Second Play-through Observations

I grabbed Hollow Knight off the Nintendo Store on a whim last year, and it promptly became one of my favorite games of all time.

I am in the process of replaying it for a second time and I had a few observations:

• The music and art direction is still absolutely gorgeous. I wanted so badly to be able to put a favorite theme here, but I really can't decide

• I definitely lost a lot of health from shadow dashing through enemies without actually having the shade cloak. I think that's a huge testament to how amazing the controls are for HK - once you get used to them, they feel completely natural and it's hard to live without an ability

• There are a lot of fights that feel REALLY GOOD the second time around: Hornet and Soul Master being the main ones. They kicked my ass the first time and it was invigorating to be able to turn the tables this time

• The Mantis Lords still killed me. They are just so damn fast. Probably the best designed fight in the entire game

• Dung Defender is adorable

• The best charm in the whole damn game is Sharp Shadow

• This time around, I find myself using the Nail Arts (specifically Great Slash) A LOT more. I use Great Slash all the time. Every fight pretty much

• Deepnest is still literally the worst place ever. Stalking Devouts are the worst enemy. I hate them. Plus when you're almost dead and there are CONSTANT floors that fall away to spikes

• I've learned to avoid enemies a lot this time rather than prove that I can beat them

• The platforming sections really are not at all that bad...except for the one in Deepnest where you have to vertically pogo a garpede for one of the most lame rewards in the entire game

• Elder Hu is not fun without the shade cloak

• Some of the enemies I thought were really easy are kicking my ass this time: I died to Nosk and the Failed Champion multiple times after 1-shotting both in my previous play

• The first two levels of the Colosseum are a joke and the Trial of Fools is just as impossible as I remember

• Poor, poor Tiso

• Still a 10/10 Masterpiece

• Zote and his dumb ass were left to die in Deepnest. How dare he try and ruin my Dirtmouth experience

• I'm so ready for Silksong

Submitted August 21, 2019 at 08:20AM by stayhoided https://ift.tt/2ZqhKLW