This fall, the long-awaited indie metroidvania-type “Hollow Knight: Silksong” was finally released. Following the events of “Hollow Knight,” we play as fan favorite Hornet when she’s kidnapped and brought to the mysterious haunted land of Pharloom. When she escapes her captors, she begins a dangerous journey to the top of the kingdom to confront its ruler and discover the truth behind her abduction. 

“Silksong” isn’t just a sequel to “Hollow Knight.” It’s far more complex and intricate. There’s more detail than expected built into every aspect of the game. For example, while Hornet’s basic moveset doesn’t change, you can equip different quests that modify the specifics of her attacks, and the tools and upgrades you’re able to use. Learning which crests, tools and abilities are better suited for certain challenges allow you to overcome the game’s unexpected (but manageable) level of difficulty. This makes the combat satisfying and fun. 

While the world is a bit depressing, exploring Pharloom and meeting the many loveable characters makes “Silksong” feel more alive and engaging than “Hollow Knight.” The story has different endings, but they’re all acceptable conclusions. Locking the true ending and a large chunk of the game behind a particularly challenging area, gauntlet and boss fight is questionable, but it lets players know what they can expect if they really want to finish the game. 

The biggest issue with “Silksong” is how hard it is. It would be fine if it were just enemies with complicated attack patterns, but much of the challenge feels artificial. There’s an annoyingly low number of save points, so your player’s death means a lot of time-consuming backtracking. 

Each area of the game features several small arenas that include wave after wave of enemies, which are easy enough on their own, but overwhelming in large numbers. It doesn’t feel challenging, it feels cheap. Resources like money are very scarce, which leads to a lot of grinding. And sadly, there aren’t many rewards for bosses and exploration — which is odd given the number of items, upgrades, and the size of the game. 

“Hollow Knight: Silksong” is hard — really hard — but that’s okay. Despite the hype, this isn’t a game for casual players. It’s a fun challenge, and a rewarding experience for fans who have been waiting for years to play.