Hollow Knight: Silksong Is Giving Me The Combat Depth I Was Craving Back in 2017

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No matter the game type, it’s typically the combat that I find most captivating. This could be the gunfights in Halo, the turn-based battles in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, or the Freeflow style in Batman: Arkham. Combat is usually what keeps me engaged for a longer period of time. I can appreciate a mediocre game with stellar combat more than I can a good game with poor combat. Consequently, when everyone was eagerly anticipating Hollow Knight: Silksong’s new world, characters, lore, and biomes, my attention was fixed on the sequel’s anticipated combat features.

I’ve often struggled to keep up with Metroidvania games due to their freeform level design which can be a bit intimidating at times. If a Metroidvania title doesn’t engage me with its gameplay and progression, I usually lose interest after a couple of hours. However, that won’t happen with Hollow Knight: Silksong. My initial experience with the game has had its ups and downs, but now, the fighting mechanics are providing me with the complexity I was seeking as early as 2017.

Hollow Knight Is Great, But Its Combat Isn’t Quite My Tempo

2017’s “Hollow Knight” is an outstanding game. Its unique enemy designs and diverse landscape, combined with its impressive art direction, intriguing lore that unfolds through thorough exploration, and openness to personal interpretation, have solidified it as one of the best Metroidvanias ever made. However, I found myself struggling to connect with its combat mechanics.

In my opinion, the combat system in “Hollow Knight” has always seemed a bit too lightweight and straightforward to me, particularly during the initial stages of gameplay when players haven’t yet mastered any movement skills. During these early phases, a typical battle in “Hollow Knight” boils down to repeatedly pressing the attack button, dodging incoming attacks, and bouncing off enemies with your air attack. Although it is smooth and functional, the combat doesn’t quite captivate me during my multiple playthroughs of the game over the years.

Hollow Knight: Silksong’s Combat Is Much More My Speed

It’s great to note that the game Hollow Knight: Silksong comes with a more expansive arsenal of combat mechanics and features right from the beginning. One aspect I particularly appreciate in the game’s combat is its tool system. In Hollow Knight: Silksong, players begin with slots for a red, blue, and yellow tool at the start. Typically, red tools are weapons like throwing knives, yellow tools are utilized for exploration, while blue tools provide passive abilities and enhancements such as faster silk regeneration.

In the early stages of playing Hollow Knight: Silksong, you’ll discover a wide variety of tools, which sets it apart from its 2017 predecessor by introducing more character customization options. This diversity is amplified by Hollow Knight: Silksong’s unique feature called Crests, that provide different tool configurations and drastically alter Hornet’s combat style. Moreover, the developers have made improvements to the new diagonal air attack in Silksong, and these Crests also introduce a significant element of choice, a feature missing from the original game.

In the initial stages of “Hollow Knight: Silksong,” it’s expected that players will unlock not one but two key movement skills: Swift Step and Drifter’s Cloak. The Swift Step is a versatile move, allowing for both sprinting and dodging, while Drifter’s Cloak grants the ability to glide through the air for a short duration. In combat, these abilities prove indispensable, particularly during boss fights where they can be used to swiftly close gaps or evade attacks by waiting in mid-air as the boss moves around below.

In the new game, Hollow Knight: Silksong, even the parry move has been enhanced, making it a bit daring for me to use frequently but enticing to try more often in combat due to its expanded window. These changes along with others keep the fast-paced gameplay of Hollow Knight: Silksong engaging, even when I’m getting overwhelmed by the Savage Beast Fly’s random army attacks.

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2025-09-10 03:10