Same!! I only visited her again to show him that not everything in the game was doom and gloomy. I've never had something in a game turn around and bite my ass clean off like that. :(

Supposedly there is a legit way to beat it without it happening, but it affects the % complete and makes the game even harder.

I definitely think HK is harder than DS1, especially with the DLCs. It's really not all reflex based, especially if you use a shield and heavy armor (which is a completely viable way to beat ds1). Some of the HK fights are fairly technical like you mentioned and the DS series overall often provides that same "if I just did things right I would win" feeling while dying over and over. But DS1 is an amazingly built world with a lot of emotional connection to NPCs that feel much more organic than plenty of other games. Some bosses are challenging, sure, but it's not as technically difficult as the later games in the series.

All that said, I would strongly recommend the game. And once you beat the first you might just find yourself wanting to continue the journey through the other 6 from software games in the same spirit.

A lot of people who aren't very good at video games or who don't have a lot of time to play are put off by games that are compared to Dark Souls.

No one ever says a game is "the Dark Souls of genre" because they're saying it has great atmosphere, deep lore, and an incredibly well-made level system that connects its levels together so well — which are all great attributes of the first Dark Souls.

What people usually mean by "the Dark Souls of genre" is unrelenting difficulty, a brutal checkpoint system, complicated inventory management, and harsh consequences upon death.

I can totally get why someone who only has maybe an hour a day to play would see something compared to Dark Souls and decide to avoid it because they don't want to spend weeks dying to the same boss until they've perfectly memorized its moveset — which is the image of Dark Souls that a lot of its fanbase has cultivated.

To be clear: I fucking love Dark Souls. I've played and replayed Demon's Souls, DS1–3, Bloodborne, Sekiro, and Elden Ring more times than I can count.

Tbf there were a couple of bosses in HK where this really annoyed me and got super frustrating. I may have yelled at my screen a few times. But I liked the rest of the game too much to quit cause of that.

* This ended up a bit longer than expected, sorry.

Mostly that "most punishing game series ever" trope that gets tossed around so much. My reflexes and patience ain't nowhere near what they used to be - which, granted, ain't saying much - so I assumed I'd find myself raging at it, and I'm not a fan of getting pissed at recreational activities I'm supposed to be enjoying.

Then one day someone posted here about how the 2004 release of Ninja Gaiden was like DS's grandpappy or something to that affect, and back then I aced that game with a drunken, shit-eating grin on my face. I already love the "simplicity" of Metroidvanias, so I thought ~10 years of life-altering mistakes, booze, and pill abuse couldn't have fucked me out that badly, right? Right? How hard could a "2D" game really be?

The answer was "plenty," but it struck a chord I had forgotten the sound of. For the first time in over a decade I found myself leaning in, standing up, saying shit like "Oh come on!!", but it wasn't at the game; it was at me, swinging my nail too early, getting greedy on offense, misjudging how hard I had to press jump, or simply not looking down before carelessly dropping into a new area (damn Primal Aspids and Giant Hoppers.)

It took some hours but I genuinely felt like an engine that had just been cranked up for the first time in ages; sure there was schmutz clogging the intake, the fuel was starting to coagulate, but I needed to get back out on the highway and blow it out if I planned to keep using it. If I "broke down" then at least I could say I tried.

>!When Myra attacked me, I gave the kid the controller, asked him to put her down, get me to a bench, and I went to collect myself.!< He lost all my Geo, but the kid adored it. Decided I'd take a break and see how he'd go about it; He's going all-in on a "mage" build, where I relied solely on the Nail - spells were just for progression uses and some i-frames here and there. We're gonna beat it/start the Grimm Troupe stuff at the same time; don't get much time with him and he usually goes for stuff like Borderlands, Rainbow Six, Titanfall, Roblox, or Fortnite; which is fun to watch, sure; but he (well, we) can be as careless and spaztic as we want without many "consequences." Always fun to see how quickly kids shift gears and adapt to shit, especially compared to my raggedy ass.

Also I just don't want it end yet. At least not until there's a better idea on when Silksong will roll out :(

Yup. Just played the first area on my PC yesterday, but will be away and travelling until the 7th. Have my SD with me, so maybe I'll finish it by the time I'm back. The deck is great.

Just started playing Hollow Knight, got to the first grassy area. Taking my Steam Deck while travelling for the holidays, might finish it before getting back, but looks like a long game. Very excited though.

Akino akino!

The android "version" is a pirated wrapper, not a port.

Shhh... if you never visit Myla after the infection spreads, technically she is still alive... sobs in corner. I used to visit her just to hear her hum :( . Why you do that Team Cherry.

No directive is one thing but like Dark Souls games when you die you respawn far away from where you were and then need to do all that way again and defeat all the enemies in the way again

I think having no idea where to go is part of the point, you're just exploring a vast abandoned kingdom

Impressive! I never did manage to finish the pantheon

It is quite melancholy

Wait really?? That's impressive.

Do it. I'm not usually a Metroidvania fan, but HK is one of the best games I've ever played.

And I've played a lot of games.

This is beautiful!!

The team was 4 people. One left in 2017, the year the game released.

This also doesn't include the composer & sound guy, marketing, voice acting, QA & testing, etc.

Still a great feat for a small team, but not really 3 people.

I very recently got the platinum trophy for this game...after years! Only 93 in game hours though.

ok im downloading hollow knight

Also, its sequel, Silksong, is set to come out next year! You play as Hornet

Did you share a final moment with him? :(

Same, felt disoriented the whole time and didn’t even mind the frustrating checkpoints. Just not for me but it was really nostalgic and beautiful.

Insane

Fantastic!