Getting lost is easy within the world of Hollow Knight, the long-dead kingdom of Hallownest. A vast and beautifully crafted place filled with bug-like creatures and lore. I was hooked within the first hour, as I longed to learn more about its past. The story is mostly left for you to discover at your own discretion, as is everything else.

Many secrets, upgrades, and abilities are scattered around everywhere, but Hollow Knight never really forces you in a specific direction. This means at times you might find yourself not knowing where to go next, but I feel that’s part of Hollow Knight’s charm. I was happy to be lost within it because the world is so detailed and captivating. Though don’t be deceived by the relatively cutesy art-style, as this game offers quite the challenge.

Developer: Team Cherry

Publisher: Team Cherry

50 Hours played // Self Purchased // $15.00

A well-polished world

The number of distinct habitats within Hollow Knight is truly surprising, and they all seamlessly transition into each other. Moreover, each environment and its inhabitants are detailed to an astonishing extent. You can listen to the soothing sound of rainfall, hear the individual footsteps of different enemies, as well as make out if something is getting closer or farther away from you. I also really appreciate the care that went into the rumble. From the slightest landing to full-blown getting hit, the rumble made me feel like it’s happening to me. This extreme level of polish shows throughout Hollow Knight in both visual, rumble, and sound design.

Great gameplay mechanics

The gameplay is just as good. You start with only a nail, which you use as a sword, the ability to jump, and a soul gauge. Soul is gathered by hitting enemies that are used to perform spells. These basic mechanics have a surprising depth to them. For example, your first spell “focus”, a healing spell, requires you to stand still to charge it. So, it’s important to consider when is the right time to restore health, which is especially challenging during the many unique boss battles Hollow Knight has to offer.

Many unlockables

In the beginning these abilities may feel a bit limited. But you’ll upgrade and unlock new ones that let you fight and move around more freely. Additionally, there are equipable charms that enhance your existing moves, such as one that offers greater reach for your nail, another that allows you to collect more soul per hit, and many more. Some charms and other items can be bought using geo, the currency within Hollow Knight. It’s dropped by defeated enemies and can be found plentiful throughout the kingdom of Hallownest.

A Metroidvania at heart

There are some areas initially out of reach that you won’t be able to access until you’ve unlocked the corresponding skill. What stood out to me though, is the level design that allowed using these skills to move more quickly, often in new ways, through previously discovered areas. For instance, a gap that was previously a pitfall became a shortcut. In combination with the interactive environment, this kept things fresh. Which is truly a blessing, because backtracking is a common activity. Thankfully, Hollow Knight has felicitous fast-travel systems within its world as well. For example, a trusty stag beetle, who also offers you some insight into a new area if you take the time to talk to him after you unlock a new station.

Difficult fights

Unlocking new abilities is more than just finding the right way to go. I had to battle many different creatures that crossed my path. Including bosses, all unique and interesting in their own way, both in design and attack patterns. They often demanded my complete and undivided attention. Including the very first boss, which felt like a sudden spike in difficulty, as I was still getting used to the controls.

After extensive trying, I succeeded in beating it by changing up my tactics. Sometimes however, I felt it’s better to go back exploring and get stronger before attempting again. When you do finally succeed in beating a boss, it’s very rewarding. Both in loot and a feeling of immense satisfaction. This is a recurring theme within Hollow Knight. Get stumped. Observe patterns and learn from your mistakes. Be victorious!

Death is punishing

You’ll end up dying a lot when taking on the challenges within Hollow Knight. And death is devoid of pleasantries, as it returns you to the last bench you sat on, with a cracked soul gauge, and no geo. Although plentiful, it’s no fun losing a few thousand. Luckily there is a way to retrieve them…

At the location you died, you’ll have to defeat your shade. A representation of your past failures and regrets. This means jumping and fighting your way back there, which isn’t without risk. And dying again, means truly losing your geo. If you make it though, you’ll regain your geo, and your soul gauge will be fixed. This punishing mechanic may not be for everyone, though I personally came to appreciate the way it made me focus in what I felt were truly dire situations.

Conclusion

Hollow Knight is an enchanting Metroidvania that’s hard to put down, with its beautiful 2d hand-drawn art style and a wonderful soundtrack, which are both varied throughout the vast kingdom of Hallownest. It’s a game best enjoyed by adventure seekers that are determined to conquer their enemies, including their own failures. If you don’t let the punishing moments get you down, you’ll feel the highs of overcoming Hollow Knight’s hard challenges, which feel oh so glorious. It also offers great replay value via its in-game achievements. Shockingly, it’s a steal at only 15 dollars, which includes all the free DLC Team Cherry has put out.

In the rare case, you haven’t seen Hollow Knight in action, we’ve got you covered:

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f6jPAOSwpAU] If you have been bitten by the Metroidvania bug, be sure to check out Tom’s review of A Robot Named Fight for an interesting twist on the genre. Also, make sure to subscribe to NindieNexus on Youtube to see your favourite crew play and review games galore!