Recent reviews by Elepsilon

It’s not hard to get lost in the deep subterranean world of Hollow Knight, and I mean that more ways than one. The expansive regions of Hallownest have countless areas to explore and secrets to uncover; but more than that, the game is rich in lore, history and meaning which pressed me to unravel every speck of the kingdom and invest every minute needed in doing so.

The more I explored this 2-dimensional world, I began to realize just how much content and freedom it has to offer. As a Metroidvania rooted in non-linear progression, no decision is a wrong decision – you can choose to descend into the Fog Canyon right off the bat, or traverse into the Fungal Wastes first after clearing The Forgotten Crossroads, just one of numerous examples. One of the few things you’ll notice along the way though, is that while the blood-curdling domain of the Deepnest will seem vastly different from the nostalgic ruins of Hallownest’s capital city, the City of Tears, the gorgeous aesthetics, beautiful music and a million little details will give each area its own patent sense of place, fitting them cohesively in the bigger illustration of Hallownest. But the masterpiece doesn’t just shove this connection into your face; Hollow Knight lets you explore its world and history in peace and serenity.

On the flip side of the coin, the combat of Hollow Knight is as satisfying as it is challenging and copiously rewards patience and skill. Taking down enemies is a matter of precise timing, assimilating their attack patterns and finding secure moments to heal. More than that, apart from the natural learning curve of the game, Charms open up an infinite set of possibilities for customizing your play style, whether it be centered around fluidly moving and dodging, aggressively slaying your foes or just carefully keeping your distance, relying purely on overpowered spells. This means you can come up with specific charm loadouts for different scenarios, be it collecting more money, moving quickly from place to place, or taking down a particularly tricky boss, the bosses being one of the best thrills available in the game.

Having so much to do at any given time can sometimes be overwhelming, and this review doesn’t even cover half of what Hollow Knight has in store for you. Just bear in mind that the game will silently teach you how to play and what to do. Nothing’s impossible – so don’t wait any longer to try it out and get started on this compelling story of Hollow Knight, especially before its second sequel comes out!