Summary
Moving into 2024, fans are still waiting for the release ofHollow Knight: Silksong. As the sequel to the hit 2017 MetroidvaniaHollow Knight, expectations for this game are sky-high, and the developer Team Cherry’s statements about its expanded content imply its intent to meet them.Hollow Knight: Silksongevidently needs all the time and polish it can get to match the superb combat, platforming, and exploration of its predecessor, even if the resulting wait may be frustrating.
In the years sinceHollow Knight: Silksong’s 2019 announcement, plenty of qualityMetroidvanias have been released to fillHollow Knightfans' time. These even included a couple of AAA 2D Metroidvanias, withMetroid Dreadinstantly becoming the new gold standard for its franchise, andPrince of Persia: The Lost Crowntaking inspiration from both it andHollow Knight. Even years deep into development, it would be worthHollow Knight: Silksong’s time to return the favor and borrow some ofPrince of Persia’s best mechanics.
Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown’s Exceptional Parry is a Must
Lost Crown’s protagonist, Sargon, will spend a lot of time throughout his adventure parrying enemy blows. Successful parries charge Athra’s Glow, a resource comparable toHollow Knight’s Soul and silk, though failed attempts will result in amplified damage.Silksongsporting a parry of its own almost feels like a given, but it needs to be careful with how it implements it.
Prince of Persia’s Parries Can’t Take Over Silksong
There is a precedent for the firstHollow Knightfeaturing parries, andSilksong’s protagonist Hornet used something like them in her old boss fights. However, the mobility-orientedSilksongcan’t afford such a powerful defensive mechanic dominating its combat. Turning parries into limited-use Tools could help, as would copyingPrince of Persia’s penalty for misusing them, but Team Cherry needs to be careful when handling this mechanic.
Memory Shard Map Screenshots for QoL Improvements
While parries could appear inSilksongwith heavy changes, there is onePoP: The Lost Crownfeature that it needs to copy as-is. Memory Shards let players pin screenshots to their map, reminding them to return to obstacles once they have relevant traversal abilities.Hollow Knight: Silksongshould already have a revised map, but a map marker directly assisting the player’s memory will always be appreciated.
The Dimensional Claw is The Lost Crown’s Most Unique Ability
A couple of the time powers Sargon gains throughoutThe Lost Crownwould also be fun to use inHollow Knight: Silksong. The Dimensional Claw is a unique power-up that allows players to store and throw objects like bombs, as well as certain enemies. Hornet could replicate this with a Tool that wraps enemies or objects in string, allowing them to be thrown in a straight line later. This would also be a perfect avenue to introduceSilksong’s equivalent to the map-spanning Delicate Flower quest from the firstHollow Knight.
Shadow of the Simurgh
Translating the Shadow of the Simurgh into a panic button Tool could also make quests like that more bearable. Simurgh references theclassicPrince of Persiamechanic of rewinding timeto undo mistakes, setting down a marker that Sargon can warp back to. It also has combat utility, and both would be relevant to the acrobatic combat and platforming ofHollow Knight: Silksong.
The Lost Crown’s Guided Mode is Essential for Accessibility
One more feature thatHollow Knight: Silksongshould lift fromThe Lost Crownis its Guided Mode.The Lost Crownprovides an Exploration Modefor players to explore its world without handholding, but choosing Guided Mode instead reveals objectives on the map and where upgrade-locked obstacles will halt progress. For certain players, Guided Mode can create a smoother experience where progress is always in sight.Hollow Knight’s world may have been made to get lost in, but some light guidance towardsHollow Knight: Silksong’s next major upgrade could go a long way toward improving some players’ experience.
