Hollow Knight Review

Anthony Kuczynski

December 2020

The video game Hollow Knight, created in 2017 by indie developer Team Cherry, boasts a combination of beautiful animation, an engaging story rich in lore and a host of other elements that make it a masterpiece.

The game is a genuine testament that indie studios passionate about their work can go toe to toe with -- if not blow out of the water entirely -- larger game studios that put profit margins before quality (ahem, Electronic Arts).

You begin as a knight who sets foot in the disconsolate lands of Hollownest, the in-game world. The first town that the player arrives in is Dirtmouth, the jumping-off point for a long journey as well as a home base of sorts where you can buy important items such as charms and markers.

The setting of Hollownest is shrouded with mystery. Though like all great pieces of art, Hollow Knight prefers to show rather than tell. The narrative of the game unravels not through lengthy cutscenes but through clues in the surrounding environment. This method of storytelling effortlessly draws the player into the mysteries of Hollownest’s once-great insect kingdom, and is what first evoked my interest in this game.

Hollow Knight’s gloomy in-game environment contrasts nicely with the light-hearted nature of the game’s characters. The soundtrack, beautifully orchestrated by Christopher Larkin, is meticulously divided into specific parts that each correspond to a different area in Hollownest.

Combat in Hollow knight might feel rudimentary at first, but as the game progresses you realize that the combat relies on precision, quick thinking and the ability to predict enemies' attack patterns. Hollow knight's difficulty level is not unfair, but is nonetheless high.

Soul Master, one of the most challenging bosses, almost made me throw out the game in pure frustration after all the times I died trying to beat him! Eventually, however, I was able to predict his attack patterns and defeat him, one of many hard-earned triumphs that makes the game so rewarding. If you like fighting difficult enemies with interesting attack patterns, in addition to top notch soundtracks, animation and storylines, Hollow Knight is the game for you.

Hollow Knight is available on all major gaming platforms, including the PlayStation 4, X-Box One, Steam and the Nintendo Switch. The author recommends the game for Nintendo Switch users in particular, however, for whom it is a “must-buy”.