[ level . nashi ]

REVIEW: Hollow Knight

"The theme of the story and world merge together in a perfect mix of a dark yet cartoonish world just yearning to be explored."

Hollow Knight is a fantastic metroidvania/souls-like that had me hooked from start to finish.

The Art and World design is among some of the best I have seen in an indie game—hell, any game. It adds so much vibrance to a game that hits pretty much every nail on the head. The passive storytelling is one of my favourite styles when done right, and Hollow Knight does it right.

The game just looks 'right'. The world fits. The characters fit.

Navigation & Exploration Hollow Knight never really leaves you directionless. There are very few points in the game that act as 'chokepoints' you have to complete to progress. There is always something to explore, re-check, or unlock to make it to the next area.

There are multiple paths through the game and multiple ways to get there. The order you choose is left up to discovery and exploration. This game gives a wonderful sense of both.

The Gameplay Fantastically simple. You start equipped with just a Nail, but as you progress, you unlock a variety of upgrades:

Charms & Weapon Upgrades

Abilities & Spells

All of these add layers to the combat that allow you to explore different builds. Want to be more aggressive? Go for it. Want more defense? Take some defensive charms and watch your survivability go up. This system, combined with tight controls and level design, makes for an extremely satisfying combat platforming experience.

The Verdict To sum up my feelings on this game is impossible in just a few paragraphs, but to put it in one final statement: One of the greatest indie games I have ever played.