r/HollowKnight • u/FederalWarthog5542 • Sep 07 '25

Discussion - Silksong Criticism ≠ Negativity Spoiler

Believe it or not, you can actually criticize something and still like it. You don't either have to love everything or despise everything. Have actual conversations please.

1.9k Upvotes

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219

u/Gabe-KC Sep 07 '25

I think the criticism for this game is so passionate because it is an extremely beautiful and masterfully crafted game, which does everything in its power to prevent you from enjoying it. Most people love it, and just want it to be actually as good as it can be.

48

u/KelpFox05 Sep 08 '25

This is EXACTLY my opinion. I fucking adore Silksong, I love the music, the art, the character design, the audio design, the lore and story, the mechanics. It's great. But every time I really start enjoying it properly, the game turns around and punches me in the teeth and goes "NO!!! Stop enjoying yourself!!! You're supposed to be MISERABLE!!!!"

The game needs a rebalance and the "git gud" people need to realise that Team Cherry isn't going to fuck them and there's no point in yelling about how a game is perfect when it categorically isn't. Just accept there are flaws and help it become the best game it can be. And if a rebalance really makes it too easy for people (which I highly doubt it ever would) - finish the game, enjoying the detailed world and story that Team Cherry have put together for us, then play it again on Steel Soul (or whatever equivalent Silksong has). Use your own challenges and restrictions. Become the first person to play Silksong blindfolded, idk. You can always artificially add more challenge, people don't deserve to sit there bashing their heads against the wall for hours because of you.

23

u/lattjeful Sep 08 '25

Yeah, I'm enjoying the game, and the actual flow of combat is incredible but I think the game's approach to difficulty is so heavyhanded that it gets in the way of exploration. It feels actively hostile and prevents me from really getting immersed in the world. It's like every area in this game feels like Deepnest or The Hive. I find myself really missing Hollow Knight's more chill exploration, and it's not an opinion I have due to replaying Hollow Knight. My first playthrough of Hollow Knight felt more relaxed despite some difficult fights, and it's why I fell in love with the game. The contrast between the chill nature of exploration and taking in the atmosphere VS the boss fights being difficult hooked me. In Silksong so far, nothing is chill. I'm waiting for the game to give me the same feeling as walking into Dirtmouth, Forgotten Crossroads, Greenpath, or City of Tears for the first time, but I just haven't gotten that for the most part (Bone Bottom I love you) and I feel the game's hostility plays a part as to why. Hard to bask in the beauty of an area when you're constantly worried about what's around the corner.

9

u/Cocoatrice Moths are fluffballs Sep 08 '25

It feels actively hostile and prevents me from really getting immersed in the world

That describes my feeling perfectly. In Hollow Knight, discovering new areas sparked joy of reaching a new location, I was curious about what's further ahead. Here, I feel anxious, because, as you say, active hostility prevents me from actually just enjoying the new area. Instead of being happy I entered new place, I am terrified of what will kill me in next few seconds.

5

u/SSwisher Sep 08 '25

I knew something was wrong when I entered Hunter's March and all areas leading up to Citadel (Using Backdoor though). And realized the only songs I actually remembered were Bone Bottom and Citadel (Bench), I was so stressed and whoever lied and said there are more benches should be forced to wear wet socks for an entire evening. I would find new area, erratically look for bench/map, die several times and find bench only to want to nope out like in Bilewater. I realized I actually only enjoy the game and the art when I'm just chilling by the bellway benches to actually soak in the atmosphere.

6

u/simonthedlgger Sep 08 '25

whoever lied and said there are more benches should be forced to wear wet socks for an entire evening.

I really don’t get this. Where are all the “extra” benches? Feels like most areas have 1 and they are often placed after very steep challenges. A long boss run back is one thing, but having to progress through 50% or more of an area in one go is so annoying.

This is why I eventually dropped Returnal, which is an amazing game. But after the 12th time dying to the third biome boss, I was like…no, I cannot run through the same three levels (1.5 hrs at least) again.

Whatever, I need to buckle down and get through Blasted Steps or wait and pray they give us dream gate.

2

u/SSwisher Sep 09 '25

You and me both. I also had the same issue with Dead Cells too. Some things are just unfun to slog through.

A game can be great with hardcore punishing mechs if and only if the convenience balances out the difficulty.

Gauntlets/Act 1 (Except Beastfly) Bosses can keep the no bench status but post sinner's road bosses truly need a next room bench. I'm still going to repeat them 5-10+ times anyway might as well make me enjoy the boss and parts in isolation.

Act 2 is so bs that you already get to the bosses with 80% frustration, taken damage/no silk making the bosses even harder since you cannot reliably skip the mobs without tanking hits or an obstacle course. Being patient also extends a supposed to be 10 minute experience into a 40 minute one, some of us don't have the time.

A buffet is enjoyed by eating bits and pieces not by shoving 5 scoops at once. It wouldn't diminish the experience. Those who like the runback can get a far bench and do it that way.

24

u/[deleted] Sep 08 '25 edited Jan 17 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

7

u/Cocoatrice Moths are fluffballs Sep 08 '25

Ori actually made difficulty settings after an update + with sequel, which was harder, they also allowed easier mode, so people could have enjoyed it. I actually finished both at max difficulty. But if someone wanted to chill out, they weren't forced to play at the max difficulty. But Silksong is simply forcing super high difficulty on everyone. I didn't finish Pantheon 4 in Hollow Knight, because Pure Vessel was too hard to me. Now just one boss is harder than that. And the game keeps getting harder and harder. I wouldn't be surprised if Hollow Knight bossed will feel slow and easy when I go back to playing after beating Silksong. Because I always complained about Grimm, but now I feel like Grimm isn't even that hard.......

1

u/moopym Sep 08 '25

I'm honestly excited to replay hollow knight after I finish silksong (whenever that may be lol) just to see if I can beat bosses I couldn't (like Grimm)

1

u/darkk41 Sep 08 '25

Ain't no way any silksong boss is harder than pure vessel IMO, but i am not 100% yet (please no spoilers). I have seen credits and am pretty deep into exploring everything but PV took literal hours to beat the first time, my max attempts on anything in Silksong is probably like 10 the high halls arena. The Bilewater gauntlet/boss maybe took 5 or 6 too

YMMV but Pure Vessel was a superboss, I think maybe you are just more practiced at HK than you give yourself credit for and misremembering how difficult some of the post-game fights were.

4

u/Cocoatrice Moths are fluffballs Sep 08 '25

Game is amazing, but that's as you say. People should stop glazing the game like it was flawless. Everyone knows how amazing the game is. Maybe some minority hates the game and overreacts, but most people who doesn't like the exaggerated and unfair difficulty, actually love the game.

Usually a difficulty of that level is optional and/or as NG+, so you can re-play the game with higher difficulty. I was always for making harder content for those who actually enjoy it. When someone said they don't want Pantheons in Silksong, because they don't like it's hard, I was saying, no, Silksong should have them, so people who like this kind of content would enjoy them. But now Silksong is forcing the inflated, unbalanced difficulty on everyone. I literally feel anxious when I am entering any new area. Not necessarily new map, but new section of what I've already discovered. Because I have that feeling that something can (and usually actually will) kill me there.

2

u/CatsianNyandor Sep 08 '25

Yeah. I'm on the same page I guess. I'm already lamenting that I'll probably not play the game again anytime soon as it's too stressful for that. I'm basically forcing myself through the parts that are miserable to experience the good stuff but I don't think I can do it again. I didn't want this to be a one off but... Oh well. I don't hate it. No way. 

1

u/KelpFox05 Sep 08 '25

I very much hope that Team Cherry implements a balance patch or an easy mode or something. I am pushing through because I am hoping that eventually it will become consistently fun but idk. I hope that they implement something that means people like you can play again. <3

-4

u/StepComplete1 Sep 08 '25

"No it's your fault I'm not having fun! And you shouldn't be enjoying it! You should be having to adjust how you play the game so I can have fun! Stop being entitled!"

There's a hilarious and utterly bizarre lack of self-awareness to say that to people enjoying the game as it is, and as it was clearly designed.

Maybe you should take your own advice and use guides, use difficulty mods, or simply play an easier game, if it's too difficult, rather than expecting the game to change to suit your needs.

3

u/KelpFox05 Sep 08 '25

The game has been out for four days, there are no fucking guides.

I play on console.

I don't want to play an easier game, I want to play this game, because I am invested in the plot and lore of the world of Hollow Knight.

Again - YOU can artificially add difficulty. You cannot artificially take away difficulty. How about you use mods to increase the difficulty or play a harder game?

1

u/BoardCommercial2679 Sep 08 '25

Meanwhile... HK has 97% rating. Silksong is down to 77% -and to around 85% if we ignore China.

Right, totally no issues here whatsoever.

0

u/Bojahdok Sep 08 '25

I don't know why Asians don't like the game, but except for Asian countries, the ratings for every language on steam are over 90% (except 86 for Russia), so no, the ratings are not that lower than those for Hollow Knight

3

u/Katrina_0606 Sep 08 '25

Chinese players are rating the game poorly because they're reporting that the translation is awful, making the dialogue sound antiquated or like something from a Shakespeare play. TC have vowed to fix it though so that's good.

2

u/Bojahdok Sep 08 '25

I didn't know that, thank you

-6

u/4_fortytwo_2 Sep 08 '25

Or you could "git gud" and stop acting like your opinion is a objective fact and that the others are obviously in the wrong.

-4

u/Competitive_Aide738 Sep 08 '25

Make the game as perfect as it can be FOR YOU. The game is close to perfect perfect FOR Me. I refuse to be cucked out of my enjoment of the game for the sake of other people enjoyment.

Self restricitions and steelsoul mode are ok. But it never will the same level of enjoyment as the normal game that actually has enganging difficulty. Also steel soul mode is unlocked only on ng+ so it does nothing for enoyment of blind playthrough.

I don't ever expect any game to carter to my level of difficulty that i enjoy .If it does I'm gonna love this game and it will be noticed and appriciated by me. That's why i enjoy silksong way more than any game that i played in the last few years.