amidst the madness. It’s been a humbling experience, to say the least!

Hollow Knight: Silksong – Hunter’s March’s Difficulty Spike Is As Sharp As a Needle

In the early stages of “Hollow Knight: Silksong,” the game effectively instructs players about its mechanics by presenting challenging enemies that are, however, simple to dodge and conquer. The intricately designed areas of Bone Bottom, Mosshome, and The Marrow are unveiled gradually, allowing players to discover optional paths, hidden treasures, and shortcuts without being immediately overwhelmed with a vast map layout. Even the early game bosses provide a challenging yet balanced fight.

As players progress through The Marrow in Hollow Knight: Silksong, they would typically become proficient with the game’s combat and level design, and have a fair notion of the upcoming challenges. However, this understanding is often disrupted when players venture into the Hunter’s March region, as it presents unexpected obstacles and mechanics.

Hunter’s March, an intriguing branch off the road connecting The Marrow and Deep Docks in Hollow Knight: Silksong, serves as the first truly optional area. It offers a sudden and substantial increase in challenge. Unlike the Moss Mother and Bell Beast encountered earlier, the Skull Ant guardian isn’t a full-blown boss fight but poses a considerable challenge nonetheless. His rapid one-two punch attack can deplete four slices of the player’s health bar at once, and his ability to burrow underground restricts the player’s counterattacks.

However, the Skull Ant is merely a harbinger of things yet to come. The game Hunter’s March offers an array of challenging combats and platforming sections that are not for the faint-hearted. Many of these challenges are intricately woven together to produce some extremely grueling sequences. Ant soldiers are swifter and deadlier than any adversary previously encountered by the player, and there are pesky flying insects lurking everywhere, ready to throw off your trajectory. Additionally, the stage’s red flowers demand precise accuracy from a somewhat fiddly air attack to navigate through them.

In the first hour or so of Hollow Knight: Silksong, the player encounters a significant challenge: Hunter’s March. Given that protagonist Hornet might not have many combat or movement skills at this stage, it presents a steep climb, particularly for beginners to Metroidvania games. However, its harsh level design does impart essential lessons about the genre.

Hollow Knight: Silksong’s Hunter’s March Teaches Two Important Metroidvania Lessons

The Hunter’s March Guardian Teaches Players They Might Not Have The Right Tools For The Job

In “Hollow Knight: Silksong,” Skull Ant’s combat strategy primarily focuses on approaching Hornet, using their large bone club for an attack, and then retreating to a safe distance. Players often find it challenging to dodge these attacks and try to close the gap if they are coming directly from The Marrow area.

By appearing tough, this mini-boss in Silksong subtly imparts a fundamental lesson from the Metroidvania genre. If players find it hard to dodge an attack or land some hits, chances are they’re overlooking something that would significantly simplify the battle. The Skull Ant becomes much more manageable once players acquire the Swift Step ability from Deep Docks first, following their instincts as seasoned Metroidvania explorers.

Hunter’s March Teaches Players It’s Okay to Come Back Later

Besides discovering fresh skills that aid in overcoming earlier boss battles in a gameplay session, skipping a challenging optional area and revisiting it later offers players the experience they currently lack. Delaying exploration in Hunter’s March and pushing forward on the main path through Deep Docks and Greymoor grants players additional upgrades and a better understanding of Hollow Knight: Silksong‘s mechanics, empowering them to conquer Hunter’s March more effectively later on.

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2025-09-08 13:41