Summary
The state ofHollow Knight: Silksongis an enigma, but there are at least a few things that are known about the highly-anticipated sequel. Announced back in 2019,Hollow Knight: Silksonghas become well-known for its long development cycle, but there are also some intriguing differences from its predecessor that deserve as much of a spotlight. One of the most exciting aspects is featuring a completely different protagonist fromHollow Knight, and this will likely have a huge effect on the gameplay.
Silksong’s protagonist is found in Hornet, one of the many antagonists encountered throughout the originalHollow Knight. This time, however, players will fill the shoes of Hornet as she fights her way throughthe mysterious haunted kingdom of Pharloom. A new protagonist is already a big change, but Hornet differs from the Knight in an even bigger way: she can talk. It will be fascinating to see how developer Team Cherry approaches adapting a speaking protagonist, but it also opens the door for possible side quests as well.
Hollow Knight: Silksong Potentially Embracing a Gaming Staple
Silksong is Primed for More In-Depth NPCs and Side Quests
Hollow Knight’s silent protagonist worked really well for the game, so foregoing a formula that is already proven to work is a bold move from Team Cherry. There are many benefits to a silent protagonist, but Hornet having the ability to speak can also expand the game’s horizons.The mysterious contents ofSilksonghave led to waves of speculation, but it’s clear that Hornet will be quite different from the Knight, otherwise a new main character would be completely unnecessary.
Thanks to a speaking lead, there is now ample opportunity for Team Cherry to experiment by including deeper NPC interactions that open side quests as the story progresses.Silksong’s long development has made it quite clear that the game will be bigger than its predecessor, and developing involved side quests could potentially be the cause of some delays.Expectations forSilksongare through the roof, but a drastic change like the inclusion of diverse side quests and NPCs to interact with could be a risk that pays off.
Although Team Cherry will want to keep the basic essence ofHollow Knightintact,Silksongneeds to stand on its own. Adding gameplay mechanics that have become major staples in the industry could easily benefit the game, but it could also run the risk of makingSilksonglose the franchise’s uniqueness.
Straying Too Far From Hollow Knight Could Ultimately Hurt Silksong
A Crossroads That Could Make or Break the Game
Increased NPC interaction and FromSoftware-like quests could be a game-changer. The question, though, is whether that much of a change will be good or bad in the long run.Hollow Knightdid completely fine without these features since other aspects of its gameplay made it shine. There is a valid concern thatSilksongmay be too ambitiousto keep its world and mechanics as contained and unique asHollow Knightwas able to do. If Team Cherry takes too much inspiration from a variety of sources and gameplay mechanics, it runs the risk of no longer feeling like the original game that so many players fell in love with.
As the days continue withno newSilksongupdates, all that is left is speculation on what the game has in store for players. There has not been any confirmation of NPCs playing a larger role or side quests being added to the game. However, it is natural to assume that Hornet’s voice will be used in some capacity that makes the game stand apart from its predecessor. When the game finally launches, it will be fascinating to see what direction Team Cherry takes with its new lead.
