Silksong Mini Review & Impressions

for context: years ago, i have played hollow knight and beat radiance. i did not complete pantheon because i don't really care for boss rushes.

Early Game (Act 1) Impression

when i started the game, the first question that i asked: can silksong really recapture that the sense of intrigue and wonder that i had with Hollow Knight?

i can confidently say that it did. The art, music, sound effects, and NPC interactions did so much service to the overall mood and atmosphere of the game. All these combined really helped immerse me into the world of Pharloom.

Hornet's dialogues perfectly capture how i remember her in the first game: cool and elegant, yet cold and deadly. Her movement is smooth and fun. The downward attack definitely threw me off a bit, but it's something i got used to and really don't mind. It sets her apart from the Knight and it is a plus in my book.

i then wandered into the first non-tutorial area of the game. It was a nice journey reminiscent of the first game's Crossroads. Then, i was hit by a regular mook with a 2 HP damage. That is when i reliased: the game is going to be much rougher than the first.

as i journeyed through the early area, i realised there are so many places with 2 HP damage. Early boss fights are also riddled with 2 HP damage. Healing is now all-or-nothing and it is 3 pieces at a time. With the frequent 2 HP damage, the initial 5 HP means 3 hits to death, 4 if you manage to heal. All these made for a very bumpy early ride and i frankly felt a bit awful.

some initial thoughts i had while i was playing:

• is playing Hornet supposed to feel this frail? i do not recall that being the case when she was the boss in the first game
• is the world really this harsh? did they really show their hand so early in the game?
• i don't recall have this much trouble early in the first game. what gives?
• will i actually enjoy going through the rest of the game like this?

reading online impression certainly did not help. Most complained similarly about the early game and how some bosses are 'unreasonable'.

yet, i pressed on. i may not have the reflexes of my more youthful days, but i am still as stubborn as i used to be. Slowly, but surely, i started to get used to the game and what it demanded of me. i took the time to look around and explore. When i get the dash ability, things were looking up. i started to get used to the flow of combat: maintain spacing, observe, and go for safe hits.

Eventually, the game opens up a little when i got my first crest and mask (yes, this is possible). That's when i really got into the game. At some point, i was even a little confused by some of the complaints about bosses: are they really that bad? Sure, some are annoying and a bit more difficult, but none are that bad for act 1. By the time i reached the end of it, i felt satisfied.

Full Game Impression

overall: ABSOLUTE CINEMA!

Act 2

all my early game impressions still hold. i just wasn't prepared how much bigger the game can get.

when Act 1 ended, i was already intrigued by the Citadel. i was so ready to see just how majestic this place is. The game immediately served me Underworks with their pay-to-sit bench.

it is quite bold for the game to immediately present me the dark side of the Citadel. Narratively, the pay-to-sit benches make sense to really nail in the fact that the Citadel isn't good. As such, i didn't mind the tedious-ness of these benches in term of gameplay. Of course, this is merely scratching the surface of the Citadel.

then, i formally enter Choral Chambers. It felt ethereal with the music playing. It's... beautiful! No other words necessary.

from there, the game just keeps on going, showing more and more of the world. Every new area i discovered filled me with awe and wonder. Little by little, the mysteries of the Citadel unravels, showing its insidious side more and more, and its effect on the surrounding area. Of course, i took my sweet time exploring and doing the side quests, filling out my arsenal, and just taking in the tragic beauty of the world of Pharloom.

progression starts to be a bit more non-linear and less hand-holdy. The goal of Act 2 is always known and you are free to get there any time. However, the upgrades are not explicitly marked and highly depends on your ability to explore. Some section can be easily missed if you are not thorough enough. Some quests or location can be attended early, but without some upgrades those sections can be much tougher than it needs be. This is not spelt out to the player and is completely on the player to make the call to look around more or just power through the section.

there are 2 instances where i think the game is at its hardest: The Forum's gauntlet and 2nd Savage Beastfly. In retrospect, both encouters could have been much easier if i've gather sufficient upgrades and equipments before attempting them.

Favourite boss is the First Sinner.

shoutouts to Whiteward for being short yet unsettling. i really thought that it would be like Deepnest from the first game which stretched on for a bit too long, but it is not.

i did get the first ending of Act 2, which is unsatisfying. When i hit the second ending, i saw it - The Void. That is definitely bad juju knowing them from the first game. i thought i didn't do enough to get the 'good' ending, but then it hit me - Act 3.

Act 3

i was semi-spoilt on the existance of Act 3, yet the way it was presented still surprised me nonetheless.

in a nutshell, this act is Infected Crossroads from the first game but fully reliased in a grander scale.

all enemies now have a chance of getting voided, where they are faster and all their attacks deal 2 HP damage. The environment has shifted to show the aftermath of your action. Some routes get blocked off, some got extra enemies, some area got wrecked, etc. It effectively portrayed just how much shit has just hit the fan.

yet, the game continues to open up more and more, which i thought wasn't possible after Act 2. New bosses, extra area, extra equipments, and new quests! More exploration to be had! i do admit that i got pretty tired towards the end when attempting 100%. i had to consult for hints when i was at 98% for the missing lore pieces, mementos, and hunter's journal. it didn't take the fun out of me doing this, so no harm, no foul.

at first, i was a little skeptical of the difficulty spike resulted from the Void. However, i think it serves the plot and world-building effectively. i was able to get used it quickly enough. i'm definitely impressed by Team Cherry's ability to pull this off.

Bosses are still good and matches the player's progression. The hardest one in my opinion is Karmelita, which is also my favourite not just because it is difficuly yet fair, but how much of a spectacle the setpiece is. An idol who fights by dancing across the stage while singing her own theme, all spectated by her beloved crowd. It gave me Colosseum of Fools, but grander and more regal.

By that logic, Trobbio would be another favourite, although in that case the spectacle is so over-the-top that it's just funny. Shoutouts to Pinstress too. i know that people don't really like her for flying about and spamming projectiles, but i liked it for the setting: a duel in the lonely snowy mountains, amplified by the beautiful string quartet. i didn't mind the projectile spamming too much, only because she didn't start summoning minions.

The final fight and ending is just... sublime. Lace has always been a great boss: Straight duel with not much of fluff. This fight has the extra void-powered attack which is fitting given the story's direction. If you are expecting like a grand god-slaying finale, this is not it. Some might express discontent with it, but i am okay with it. With all the buildup towards it, i think it is pretty fitting. It was also really nice to see Ghost appearing towards end. i was semi-spoilt on it but their appearance still delighted me. i was wondering where were they during Hornet's trek into the Abyss.

All in all, consistently great game from start to finish, ending on a high note with little hiccups.

by the way, the hardest thing in the game isn't Savage Beastfly. It's actually Seth's high score.

this writing got a little long. So, i will stop here. i do want to talk more about my impressions of silksong, particularly some of the more memorable events, areas, NPCs, tools, crest, whatever. Look, i really want to get silksong out of my system. So, stay tuned for that!

Extra Thoughts

• i prefer the simpler charm system in the first game. The current crest system is good but felt a little underwhelming compared to the charm system.
• Savage Beastfly is the least fun boss.
• Moorwing and Sister Splinters were fine pre-patched.
• the fleas are great and silly
• SHAW is more popular, but i prefer GARAMA. POSHANKA came close to replacing it.
• one extra mask early game somehow makes the difficulty much more bearable. it is still 3 hits without heals, but it becomes 5 hits with healing which somehow makes it better.
• i'm grateful that the gameplay isn't parry-heavy. You can clash attacks and projectiles, but it is usually not mandatory. There is a parry skill, but you can get by without it.
• Sherma
• i can see that the 2 HP damage is to balance the faster 3 HP healing. i still think the early game is way overtuned.
• boss runbacks aren't the worst. Maybe i'm patience enough for them. Some might be a little annoying (looking at you dream bosses), but nothing too detrimental.
• apparently, i missed the badass Slab escape sequence. Whoops!