What heights can a game created by three people reach through crowdfunding? "Hollow Knight" tells players around the world what a masterpiece is. Hollow Knight is an independent game developed by Team Cherry, and it is said that this studio consists of only three people. The game maintains the high difficulty of the "Souls" series, and inherits the characteristics of the Castlevania series in terms of gameplay mechanics. However, the classification and categorization of these games are not very significant compared to "Hollow Knight". So, what kind of game is Hollow Knight? In my opinion, it is a dark epic with a martial arts core.
Simple yet profound combat system
The combat system of "Hollow Knight" can be described as "lightweight yet powerful", and its simple design brings about extremely diverse strategies, making the entire combat experience exhilarating.
One protagonist, one bone spike, no fancy main or sub weapon equipment, and no complicated combo key combinations. All you have are a series of actions formed by a simple attack key: slash, upward strike, downward strike, charge... With just these simple actions, the entire game's combat moves are formed. The design of Hollow Knight is like a martial arts master who understands the concept of "no sword in hand". The moves are simple, but each one is deadly.
In terms of spells in the game, the same simple design is continued. By combining a spell key with directional keys, you can unleash spells in the game. Even the mechanism of regaining health in traditional games is included, without any unnecessary design.
The variety of spells and attack methods are condensed into two buttons. You don't need to remember complex key combinations or study complicated equipment setups. When facing enemies, all you need to do is focus on attacking and dodging, without the need to frantically switch weapons or skills. This pure and exhilarating combat experience becomes even stronger when facing boss battles. As long as you stay focused on the fight, just like a master in a martial arts drama, you can counter and strike, and strike to kill.
The simplicity of the key positions and trigger methods brings about a gaming experience that is "easy to pick up, but difficult to master". The biggest difference between experts and novices lies in their grasp of the game's rhythm. For example, in many games with healing mechanics, the cooldown time or carrying limit of health potions is often increased to increase the difficulty. However, this design often forcibly disrupts the game's rhythm. Imagine trying to heal while in the heat of battle, but having to wait for a cooldown. This is almost impossible in a real duel.
So, what should be the design of a healing system that fits the game's rhythm? "Hollow Knight" brings a textbook-like design that combines healing with the game's mechanics. Players can control the rhythm of their energy bar and healing, choosing what they need to do at any given moment. Whether it's using limited soul energy to attack enemies or replenishing your lost health. The difference between experts and novices, apart from proficiency in gameplay, lies more in the choice of strategy and doing the right thing at the right time.
Dark epic with fragmented storytelling
There are countless games with well-designed mechanics, and Hollow Knight does not play the role of an innovator among them. What truly makes Hollow Knight a game that captivates countless players and possesses great vitality is its magnificent world view.
Hollow Knight does not present the story directly, but instead uses the popular fragmented storytelling approach. When you first enter the game, just like the protagonist, you know nothing about this world, or even about yourself. You only know that you have been summoned here. As you progress on your journey, you encounter various "bugs", engage in conversations, interactions, and even battles with them, and explore the ruins, gradually gaining an understanding of this world from their fragmented words. Each character in the game has rich background settings and their own unique stories, and every action they take follows logical reasoning and character development. The world even changes based on your activities. NPCs you encounter in the early stages will meet you again as you progress in your adventure, and your actions can even affect their activities. Compared to rigid multiple branching storylines, this design allows for greater immersion.
What is even more commendable is the game's strong integrated design. Each skill and charm of the protagonist has deep and rich settings, and is closely related to a certain character in this world. When you wear them and interact with different NPCs, they can even bring about completely different reactions. Behind all this is often a forgotten past. These stories piece together the complete picture of this world and its history.
With the deepening of the game's storytelling, a more magical system is created - the "Dream Nail". Through it, you can understand the inner thoughts of NPCs and further understand the truth behind events. You can even experience epic events that happened hundreds of years ago. A seemingly kind bug may actually be thinking about devouring you. This contrasting and dramatic portrayal is made possible through this system.
The history of the insect kingdom, spanning hundreds of years, is scattered throughout the dialogues of each NPC, the inner thoughts revealed by the Dream Nail, and the interactive text. It does not directly tell you how dark this world is, but slowly entices you to explore, until you have explored everything, and you may still not fully comprehend the nature of the darkness, because here, darkness is also juxtaposed with light.
Awe-inspiring performance
The visual presentation of Hollow Knight is outstanding for an independent game. A dark, complex, and stylish underground city is filled with rich and reasonable settings, and the excellent artwork is the icing on the cake. Whether or not each NPC character has a real-life insect prototype, they are all detailed and unique.
Aside from the visuals, the background music is also worthy of praise. Each map and boss battle has its own exclusive BGM. The music style of the game sounds melancholic and dark, but it is arranged with a grand and atmospheric touch. The main melody is catchy and has multiple variations, sometimes ethereal and melodious, sometimes passionate and stirring. Whenever the music plays, it immerses you in the cruel and dark underground city.
In terms of gameplay presentation, the most commendable aspect is the game's incredible sense of impact. A seemingly ordinary dungeon-like game can fine-tune the gameplay to such an extent that simple actions, combined with sound effects, screen shaking, and special effects, create a powerful sense of impact. Compared to games that rely solely on screen shaking and particle effects to convey impact, "Hollow Knight" can be called a masterpiece.
There is still much more that can be explored in "Hollow Knight". "I have forgotten sadness, and all I see is miracles." Hollow Knight will surely be a bittersweet but unforgettable memory in your gaming journey. And we look forward to the release of its sequel, "Silksong", in our lifetime...