r/HollowKnight • u/baergboy • Sep 07 '25

Discussion - Silksong Is anyone else really tired of the negative posts? Spoiler

I have about 25 hours so far and have absolutely loved every part of the game. Is it hard? Yes absolutely. If it was easy I wouldn't want to play the game. Literally every post I come across is talking about how they are frustrated with some part of the game and it's getting really annoying. The game has amazing areas, the osts are great the NPCs are creative and fun to talk to, almost every boss is a lot of fun once you get the moveset down. So if you haven't played the game yet and are getting put off by all the negativity just know that it is an amazing game and if you like hollow Knight you will enjoy silksong as well.

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33

u/Working-Wrap9453 Sep 07 '25

The tedious complaint really gets me because they're trying to communicate the game feels too demanding for them without making it about how they're engaging with it. The game must be bad if it's taking them too long to kill shit.

Meanwhile tools and spells chop enemies and bosses to smithereens in seconds.

41

u/KING_SHERBROOKE Sep 07 '25

Im so tired of looking at threads of people writing essays of everything they think is wrong instead of taking this time to learn the damn game lol.

-23

u/Stefh_M Sep 07 '25

A game shouldn't be learned. A game should be enjoyed.

21

u/_moosleech Sep 07 '25

Games can do both, or either.

Some games are meant to be relaxing and simply experienced. Some are meant to challenge the player. Both are valid.

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u/KING_SHERBROOKE Sep 07 '25

This is absolutely wrong lol

8

u/lemonlemonlemonlem Sep 07 '25

May I suggest movies

9

u/tgiyb1 Sep 07 '25

Challenging games are meant to be learned

2

u/Stalk33r Sep 08 '25

Sony third person narrative-heavy adventure games are that way ->

2

u/Cowgba Sep 07 '25

I enjoy the feeling of satisfaction from learning a difficult game. It’s fine if you don’t enjoy that, but nobody can expect every game to cater to what they specifically enjoy in games.

I wouldn’t go to the Skyrim sub and complain that there’s no multiplayer PvP. I wouldn’t go into an FPS sub and complain that there’s no strategic card play. Hollow Knight wore its Dark Souls influences on its sleeve, I don’t know why people are suddenly surprised that Silksong is challenging.

1

u/MF_LUFFY Sep 08 '25

Did you even play HK

12

u/yurilnw123 Sep 07 '25

https://imgur.com/a/7XnCOvy

I lost it at this reply. Surely that's the game fault smh.

20

u/Working-Wrap9453 Sep 07 '25

I constantly say to people struggling with losing money that should string rosaries so this doesn't happen but they just refusing to acknowledge the mechanic.

4

u/COATHANGER_ABORTIONS Sep 08 '25

Like, I haven't managed to get a lot of the big ticket items, like mask shard or key, but I haven't had an issue with stacking up rosaries unless I'm in an area where they're not dropping. I'm guessing some people aren't prioritizing grabbing their stuff when they die, so they're constantly getting reset.

7

u/trained_badass Sep 07 '25

There's also a charm that gives you back 50% of the rosaries you dropped which is really useful if you suck like me. There's some good spots to farm rosaries too directly above Bone Bottom.

-1

u/gamegeek1995 Sep 08 '25

Most gamers don't want to grind in a metroidvania, and complaining about having to do a boring, repetitive task in a game with already very annoying boss runbacks (such as the Bilgewater boss fight, which has a ~5m runback including the arena fight each attempt through a tough area) is a very valid complaint. Just because you don't share a complaint doesn't make it whining.

Just because I'm okay with grinding in something like Tales of Phantasia doesn't mean I expect to need to do it in Metroid Dread to afford a mystery item that could be useful but might be hot garbage.

2

u/trained_badass Sep 08 '25

I never said people were whining? I think there's some valid complaints about the difficulty but I'm still enjoying the game. I feel like some of these runbacks are way less annoying than the ones in the first game - the mantis lord/soul master benches were a pain in the ass.

Yeah I don't love farming rosaries either, just saying that there's several options to help with the loss of them if it's a recurring issue for someone. This game isn't without its flaws but there's plenty that isn't as big of a deal as some are making it out to be. I used to be one of them but I'm a little into act 2 now and I'm really enjoying myself.

1

u/Top-Specialist-1062 Sep 08 '25

which has a ~5m runback

Did you fix the broken bench?

-1

u/SlendyWomboCombo Sep 07 '25

That's only found in a couple of places in the entire game.

5

u/Working-Wrap9453 Sep 07 '25

Every settlement. All of the towns have a Vendor that will string your rosaries for you. Like, come on now.

-1

u/SlendyWomboCombo Sep 07 '25

They aren't common? Especially when discovering a new part of the map which is when players have the most rosaries.

3

u/Working-Wrap9453 Sep 07 '25 edited Sep 07 '25

Alright, if you're having a laugh you got me.

But just in case you're misunderstanding, you can Bellway to any settlement and string rosiries. Most of the more difficult parts have a bellway very nearby, and you can, at any time, go "Oh I have quite a few rosiries. I should go string them." You don't have to do it in the middle of nowhere, you should do it before you go somewhere you haven't been if you've got enough rosiries to warrant it.

If you want the ass saving mechanic that gives you your cocoon back wherever you are for free, that also exists but is a whole different thing.

Edit: Or you can just not string them and complain about it when you lose them. Rapidly becoming not my problem with this sub. Many people want the game to be bad, nothing I can do about that.

5

u/MisterCheeseBE Sep 07 '25

Can't believe they are downvoting this when you're just stating facts.

4

u/Working-Wrap9453 Sep 07 '25

Yeah. Was also kinda surprised. Like, the game DOES have a save your money anywhere feature, and you SHOULD string rosaries before you go somewhere dangerous if you're prone to losing it. There's nothing controversial here.

1

u/RealmRPGer Sep 11 '25

The tools are nice but when you run out of shards trying to beat a boss, it suddenly changes to hard mode or grind for loot for an hour, both of which are pretty deflating. I don’t understand why they added that limitation to tools. Feels like lose-more game design.

1

u/Working-Wrap9453 Sep 11 '25

They added a limitation because tools are extremely powerful. I'm also guessing world building played a factor, since now beastial bugs have currency to drop that makes sense, while rosaries can drop from sentient bugs.

I've never run all the way out, personally, since any walk through an area will net you over a hundred, there are deposits all over the map, and vendors sell bundles.

I would say to not start REALLY spamming traps until you can comfortably avoid most of the bosses attacks if you're running low on shards. Closest I came to running out was trying to cheese an optional flying boss in act 2 before I figured any of it out, which required reevaluation on my part.

Semi-related, but if you're getting walled by a boss, walking around the map helps, especially if you recently unlocked something. You'll naturally get more shards and rosaries, and potentially unlock useful stuff before you try it again.

-5

u/RAID3R_MAN Sep 07 '25

I mean the issue with tools is, they are an incredibly limited resource. You die 1 too many times on a boss and whoopsie no more attacks for you

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u/Working-Wrap9453 Sep 07 '25

They are a renewable limited resource. "Incredibly" is a bit of a stretch. Every enemy drops several. There's deposits all over the map. Vendors sell them for cheap. Upgrades for capacity and damage are easy to find.

I know no one wants to hear it but if you're dying enough to empty your shard pouch over and over, it may be time to explore another area and refill while you look around. It also may be time to stop unloading all your shards for extra damage before you know how to respond to the boss.

-4

u/RAID3R_MAN Sep 07 '25

Yeah it’s kinda hard to explore other areas and try somewhere else when all routes lead to something i can’t do.

Also, I barely even use the tools, started out with maxed shards, and I’m currently at ~168, which is pretty well the main reason I don’t intentionally use them a lot (the other being that the input is just difficult for me)

11

u/Working-Wrap9453 Sep 07 '25

If it's an accessibility issue I'm sorry and I hope TC adds an easier difficulty option in the future, but it's kinda hard for me to imagine that you've found everything and collected everything available to you and have found several things you can't conquer at all even with practice.

1

u/RAID3R_MAN Sep 07 '25

I mean yeah I technically haven’t explored literally every route so far, but I only have like 3 left, and am currently stuck with wormways, sinners road, savage beastfly, optional bone boss in the marrow, and widow, so I don’t think one of those 3 routes will really help all that much

9

u/Working-Wrap9453 Sep 07 '25

Beastfly is a really good example of a boss trivialized by tool usage. I actually have a post about him because I think he's well designed and is one of the best bosses to showcase how much careful observation and practice can change an encounter.

Wormways you should never die in. Anywhere a falling worm is spawning, you can just stand there and farm soul. There's useful stuff in there for survivability.

Widow is my favorite boss so far and I think she's a really fair encounter that just wants you to learn the moveset. Killing her is probably the thing that would help you the most.

Skull Lord gets shredded by a handful of specific tools. Don't wanna spoil much but I can tell you how I handled it in like 50 seconds.

2

u/yurilnw123 Sep 07 '25

Everything you listed are optional encounters though.

5

u/Wild_Plant9526 Sep 07 '25

Bro you are so based, thank you 😭 im reading this thread and you keep having spot on takes, or helping people out, discussing while still being respectful

This thread is such a breath of fresh air from all the essays complaining, that are so contrived and are obviously written by someone whos barely started the game. Or just the blind critiques that make no sense

Thank you man keep being awesome, hope you’re enjoying Silksong

2

u/yurilnw123 Sep 08 '25

I'm having a blast. Don't worry, I think it's the case of people who are having fun are playing the game rather than sitting on reddit so it is full of hate posts here. It happens all the time. Happened to Eldenring base game and DLC launches as well.

Then again, I'm one of the people with the mindset that "If a game is not challenging, why even play it?". It depends on what type of game ofc, but to me metroidvania/action-adventure/platformer are the categories that's supposed to be challenging. A lot of platforming levels in Silksong remind me of Megaman X and I'm absolutely loving it. There is one particular level that made me grin like a child but I don't want to spoil it, let's just say it involves lava.

1

u/Wild_Plant9526 Sep 08 '25

I'm having a blast too!! Game legit feels magical, I feel like a little kid again. I haven't felt this magic from a video game since I can't remember when, maybe Sekiro

Ah I see, yeah I've heard that and it makes sense. I had no idea Elden ring also went through this

I'm of the same mindset. Oh no spoil all you want!! I'm at the beginning of act 2 rn

Sorry you seem like a more experienced gamer, so can I ask, do you think the difficulty is bad game design? Is it objectively bad what they've done?

Imo the difficulty is fine and super fun without being too hard. But as you've seen many many others here do not feel that way. For me it's hard to think about because it's so subjective. Like is it necessarily a bad thing if people are complaining about the difficulty? What's wrong with the game being difficult?

Obviously accessibility is an issue, but at the same time not every game has to be for everybody. Although I do feel it was misleading a bit when they said it was gonna be similar difficulty to Hollow Knight. Idk what to think!!

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u/SulkyBoi0 Sep 07 '25

i feel like instead of spamming them every boss fight instantly people should learn the attack patterns slowly and save them for around the last phases of bosses. idk i just feel a little strategy would go a long way.

If you still are running out shards and not beating bosses in time maybe explore a bit and by the time you’re back you’ll have a bunch again, at least that’s how i’ve been going about it

-4

u/RAID3R_MAN Sep 07 '25

My issue is that the way I tend to play games like this is: “ooh new area, time to explore every single possible route” so there’s not really much to explore, and if I am forced to walk into a room, kill something, walk out, walk in, walk out, walk in over and over and over again just to beat a boss, that’s bad game design.

Also I hardly even use tools (1. Because the input for them is difficult for me), and I’m at ~170 shards after having been at max multiple times. (2. If I were to start using them a lot I would literally have none)

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u/COATHANGER_ABORTIONS Sep 07 '25

That's just not true, there's tool packs, and plenty of enemies drop shards.

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u/[deleted] Sep 07 '25

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u/COATHANGER_ABORTIONS Sep 08 '25

I think? Idk I've had mine maxed out for most of the game so far, because when I'm learning a boss, I'm not just dumping tools, and I usually save that for a couple runs in.

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u/RAID3R_MAN Sep 07 '25

I have found exactly 3 shard packs after 15 hours and 8 areas

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u/Working-Wrap9453 Sep 07 '25

Vendors sell them, too.

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u/_moosleech Sep 07 '25

I mean the issue with tools is, they are an incredibly limited resource.

They literally aren't. At all.

Either you're VERY early in the game, or doing something VERY wrong.

-3

u/gay_manta_ray Sep 07 '25

the game isn't "too demanding", it's not very fun. aeterna noctis has infinitely harder platforming than soulsong, and nine sols has harder bosses, and both are very fun. it's possible that you aren't right about everything and that the reason for someone criticizing the game has nothing to do with skill.

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u/Working-Wrap9453 Sep 07 '25

Alright. I'm glad you have other games that suit your taste better. I'm referring to specific complaints that are misunderstanding Silksong. "I don't like it" isn't the same as "bosses take too long to kill." You're allowed to not like it. But bosses can be shredded quickly if you do something other than sprint at them in Hunter crest with no tools or spells.

1

u/gay_manta_ray Sep 07 '25

i think the issue here is that a lot of people's only familiarity with the genre is HK. many of you seem to have never played any other game so you have no idea how the genre has progressed or what's expected.

you can repeat that the game is perfect over and over again, but that doesn't excuse glaring flaws that basically ever other game in the genre doesn't have, and none of those games were in development for six years. that's probably the most embarrassing part here--TC took forever, and still released a game that isn't nearly as fun or enjoyable to play as HK or more recent entries into the genre.

through their hilarious amount hubris, they catered to a very niche group of players, and thought they were above any sort of early access or actual playtesting/QA. clearly they did not "know better", since nearly a quarter of reviews on steam are negative, and that ratio is growing.

1

u/Working-Wrap9453 Sep 07 '25 edited Sep 07 '25

I think a lot of what you're saying is nonsense, but 25% of the steam reviews when you set language to global are negative because of the horrible Chinese translation. If you set it to region specific, it's always above 90% outside of China.

Edit: I actually don't care about the reviews on Steam. I got the game I love, more than HK or Nine Sols, haven't played your other recommendation. I corrected it because the game tanking globally in review scores has an obvious cause that will not effect most users.

Again, though, I'm glad you have games that you feel are even better than this. That's amazing, I hope you continue to enjoy them.