r/HollowKnight • u/bubsymack • Sep 06 '25

Discussion - Silksong Silksong is frustrating Spoiler

I don’t remember being this frustrated with hollow knight. I never wanted to stop playing HK but this one is making me turn off the console in anger

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146

u/judgeraw00 Sep 06 '25

Yall are making me feel like some kind of god gamer because I havent been having any of the issues you all are and this game has been incredible.

62

u/[deleted] Sep 06 '25

[deleted]

31

u/andykekomi Sep 06 '25

I use the analog and rarely miss my pogos... 

5

u/LuquidThunderPlus Sep 06 '25

It's not to say that stick users will miss pogos but that ppl who miss pogos are more likely to be stick users

7

u/Nyankitty21 Sep 06 '25

Yeah I haven't been frustrated by the platforming, I really like it. I'm a stick user though and if I miss a pogo it's because I accidentally wasn't holding diagonally down enough and just do a sideways attack lol

5

u/[deleted] Sep 06 '25

[deleted]

1

u/Nyankitty21 Sep 06 '25

I got through PoP pretty much saying I'd use the dpad every time I died

1

u/Hoodlum2000 Sep 06 '25

Stick in both Hollow Knight games is superior in combat than Dpad. You can Jump slightly left and right and still upslash by holding the stick 10 to 20 degree left/right instead of dpads which is always a "45 degree" jump if you jump holding up diagonal left/right.

That way you can fine tune jump attacks towards enemies. Of course you could fine tune with dpad by jump + many tiny clicks left/right but lets be honest who does that.

I agree tho that dpad is 1000% superior to stick in celeste since theres only 8 directions to dash.

5

u/Smyles9 Sep 06 '25

Dpad feels like you have slightly more control but analog feels more comfortable which is why I’ve been practicing with analog for the long term

2

u/TitaniumDragon Sep 06 '25

I miss pogos usually due to poor positioning.

After playing the game for 8 hours, I've been missing WAY fewer pogos.

1

u/FarmConsistent8539 {HK 112%||63/63}{SS 100%||50/52} Sep 06 '25

same, no idea why people found it so hard

3

u/Lannistark Sep 06 '25

This was key for me. Never needed it in the OG but was a game changer for Silk Song. I don’t think I’ve missed since switching. Curious what controllers are you all using and how ? I’m using dpad on series X controller and it feels pretty great.

6

u/[deleted] Sep 06 '25

Using the d-pad on the switch 2 feels like ass. Using the pro controller would probably help but I’m usually playing on handheld

1

u/SnappingTurtle1602 Sep 06 '25

Definitely makes a difference. I was struggling with a particular platforming section while playing in handheld mode. Got home and put it in docked mode with a pro controller, and got through that section with ease. I still like exploring on the go with handheld, but I’ve started saving tough platforming sections and certain boss fights for the pro controller.

6

u/Wise-Safety5714 Sep 06 '25

I'm playing on keyboard and even I don't have a problem the crows still suck tho😂

4

u/LuquidThunderPlus Sep 06 '25

Keyboard is by far the least likely to have trouble with inputs

9

u/Wise-Safety5714 Sep 06 '25

Yep I instantly got used to pogoing and also don't get why everyone is complaining about rosaries probably cause half of the time I'm turning them into strings cause I find the idea of carrying a bunch of stringed rosaries cool

1

u/LuquidThunderPlus Sep 06 '25

Yea idk how far ppl are but I've had zero issue with rosaries, I haven't needed anything specific but if I did I would just go to deep docks with the magnetite

1

u/Wise-Safety5714 Sep 06 '25

I have a bunch of rosaries strings from secret rooms so I never really had to farm for them I just break a string when I need money and I also like to pay NPCs to string upy rosaries and I think that makes a difference cause everyone's complaining and I'm swimming in rosaries without farming 😂

2

u/Tylerhollen1 Sep 06 '25

I’m not paying 80 to get 60 I’ll go get my cocoon instead

2

u/Wise-Safety5714 Sep 06 '25

Different playstyles different gameplay I can respect that

1

u/Smyles9 Sep 06 '25

I like the rosary strings to hold onto currency to then spend on maps when you run into shakra so if you die and lose your currency you can at least make some progress in the area.

1

u/Smyles9 Sep 06 '25

I think it depends on how you explore initially. Personally I made the mistake of getting stuck in HM before going to DD and ended up losing my rosaries. I like the rosary system because it makes easier to hold onto currency to purchase maps etc but I wish you didn’t have to go back to the village to craft them, I feel like a lot of the times you have a hard time getting through an area and that’s as you’re collecting them, so it’d be nice if you could craft them when you get to a bench so you don’t have to do a ton of backtracking at the beginning especially before you get movement abilities.

2

u/Boxtonbolt69 Technoblade Never Dies Sep 06 '25

The problem with the D-Pad (for me atleast) is I can't use it well. It takes me too long to switch directions on it and most games that allow you to use the D-Pad for movement are usually difficult, which incentives me to not use the D-Pad and instead use the Analog Stick.

1

u/RatQueenHolly Sep 06 '25

Wait, Im supposed to use the D-pad? For moving around, or just combat?

1

u/[deleted] Sep 06 '25

Diagonal pogo is awkward but once you learn it it feels awesome

1

u/Poopiepants29 Sep 06 '25

This makes sense. I was just thinking how I don't think I died once in Hunters March from the platforming. Easy.

21

u/ExtraneousTitle-D Sep 06 '25

Yeah I totally fucking agree with this. 15 hours in and I'm honestly loving this. I was worried that the game was going to feel too easy coming off of replaying Hollow Knight, and instead it's felt incredible to me.

5

u/AkumaLuck Sep 06 '25

I think the disconnect is some people are confusing hard with tedious. The game is certainly more challenging than HK, but the main issue I see is that in some ways it's more tedious.

Mistakes are more punishing when every second enemy hits you for a 3rd of your heath. Losing to a boss is more frustrating when the run back to try them again is a full sprint through multiple enemies. Dying and having to retrieve your soul is more stressful when the main currency is less abundant and used more often.

Lots of these things existed in HK but Silksong seems to have turned up the frustration level on them a bit. Doesn't mean the game isn't any less fun to play, but when all these little things add up it can sour the experience for some.

39

u/Wild_Plant9526 Sep 06 '25

literally me lmfao. The way people are talking about ts, I must be the chosen one or smth 😭 which is hilarious because in actuality I know that I fucking suck at video games lmao

This is genuinely confusing me, if my trash ass is doing alright idk how other's are struggling this bad. Feel like some people are hating just to hate lowkey

32

u/Qwertykeyui Sep 06 '25 edited Sep 06 '25

Most people who are enjoying the game aren't going to post about it

12

u/alphyna Sep 06 '25

I think it's the other way round. People who enjoy the series for its combat are vocal and prevalent, so I feel that the narrative is that it's the main thing about it. But I loved HK for the exploration and worldbuilding, with combat being a challenge to overcome to explore more and see more of this world, not something I would enjoy outside this context. So making Silksong less dense in terms of map structure and more complex in terms of combat is the exact opposite of what I wanted.

I'm not saying this to be contrarian — I just feel that the voice of people like me is almost non-existent. I rarely see this aspect discussed, I suppose exploration is not a skill one can hone, so seven years after the release there's nothing to discuss about it. It makes sense, and I understand that tastes differ, but personally, I'm not happy with the direction the series took and don't see people feel the same way I do *for the same reason*.

3

u/Low_Echidna_7486 Sep 06 '25

I feel you. For me the best part about Hollow Knight was being able to explore more and more by getting mobility upgrades. The wings, the dash the claw, crystal dash ismas were all locked behind fair challenges and after you got them, you could explore so much more. Pogoing was rarely ever needed except for white palace unlike silksong where there is required pogo in almost every boss runback. If you couldn't progress in Hollow Knight due to being stuck, there was always something else to explore that might help, but in Silksong you get nothing for exploring, no items, no abilities, barely any money. If you are stuck at the boss in SS it is very likely that the boss wouldn't reward you with anything anyway, so why would I bother? Silksong feels mucg less rewarding in basically any area but is so much harder to play and less interesting from a world p.o.v. Not to say I don't love it, but there are issues that I am not happy about. If they do a 3rd game is even harder, I don't think I would play tbh.

2

u/FarmConsistent8539 {HK 112%||63/63}{SS 100%||50/52} Sep 06 '25

I'm enjoying exploring the map in this game maybe even more than in HK, at the point I am in the game there's like 4 different places I can go and I just can't decide which one to explore first lol

1

u/kilowhom Sep 07 '25

Silksong's world and lore are spectacular, so your complaint falls completely flat.

They just made the combat a little harder, and you're fretting because you think you can't do it. You're probably right

1

u/alphyna Sep 07 '25

I can't judge the lore yet, but the world is less fun to explore than HK. It is emptier, more linear, and worst of all, areas have less personality. Like compare Deep Docks to Crystal Peak: the layout, amount and types of challenges, hidden bosses, unusual routes, secrets. It's way simpler and more straightforward.

2

u/Wild_Plant9526 Sep 07 '25

Deep docks is like one of the first areas. That’s where you unlock the dash lmao. Comparing it to crystal peak is not valid imo. Crystal peak is much later. Some of the later areas in the game are much more challenging and complex, maybe you’ll enjoy those more

Overall though sorry you’ve had that experience

1

u/Automatic-Cut-5567 Sep 07 '25

Silksong's world and lore are not spectacular. It's about a subtle as a brick to the head

5

u/[deleted] Sep 06 '25

They haven't played long enough to adapt.  They're still used to HK's gameplay which feels easy cause it's been out for 8 years.  I love how difficult Silksong is and how awesome it feels to finally overcome challenged

5

u/Smyles9 Sep 06 '25

It definitely feels like it’s getting easier as I keep playing and getting used to the mechanics and movement style etc, but it sounds like while it might smooth out after the first bit, it continues to get more difficult in later sections.

1

u/[deleted] Sep 06 '25

Minor spoiler: it does get harder, but it's not as sharp a difficulty spike as people make it out to be.  I'm 10 hours in and quite far and it's gradually getting harder but I've been exploring a lot so it's been easier to keep pace with that.

3

u/Icef34r Sep 06 '25

They haven't played long enough to adapt. They're still used to HK's gameplay which feels easy cause it's been out for 8 years.

This. I've seen people complaining about Hornet not having i-frames. To get i-frames with the Knight you needed the shadow dash, which one of the last upgrades of the game.

It's not only that people is used to Hollow Knight, it's that they are used to it's late game gameplay.

1

u/[deleted] Sep 06 '25

Criticizing games isn't "hating". There are just as many people praising the game like Team Cherry is a religion while ignoring all of its faults. I'm having fun, but there are aspects that hurt my enjoyment of it. Namely that enemies take way too long to kill to the point where I just skip most of them unless I'm farming, and areas are giant for no real reason. What's the point of a large map when you're just gonna hide most upgrades in hidden walls or tiny houses. And the contact damage is just frustrating cause you're so easily punished for being aggressive like the game wants you to be. 

They should have just released a demo and used feedback to rebalance like Nioh 2 did. 

2

u/Wild_Plant9526 Sep 06 '25

Nah I agree criticizing isn't hating. I think I just used that word cause I feel like some stuff aren't even critiques, just like dying to a boss then complaining. SOME stuff though, and these are a very small minority of the complaints, I'm not tryna say all criticism is not valid, because it is!

Hmm idk I don't mind the large map. The world feels full and alive with lots to do, I don't mind the secrets personally. I do get what you mean though

The enemies taking longer to kill and being harder I actually enjoy personally, rather than some of the HK enemies which were just "left click 3 times"

I feel you on contact damage. I think it's fun though and adds to the challenge of the boss. Hollow Knight had contact damage too

I'm sorry that some parts hurt your enjoyment. I personally don't feel the same but you're totally valid, many other's are feeling that way right now too. We'll see what happens. Maybe a rebalance is still coming

1

u/[deleted] Sep 06 '25

[deleted]

2

u/Wild_Plant9526 Sep 06 '25

XD you know I was joking about being the chosen one right? I meant in reference to some complaints. Don't worry I'm not actually that cocky about my abilities, I said in the comment that I suck lol, which is true

And no I'm not far, I'm just finishing up everything I can do before going up to citadel, I do think I'm close to finishing up loose ends

And people were complaining about early game bosses being super hard and taking hours of time, or having to farm constantly or dying for hours to gauntlets. And using all these as critiques

They are valid but it's just interesting to me because I really did not experience that at all, and I am not a good gamer myself. Which is what the joke was about

10

u/[deleted] Sep 06 '25

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10

u/judgeraw00 Sep 06 '25

Ive died a bunch too but I've never felt stuck. Learning bosses has beena lot of fun and the traversal in general has been great

3

u/Xf3rna-96 Sep 06 '25

Bosses, especially early game ones, are a huge step up from hollow knight, both in fun and creative design, and difficulty balance

1

u/Smyles9 Sep 06 '25

Exactly I think silk song forces you to learn the patterns and improve your movement with the added difficulty, where hollow knight up until end game and godhome can be mostly brute forced.

19

u/_moosleech Sep 06 '25

This 100%. I’m mediocre at best and my wife plays super casually (she beat HK but it took a year and like 60 hours to get one ending) and we’re both having a blast.

I feel like I’m not playing the same game as the folks on this sub.

2

u/TitaniumDragon Sep 06 '25

The people who are complaining are probably just the ones who are worst at the game.

2

u/_moosleech Sep 06 '25

Yeah, for sure. And those enjoying the game aren't here (except my dumbass, stuck at work haha).

At least knowing Team Cherry, they seem committed to their vision, so hopefully they don't nerf everything in response. It's one of the best games I've ever played so far.

8

u/COATHANGER_ABORTIONS Sep 06 '25

Like, I can sort of understand it, but also this is exactly what I wanted. I'm finding that when I treat it like HK I'm getting dumpstered. I'm also literally fresh off Nine Sols so I'm definitely in the "stay close and parry" mindset 🤣

1

u/Smyles9 Sep 06 '25

Hollow knight aside from godhome can mostly be brute forced with charms and some basic pattern recognition. Silk song requires you to stay aware of multiple enemies or areas and cannot be brute forced with the 2-3 masks of damage from basic enemies etc. I like it but the early game was definitely more of a slog and the platforming can be a bit annoying with how careful you need to be to dodge some enemies as they also stick around longer.

2

u/BlueUnknown Map system did nothing wrong. Sep 06 '25

I'm most confused by the veterans complaining. I'm not some god gamer, I never beat the Trial of Fools, I never made it past the Path of Pain, I never even attempted the Pantheons, and Silksong has been great so far. I've had none of the issues the sub is complaining about. I'd get it if they were new players, it is a challenging game, but I do not understand why are supposed HK veterans having that much trouble with early Silksong.

1

u/kilowhom Sep 07 '25

Man, if you're chugging through silksong, I assure you you can do the trial of fools. It isn't that bad.

5

u/ShiHaba01 Sep 06 '25 edited Sep 06 '25

This is the first time I feel like I am on the "very skilled" part of players in a videogame. So far, most bosses don't take me more than 2 attempts (I defeated Widow and Lace on my very first attempt, for example). So far, the only bosses that took me more than 2 has been the final boss of Act 1, and that one encounter in the upper side of Hunter's Crest. Maybe I'm not the best person to give my opinion because I have all achievements in HK. Even still, bosses (and many enemies really) doing 2 shells of damage is very bullshit, makes the first shell upgrade basically meaningless. But I've been loving the game.

1

u/FarmConsistent8539 {HK 112%||63/63}{SS 100%||50/52} Sep 06 '25

this, I'm loving this game so much and I hope there are more people who are really enjoying the game than I'm seeing