Hollow Knight came to me in a time where I thought that Metroidvanias are not my genre. It kindly showed me how wrong I was.
While playing it, I started to become obsessed with the world of Hollow Knight. I wanted to know more about this strange abandoned kingdom and it inhabitants. I generally love abandoned places lol.
I love the soundtrack, the visuals, the controls, EVERYTHING!
But what I love most about Hollow Knight is its structure. In the first few hours, it's pretty linear and you go where the game wants you to go. And just when I got bored by the uneventfulness of the game's early progression it just... opens up. After a certain point early in the game, there is no single right place to visit anymore. I stopped exploring because the game wanted me to and I started exploring the places I wanted to, BECAUSE I wanted to.
More Metroidvanias should allow for this much freedom, it's truly liberating and satisfying. It feels like you are carving your path through this hostile forgotten kingdom.
However, there is one gripe I have with Hollow Knight. It's pacing is really slow. The game takes a bit too long until it finally lets you loose and there can be many situations where there are several hours of playtime between upgrades. However, this slow pacing makes these upgrades all the more satisfying.
Hollow Knight made me understand the insane potential inherent in Metroidvanias.
While playing it, I started to become obsessed with the world of Hollow Knight. I wanted to know more about this strange abandoned kingdom and it inhabitants. I generally love abandoned places lol.
I love the soundtrack, the visuals, the controls, EVERYTHING!
But what I love most about Hollow Knight is its structure. In the first few hours, it's pretty linear and you go where the game wants you to go. And just when I got bored by the uneventfulness of the game's early progression it just... opens up. After a certain point early in the game, there is no single right place to visit anymore. I stopped exploring because the game wanted me to and I started exploring the places I wanted to, BECAUSE I wanted to.
More Metroidvanias should allow for this much freedom, it's truly liberating and satisfying. It feels like you are carving your path through this hostile forgotten kingdom.
However, there is one gripe I have with Hollow Knight. It's pacing is really slow. The game takes a bit too long until it finally lets you loose and there can be many situations where there are several hours of playtime between upgrades. However, this slow pacing makes these upgrades all the more satisfying.
Hollow Knight made me understand the insane potential inherent in Metroidvanias.