Can You Play Silksong Without Playing Hollow Knight?
Absolutely, you can play Hollow Knight: Silksong without having played the original Hollow Knight. While Silksong is a direct sequel, it’s designed as a standalone experience with a new protagonist, new kingdom, and its own unique storyline. You won’t be lost in the lore or unable to understand the mechanics if you jump straight into Silksong. However, playing Hollow Knight beforehand will enhance your appreciation of the world, characters, and overall narrative depth of the series. Think of it like watching The Empire Strikes Back before A New Hope – you can, but you’ll gain a richer understanding and appreciation of the saga if you start with the first installment.
Why Playing Hollow Knight First is Still a Good Idea
While Silksong is designed to be accessible to newcomers, here’s why experiencing Hollow Knight beforehand can be beneficial:
- Understanding the Lore: Hollow Knight establishes the lore of Hallownest, the Infection, the Pale King, and the various factions and creatures that inhabit the world. While Silksong takes place in a new kingdom, elements of this established lore are likely to be referenced and expanded upon. Understanding the context from the first game will enrich your understanding of Silksong’s narrative.
- Familiarity with the Mechanics: While Silksong introduces new mechanics and changes, it builds upon the fundamental Metroidvania gameplay of Hollow Knight. Familiarizing yourself with the movement, combat, and exploration aspects of Hollow Knight will give you a head start in mastering Silksong’s systems.
- Appreciating the World Design: Hollow Knight’s world design is intricate and interconnected, encouraging exploration and discovery. Experiencing this firsthand allows you to better appreciate the world-building and level design that Team Cherry is known for, setting expectations for Silksong’s own environments.
- Emotional Investment: Hollow Knight is a game that evokes strong emotions, from the sense of isolation to the satisfaction of overcoming challenges. Investing time in the first game allows you to form a connection with the world and characters, making your journey in Silksong all the more meaningful.
- Primer for the Difficulty: Hollow Knight is a notoriously challenging game, requiring patience, skill, and strategic thinking. Playing it first can prepare you for the level of difficulty you can expect in Silksong, allowing you to approach the sequel with confidence.
What to Expect in Silksong as a Newcomer
If you choose to jump straight into Silksong, here’s what you can expect:
- A New Story: Silksong features a new story centered around Hornet, the princess-protector of Hallownest, who finds herself captured in a new kingdom. The narrative will be self-contained, with its own mysteries and conflicts.
- New Abilities: Hornet has a distinct set of abilities compared to the Knight, including faster movement, dashing, and quicker healing. The game will provide tutorials and opportunities to learn these abilities as you progress.
- New Enemies and Bosses: Silksong features a whole new roster of enemies and bosses, each with unique attack patterns and strategies. You’ll need to learn their behaviors and adapt your combat style accordingly.
- A Different World: The kingdom of Pharloom in Silksong is vastly different from Hallownest, with its own environments, cultures, and inhabitants. You can expect a fresh and exciting world to explore, even if you haven’t played Hollow Knight.
- Accessible Design: Team Cherry is aware that many players may come to Silksong without playing the original. They have designed the game to be accessible to newcomers, with clear objectives and intuitive controls.
FAQs: Hollow Knight and Silksong
Here are some Frequently Asked Questions to further clarify the connection between Hollow Knight and Silksong:
Is Silksong a Direct Sequel to Hollow Knight?
Yes, Silksong is the sequel to Hollow Knight, continuing the overall story and expanding on the lore of the world, while also introducing new elements and a different protagonist.
Do I Need to Know the Story of Hollow Knight to Understand Silksong?
No, you don’t need to. Silksong will have its own self-contained story. However, knowing the story of Hollow Knight will certainly enrich your experience and allow you to appreciate the lore and references more fully.
Is Silksong More Action-Focused Than Hollow Knight?
From what has been revealed, Silksong does seem to be more action-focused. Hornet’s increased movement abilities and faster combat suggest a more fast-paced experience.
Who Do You Play As in Silksong?
You play as Hornet, the princess-protector of Hallownest, in Silksong. This is a departure from Hollow Knight, where you played as the silent protagonist known as The Knight.
What New Mechanics Does Silksong Introduce?
Silksong introduces several new mechanics, including Hornet’s new movement abilities like dashing and sprinting, faster healing, and a crafting system that allows you to create tools and weapons.
Is Silksong a Standalone Game or an Expansion?
Silksong was initially conceived as a downloadable expansion for Hollow Knight, but it grew into a full-fledged standalone game.
Is Silksong a Prequel or a Sequel?
Silksong is a sequel to Hollow Knight, taking place after the events of the first game.
Is Hollow Knight Harder Than Metroid Dread?
Many players consider Hollow Knight to be harder than Metroid Dread, due to its melee-focused combat, aggressive enemies, and limited opportunities for healing during combat.
Are All Endings in Hollow Knight Considered Canon?
According to Team Cherry, all the endings in Hollow Knight are considered “equally canon,” allowing players to choose their own interpretation of the story.
Why is Silksong Taking So Long to Develop?
The development of Silksong is taking a long time because Team Cherry is committed to making the game as polished and bug-free as possible. The game is also reportedly much larger than Hollow Knight, requiring more time and resources to complete.
Can Hollow Knight Be Played After Beating the Final Boss?
Yes, you can continue playing Hollow Knight after beating the final boss. You’ll respawn before the boss room, allowing you to explore the world and unlock other endings.
How Many People are on Team Cherry?
Team Cherry is a small indie studio consisting of three core members: Ari Gibson, William Pellen, and Jack Vine.
What Games Inspired Hollow Knight?
Hollow Knight was inspired by games like Faxanadu, Metroid, Zelda II: The Adventure of Link, Angel’s Egg, and Mega Man X.
Will There Ever Be a Hollow Knight 2?
Silksong is the equivalent of Hollow Knight 2.
Where Can I Learn More About Game Development and Design?
There are many resources available online and in educational institutions for learning about game development and design. Organizations like the Games Learning Society (visit GamesLearningSociety.org) promote the study and understanding of games as learning tools.
Final Verdict
Ultimately, the decision of whether to play Hollow Knight before Silksong is a matter of personal preference. If you’re eager to jump into the new game and experience Hornet’s adventure, you certainly can. However, if you want to fully appreciate the lore, mechanics, and world-building of the series, playing Hollow Knight first is highly recommended. Whichever path you choose, prepare for an unforgettable Metroidvania experience!