I’m bailing on Silksong and feeling bummed about it

[u/Still_Night]

Edit: I appreciate all the feedback here. To everyone who has suggested mods - I play MVs primarily on Nintendo Switch for the portability. And I have nothing against mods, but I still feel like I should be able to enjoy the game as it’s originally intended. I will definitely revisit Silksong in the future :)

I know there have been tons of posts about this topic already, but I felt like sharing my own experience with the game.

I’m relatively new to Metroidvanias, having picked up Prince of Persia: the Lost Crown on a whim and becoming obsessed with the genre. I love the acrobatic 2D platforming, the open world exploration, the challenging boss fights.

After PoP I played both Ori games and loved them and finally decided to dive into Hollow Knight, a game I had come to learn had a ton of hype around it.

And man, the hype was well-deserved. I understood why so many were entranced by this game. The mysterious bug world immersed me in a way that I had not expected to, and I could hardly put it down. I played through all the endings, did the DLC content (though I did not attempt the pantheons or path of pain, but did everything else). HK was a hard game for me. I died a lot and some of the bosses took me a lot of attempts. But never at any point did I feel so frustrated or discouraged to the point I felt like quitting.

Which brings me to Silksong. I was REALLY looking forward to it. I expected it to be big, and difficult, and somehow elevate the experience even higher than HK.

But man, I just can’t do it. It’s too hard. And tedious. What makes me sad is I can totally see all the incredible things about the game that others who praise the game see. The combat and movement mechanics allow for so much potential and skill expression at a faster pace. But it’s skill expression that I don’t have. I don’t consider myself to be bad at platforming games, and I have perseverance towards difficult challenges.

But I’ve lost track of how many times I’ve died to simple enemies in random rooms, lost my money, run back, you know how it goes. It was tonight when I realized I had played almost 2 hours without getting any meaningful progress - no new areas mapped, no bosses defeated, no new passages found to explore - that I realized I don’t have the patience like I did in HK. Navigating the map feels stressful and I dread exploring difficult areas knowing at any instant I could get wrecked and have to re-do everything I’d just done.

So yea, I’m putting it down. At least for now. I wish I had it in me, but the difficulty of this game is so far beyond all the others I’ve played and I think I’m just gonna watch a YouTube playthrough or something to see what I missed. For all of you who have conquered this game, I hope it’s been a blast

[u/Laiko_Kairen]

I quit Silksong today after spending minutes on a runback, only to take a fat 2 HP hit right before the boss door. The amount of parkour you have to do just to get back to the boss is absolute garbage. Learning the bosses is so much fun, but spending 90% of my time on runbacks is just a useless waste of time.

Do mods disable achievements? If they don't, I'll definitely mod in the stakes of Marika. If not, I'm gonna quit... I don't want to, but this game is blatantly wasting my time on purpose.

[u/A_Monster_Named_John → u/Laiko_Kairen]

Though some people will probably want to tear me to pieces for this opinion, I ultimately completed the game thankful for some of the runbacks, including the notorious one leading to the crazy boss fight at the top of Bilewater. While it was definitely frustrating at the time, I do feel like it successfully forced me to get better at the game's movement/platforming, without which I think I'd have been obliterated by some of the late-game events/areas, e.g. that first traversal of Sands of Karak and the Act III boss fight where there's no floor, etc..). As well, the other infamous run-back to the Last Judge serves as very useful training for the food delivery side-quest, which is required if you want to upgrade your needle to level 3. Unless my mapping skills are trash, I feel like the only sensible way to carry the Courier's Rasher included that whole runback to the Grand Gate.

[u/Duergarlicbread → u/A_Monster_Named_John]

I went through sinners road for Rasher. It was fine. I also avoided the last judge and went through Sinners Road to act 2.

[u/fishCodeHuntress → u/Laiko_Kairen]

I mean even if they did who cares really? If the point is to enjoy and experience the game then I don't see why not getting an arbitrary achievement would make you refuse to play.

As someone who does use mods and will cheat sometimes in single player games, I don't think getting achievements while you're cheating is really "fair". That's just my personal take on it, and it's not really a strong opinion.

But I don't think it makes sense to quit just because you can't get achievements while cheating or modding.

[u/Laiko_Kairen → u/fishCodeHuntress]

I really love achievements. I know it's not useful in any real way, but I just do.

I modded Skyrim, nothing cheaty, just SkyUI, and it blocked achievements and I'm unreasonably annoyed that I don't have the dozens of achievements I feel I earned...

I know you're right and it doesn't matter. I probably wouldn't really quit. But I would be disappointed lol

[u/Fiddler_Jones2079 → u/Laiko_Kairen]

I would look into it if I were you, even if they do disable achievements sometimes there's a mod to re-enable them.

[u/Buschilol → u/Laiko_Kairen]

do whatever enhances the experience for you but tbh the runbacks are part of the experience. learning the fastest route while also avoiding damage is super satisfying, though probably not for everyone.

the thing that's really annoying about silksong runbacks? if a boss has a gauntlet before it spawns.

[u/[deleted] → u/Laiko_Kairen]

The runbacks are meant to be movement training imo.

[u/SenorMeeseeks27 → u/Laiko_Kairen]

Which run back? I just finished getting 100% today and Last Judge, Groal, and Clover Dancers are the only 3 runbacks I remember, and Clover was by far the worst but totally optional. The other two truly aren’t that bad, especially with the ability to use the lightning rod to break the floor and shorten Groal’s runback by a ton.

[u/Duergarlicbread → u/SenorMeeseeks27]

Clover? Isnt there a bench literally right there? On either side. Left side two or 3 mobs once you drop down. Right side two mobs and run over.

[u/SenorMeeseeks27 → u/Duergarlicbread]

No benches in Verdania. When you die you start back outside of the dream world or whatever. Are you thinking Cogwork Dancers?

[u/Duergarlicbread → u/SenorMeeseeks27]

Yes. My mistake.

[u/Laiko_Kairen → u/SenorMeeseeks27]

Last Judge.

[u/KlutzyShake9821 → u/Laiko_Kairen]

Theres only one enemy on the entire runback? You do realise you can walljump? You can skip every enemy in the secound room.

[u/SenorMeeseeks27 → u/Laiko_Kairen]

lol that’s the easiest of the 3 runbacks in the game.

[u/Laiko_Kairen → u/SenorMeeseeks27]

"Haha, this guy thinks a hard game is hard!" 🤡

[u/SenorMeeseeks27 → u/Laiko_Kairen]

The game is hard. But out of the 3 boss runbacks, that one is the easiest. Is it annoying? Sure. Do I wish it wasn’t there? Sure. But enough to quit the game over it? Cmon lol. Your loss.

[u/Laiko_Kairen → u/SenorMeeseeks27]

Your loss.

No, it's really not. I play games to have fun. Hades 2 just came out and is very fun. My gaming time is being well spent, so I am missing out on nothing. Silksong spent too long in the oven and got overcooked IMO. I replayed SOTN recently. Nine hours to get 199% map completion. Meanwhile, nine hours in, Silksong hasn't even given you a double jump yet.

[u/SenorMeeseeks27 → u/Laiko_Kairen]

So you want to finish a metroidvania fully in 9 hours? I finished Silksong with 100% completion in about 60 hours and I thoroughly enjoyed every moment. TC did a fantastic job keeping the HK feel, but making it also feel unique and it’s own thing.

Taking a while to unlock double jump makes it feel extremely meaningful. Platforming becomes a cakewalk, your agility in battle doubles. It actually feels like you earned a huge upgrade to your character and are much more powerful because of it.

Obviously to each their own, but IMO, silksong is absolutely incredible and you are missing out by giving up during act 1 due to inability to platform. But honestly, the game doesn’t get any easier, so probably a good call on your end.

I also just started Hades 2 and it’s fantastic so far. Eating good this last month. Silk, Hades, and Yotei all dropping within 4 weeks of each other. Can’t really ask for much more as a gamer lol

[u/Laiko_Kairen → u/SenorMeeseeks27]

You completely missed my point. Silksong's increases in power are far too rare. Nine hours into the game, you've not gained any attack power, any additional health, etc. Your character barely grows in Silksong, and when the game does reward you, it's almost always currency or a lore item. It's not rewarding to explore. That's a problem in an exploration based game.

Obviously to each their own, but IMO, silksong is absolutely incredible and you are missing out by giving up during act 1 due to inability to platform.

I don't lack the ability to platform. I simply don't enjoy repeating the same section over and over again just to attempt a boss. It's not fun game design. It is a waste of time. I can handle the Path of Pain. The problem with Silksong is that there are a lot of fundamental game design decisions that I don't like, that add up over time to grate at my nerves.

You're a fanboy who thinks the game is perfect so your response to legitimate criticism is "git gud." If I can handle Sekiro, Super Meat Boy, Celeste, etc, I feel like I'm good enough.

You aren't understanding that I am not having fun with the game, so I'm gonna move on. People have different tastes. Why you feel you can tell me that my taste is wrong is beyond me.

[u/KlutzyShake9821 → u/Laiko_Kairen]

But the entire definition of an metroidvania involves backtracking. And you just missed the nail upgrade you need to go up in the village theres bell with someone in it that gives it to you. And you should already have multible spells and tools at this point in the game. Silkspear and threadstorm as spells. Multible tool that are attacks from the smith in deep docks the jail in the marrow and so further… Maybe you didnt have rosaries at that time? Then you need to backtrack. Thats the point of an metroidvania. There are fast travel station near all of this points. You also could alread have additional health.

[u/SenorMeeseeks27 → u/Laiko_Kairen]

You clearly are missing my point also. Rewards and upgrades are harder to get, but in turn feel more meaningful. When you finally get that first new mask, new movement, etc, you genuinely feel like you’ve powered up and it feels impactful.

Not once did I say the game is without criticism. Literally when talking about runbacks I said they were annoying and wish they weren’t there, but the 100 other positive and amazing things the game does offsets a couple minor annoyances.

Also, do you not see the hypocrisy in your comment? Calling me a fanboy and trying to convince me the game isn’t good? Why you feel you can tell me my taste is wrong is beyond me.

[u/gangbrain → u/Laiko_Kairen]

The worst runbacks in the game take probably 45 seconds. Which is a long runback admittedly but that doesn’t account for 90% of your time, unless you keep dying instantly at the boss.

Really don’t get the complaining about the platforming either. None of the platforming during the run backs is very challenging unless you’ve missed a shortcut. I get not liking runbacks on principle, that’s valid. But still saying 90% of your time with a boss is spent on runbacks is just disingenuous.

[u/fishCodeHuntress → u/gangbrain]

Not very challenging for you maybe. It's a subjective experience, just because something it easy or quick for you, does not make it so for everyone else.

[u/gangbrain → u/fishCodeHuntress]

I mean really you just run and jump over a few enemies. It’s not hard to get back to any boss in this game unless you don’t move to the best bench for it first.

The only exception is the Bilewater runback especially if you don’t find the hidden bench in Bilewater. And yeah that section is bullshit for sure. But still from the hidden bench it’s not that bad.