If It Returns in Silksong, One Hollow Knight Charm Needs a Big Makeover

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If It Returns in Silksong, One Hollow Knight Charm Needs a Big Makeover

Highlights

  • Hollow Knight: Silksong’s new protagonist, Hornet, brings a fresh set of skills and gameplay changes to the beloved metroidvania formula.
  • Thorns of Agony charm in Hollow Knight faced criticism for lacking effectiveness due to animation drawbacks and limited damage output.
  • Silksong has the opportunity to revamp the Thorns of Agony mechanic, offering a more engaging and beneficial experience for players.

As a longtime fan of Hollow Knight, I’ve spent countless hours exploring the intricately designed world of Hallownest and mastering its complex combat system. The announcement of Hollow Knight: Silksong brought me immense excitement, but also trepidation. With the success of the original game and the high expectations for its sequel, I couldn’t help but wonder if it could live up to the hype.

When Hollow Knight: Silksong eventually comes out, it will carry the burden of high anticipation. The prolonged delay in releasing Silksong has fueled speculation among players, with some expressing concerns over potential development issues and whether it can meet the immense hype generated by its predecessor’s success as one of the most remarkable indie gaming sensations ever.

In the upcoming game “Hollow Knight: Silksong,” the new protagonist Hornet brings a fresh and distinct set of abilities, significantly altering the experience from the original. While the fundamental metroidvania structure and stunning hand-drawn art remain, Hornet’s expanded attack repertoire introduces a new level of agility and aggressive combat. She moves swiftly, looks sleek, and can employ various unique maneuvers and gadgets, adding depth to the gameplay. As the emphasis shifts towards adaptability and aggressive fighting, it will be intriguing to see how Team Cherry reworks or adapts certain mechanics from the first installment to harmonize with Hornet’s fighting style.

Hollow Knight: Silksong Has the Chance to Greatly Improve the Thorns of Agony Charm

Thorns of Agony Is One of Hollow Knight’s Weakest Charms

As a dedicated gamer of Hollow Knight, I’ve come to realize that every charm in this captivating game isn’t equally beneficial. And let me tell you, Thorns of Agony is undoubtedly one of the least effective charms out there. Instead of enhancing my gaming experience, it often feels more like a hindrance, causing more harm than good.

The Thorns of Agony charm needs only a sole notch for use, and you can discover it relatively early in the Queen’s Gardens region. Its label mentions that it “feels the agony of its owner and retaliates against the environment,” shedding light on its purpose: activating the charm causes the player to inflict harm on adversaries when struck. Newcomers to Hollow Knight might find this charm enticing due to its accessibility and seemingly advantageous trait, but unfortunately, it offers less assistance than promised.

Thorns of Agony poses a significant challenge for players as it forces them into an extended animation that decreases their defensive shield, leaving them open to enemy attacks. If the attacking foe isn’t eliminated by the retribution strike (which seldom happens due to the Thorns dealing only 100% nail damage), players may find themselves in a perilous situation, making it simple for enemies to land another hit. It is generally wiser to forgo the thorns attack and opt for additional invulnerability frames instead, thus enabling repositioning or retreat. This issue becomes even more problematic when confronting adversaries with ranged attacks or those that are agile, as they can frequently dodge the meager damage inflicted by the Thorns while still triggering the automatic attack animation for the player.

As a huge fan of Hollow Knight, I’ve discovered that using Thorns of Agony in conjunction with other charms can significantly boost its effectiveness. However, despite this enhancement, the drawbacks of Thorns of Agony still overshadow its advantages in most situations.

How Silksong Could Offer a Revamped Version of Thorns of Agony

Part of why Thorns of Agony can be frustrating is because, in theory, it has a good deal of potential. The notion that players can trade the benefits gained from other, more complex charms for a tool that effectively makes combat easier is very appealing, especially to those just starting out. The problem is that Thorns of Agony doesn’t actually make Hollow Knight easier, and can in fact make it harder.

If Silksong had an improved version of its Thorns of Agony ability with fewer disadvantages, it would make for a more captivating and enjoyable tool in gameplay. A possible solution could be making this ability quicker or introducing a ranged alternative attack. Alternatively, it might function as a sophisticated parry mechanism, allowing players more control over its behavior during combat. Given the distinct experience of playing Hornet, Silksong’s sequel should explore the chance to enhance this mechanic significantly.

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2024-07-16 17:24