Summary
Hollow Knight: Silksonghas had an infamously quiet development cycle. Many other games have been announced and released during this long wait, leading to a slew of comparisons along the way. Among its many peers in the Metroidvania genre, the acclaimedMetroid Dreadhas a very valuable lesson forHollow Knight:Silksongto learn.
Metroid Dreadmade great use of the “Pursuer” trope, an enemy type common to horror games that intently stalks the player within limited locations. The pursuers inMetroid Dreadare known as E.M.M.I., menacing robots that will kill Samus without hesitation if she wanders into their territory too carelessly.Hollow Knight: Silksongis the perfect gameto revisit this trope once again.
Pursuers are most synonymous withboss enemies in theResident Evilfranchise, which itself has exploration inspired by the level design of Metroidvanias. They are enemies designed with the primary purpose of scaring the player. Rather than being fodder to mow down, or even a boss settled in an arena, pursuers stalk the protagonist throughout the narrow world they’re trapped within.
As the mother of Metroidvanias, with an aesthetic that leans heavily into sci-fi horror,Metroidis the perfect home for this trope.Metroid Fusionfeatured SA-X, a terrifying imitation of Samus hell-bent on chasing her down. In many ways,Metroid Dreadserves as a sequel toMetroid Fusion, so it’s no surprise that the E.M.M.I. were added into the mix.
Metroid Dreadramps up the danger against Samus, with E.M.M.I. embracing the pursuer enemy type more prominently than ever. The E.M.M.I. were designed to aid Samus on her mission, but have instead gone haywire, with her as their primary target. The player is meant to cautiously sneak past them rather than confront them directly, as E.M.M.I. can only be killed by a special energy.
E.M.M.I. create an immense feeling of dread any time Samus has to pass through one of the zones they patrol. Getting the chance to finally kill one of them is equally thrilling, with a triumph over one being one of the most consistently satisfying feelings in the game. Pursuers like the E.M.M.I. primarily serve to make exploration more dynamic. After all, any player will be forced to think twice as carefully when they’re fully aware they have a target on their back. Likewise, it’s an enemy type that functions incredibly well as a goal post.
E.M.M.I. can roadblock progression without feeling arbitrary. That way, when the player does manage to defeat one, it has the added benefit of unlocking more of the world to explore. With engaging exploration and challenging boss fights being such key features of Metroidvanias, adding an enemy type similar to the E.M.M.I. couldgiveHollow Knight: Silksongjust the edge it needs.
Hollow Knight: Silksong is the Perfect Home for Horror
Beyond simply sharing a genre withDread,Hollow Knight: Silksongis uniquely well suited to an inclusion like this. After all, the world ofHollow Knightis a frequently dour one. Though it’s possibleSilksongis planning to take things in a slightly different direction,Hollow KnightwearsDark Soulsinspirationon its sleeve.
Hallownest is, for all intents and purposes, a fallen kingdom. It is full of ruined structures, and infested with wretched remnants of its former glory. The most obvious example is the titularboss fight with the Hollow Knight, a former hero corrupted into a terrifying menace. ThoughSilksongwill not take place in Hallownest, it’s not hard to imagine an intimidating enemy stalking through some of the environments revealed so far. Likewise, it’s hard to imagine the game intends to reinvent the wheel regarding its inspirations.
Instead,Silksongis likely to remain influenced, at least in certain sections, by the same dark fantasy aesthetic as its predecessor. This makes it all the more likely the game could receive a pursuer enemy similar to the E.M.M.I. Furthermore, a seemingly integral aspect ofSilksong’s design is Hornet’s acrobatic movement, which would play perfectly into the horrific chases this enemy type incites.
Hollow Knight: Silksongincluding such an enemy in conjunction with Hornet’s agility would both fundamentally change the way the player interacts with the level design, and strike real fear into them every time they do. Most importantly, it is an enemy type that would fit right into the game’s setting, and further enhance theenvironmental storytelling ofHollow Knight.
Hollow Knight: Silksong
WHERE TO PLAY
Play as Hornet, princess-protector of Hallownest, and adventure through a whole new kingdom ruled by silk and song! Captured and brought to this unfamiliar world, Hornet must battle foes and solve mysteries as she ascends on a deadly pilgrimage to the kingdom’s peak.Hollow Knight: Silksong is the epic sequel to Hollow Knight, the award winning action-adventure. As the lethal hunter Hornet, journey to all-new lands, discover new powers, battle vast hordes of bugs and beasts and uncover ancient secrets tied to your nature and your past.
