Hollow Knight: SilksongWhen it finally releases, it is expected to push the boundaries of its predecessor and implement significant differences in the areas of environment, gameplay and narrative. Silk Song will almost certainly follow the same framework as its predecessor, but its unique premise, particularly in relation to its new protagonist, offers opportunity for novel choices.

The first Hollow Knight takes over core elements from the Metroid And Castlevania franchise, making it the de facto Metroidvania blueprint for the modern gaming landscape. Following the conventions of the genre, exploration revolves around discovering new movement abilities that open up different paths, some of which are important to the story and others required to access side content. Unlocking these new abilities gives the game a unique rhythm, as the gameplay evolves over time as the map grows. But with Hornet at the helm of Hollow Knight: SilksongTeam Cherry will likely make some major changes to how players interact with this proven framework, bringing with it more unique abilities and mechanics.

How Hollow Knight: Silksong’s Metroidvania gameplay can step out of its predecessor’s shadow

The first Hollow Knight stays true to the most important Metroidvania classics

Hollow Knight takes its cues from the best Metroidvanias out there, taking full advantage of the genre’s tried-and-true gameplay elements. While it remixes and recontextualizes some of those elements through clever level design, narrative circumstances, and satisfying controls, it doesn’t exactly reinvent the wheel. The genre’s most common mechanics are reworked through Hollow Knight‘s movement abilities:

• Desolate Dive: hits the ground and causes damage, destroying certain structures
• Mothwing Cloak: allows sprints on foot and in the air
• Mantis Claw: enables wall jumping and hanging
• Crystal Heart: lets the knight catapult forward indefinitely
• Isma’s Tear: makes the knight immune to poison swamps

These unlockable skills have the advantage of radically changing the feel of the game, but Silk Song can take things a step further by offering more distinctive and original abilities, thus refining the Metroidvania formula. In fact, it can be argued that it is Silk Song Hornet differently, as she is a different character with different inclinations, experiences, etc. That would also help Silk Song feel fresh.

This is what Hornet’s Metroidvania mechanics could look like

Team Cherry has already given the audience a glimpse into Hornet’s gameplay, Silk Song Trailers have shown some key abilities, like a grapple and a dash-and-bounce move that looks like an evolution of Hollow Knight‘s jumping mechanics. These abilities seem to reflect Hornet’s more acrobatic and agile movement style, providing further opportunities for growth and iteration.

Following the fluidity and speed thesis, Hornet’s abilities could emphasize faster movement, which would naturally fit with Metroidvania level design. For example, the game could have some sort of moving obstacle that can only be overcome by an unlockable high-speed ability, such as sprinting or quickly climbing a wall. Based on what players have seen of Hornet, she seems to be at least as capable as the Knight in the mid- and late-game. Hollow Knightso it would make sense for Silk Song to equip them with many of the same basic abilities that players acquired in the first game, such as sprinting and wall jumping.

This skill retention would help Silk Song get started right away, but that would also mean that Team Cherry would have to get more inventive with Hornet’s tertiary abilities. This could be as simple as adding a second double jump, or it could be more complex and use Hornet’s thread powers or gadgets.

Hornet’s autonomy and intelligence compared to the Knight could play a key role in her toolbox for locomotion. She could use more advanced tools as seen in combat, which is Silk SongAccording to ‘s first trailers, she can explore the kingdom of Pharloom. Her ability to speak could also play a role in gameplay, as she could potentially enlist the help of other intelligent creatures to travel and move around, reaching new areas with the help of various allies.