Summary
Being a Metroidvania,Hollow Knight: Silksongis expected to have beautiful environments with many interesting things to discover. It is a world that Team Cherry aims to produce for its players for the sequel, but how the developer will do so is still a mystery. It is possible that it could take note of and incorporate how certain items, mechanics, andlocations inHollow Knightreference other games. Doing so and more could subtly bring additional life toSilksong’s world, but it could also do more harm than good.
Hollow Knight: Silksong’s predecessor had many large areas that players were required to explore. One of the ways the game keeps players interested and actively engaged is by using its different aspects to reference other titles. It could be as clear as Grubberfly’s Elegy referencing aLegend of Zeldatechnique or something as subtle as the Dashmaster charm resembling Sans fromUndertale.Silksongcould go harder on the references, but doing so could lead to problems that affect players' views of the game. It is a decision that Team Cherry must consider as incorporating more has serious advantages and drawbacks.
How Silksong Could Benefit From Having More References
Ifthe world ofHollow Knightcould benefit from incorporating several references, thenSilksongcould gain even more by outdoing its predecessor in making odes to other games. There are a few advantages of the sequel doing so, which include:
Silksong’s kingdom of Pharloomcould become a world greater than Hallownest if Team Cherry properly incorporates many different references in the sequel. There is no limit on what the developer could potentially place, but it has to make sure that whatever is added is something that ties into the world perfectly.
How Too Many References Could Also Be Detrimental to Silksong
While a game can pay homage to any title, doing so too many times could actually lead to big consequences. There are alreadyconcerns aboutSilksongbeing in development helland having it incorporate more references than necessary would be like adding fuel to the fire. Filling the sequel with more references than necessary would mean Team Cherry trying to figure out how to tie them seamlessly into the world. This means a lot of time and effort will be spent on when, where, and how they should be placed, which could lead to the development of other aspects being neglected or affected negatively.
Too many references could also make the sequel lose its identity.Hollow Knightis considered one of the best Soulslike gamesbecause it has a harsh but beautiful world with incredible gameplay that certain references helped cultivate. IfSilksongwere to go the opposite route and use numerous references to help create its environments, then it could result in everything becoming an amalgamation of ideas put together without any thought or coherency. The sequel must be consistent with how it wants to portray itself to its fans, and paying homage to too many titles could prevent it from doing that.
Silksong’s long and quiet development cycle could be good for fans as it might mean Team Cherry is seriously considering what content will appease everyone. The process may involve the developer adding more references to the sequel than when they did withHollow Knight, something that could either turn out well or horribly wrong. While it may mean fans have more to look forward to, it could also lead to problems that could overshadow the brilliance of the game’s other aspects.
Hollow Knight: Silksong
WHERE TO PLAY
Play as Hornet, princess-protector of Hallownest, and adventure through a whole new kingdom ruled by silk and song! Captured and brought to this unfamiliar world, Hornet must battle foes and solve mysteries as she ascends on a deadly pilgrimage to the kingdom’s peak.Hollow Knight: Silksong is the epic sequel to Hollow Knight, the award winning action-adventure. As the lethal hunter Hornet, journey to all-new lands, discover new powers, battle vast hordes of bugs and beasts and uncover ancient secrets tied to your nature and your past.
