Hollow Knight: Silksong Should Double Down on One Type of…

Expectant fans everywhere are still waiting for an update on Hollow Knight: Silksong, even as more potential dates and occasions for news continue to pass. Announced in February 2019, this game immediately turned a lot of heads thanks to the growing success of the original 2017 Hollow Knight. The 2D indie metroidvania managed to nail its action, platforming, exploration, and all aspects of its presentation, and Hollow Knight: Silksong was expected to bring about more of the same. What has happened since then isn't clear, but Silksong’s launch was delayed past 2023, and it’s been silent since.

Whenever Hollow Knight: Silksong is ready, players can expect to take control of Hornet, the first installment’s rival character and the Princess-Protector of Hallownest. Silksong is an expanded take on Hornet DLC that was planned for the first Hollow Knight, and is expected to provide a similar but altogether distinct experience in the new kingdom of Pharloom. With instant healing, a more surfaced questing system, new equipment options, and potentially twice as much content, Hollow Knight: Silksong is gunning for Hollow Knight's throne, but it can't forget one important step the original took to get there.

Silksong Shouldn't Let Hollow Knight Bosses Go To Waste

Hollow Knight: Silksong's predecessor has much it can offer to help improve its sequel, and boss fights could be one of those things.

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By Enricko Ozoa

Some Of Hollow Knight’s Most Interesting Bosses Were Opt-In Affairs

Like with many Soulslikes, a major focus of Hollow Knight is its boss fights. Around 30 bosses were in the game at launch, and even more were added over time. Included in both the base game and various updates are several “Dream Bosses,” who are accessed by using Hollow Knight's Dream Nail item on certain places or characters. This prompts a battle with a harder version of whatever boss was related to the entrance point, and these are always different from the original fight. Grey Prince Zote is the only one that can be considered a whole new fight, but there are more universal changes than just attack patterns.

What Makes Dream Bosses Stand Out

Besides killing Nightmare King Grimm being necessary for one of the Grimm Troupe’s endings, and the other five bosses awarding lots of Essence for the true ending, none of these fights are mandatory for progress. Instead, because Dream Bosses are fought in the Dream Realm, players can duel them to their heart's content without any fear of losing resources. No Shade is left behind on death, meaning no lost Geo or SOUL Meter, and the useful Fragile Charms from Leg Eater also don't break. In fact, Steel Soul permadeath runs don't even end when dying to a Dream Boss, making them the ideal optional challenges.

Dream Bosses Would Be Great Additions To Hollow Knight: Silksong

Silksong's New Features Grant More Room To Dream Bosses

Expectations for lots of great new bosses in Hollow Knight: Silksong are already present, but fans have every reason to want some equivalent to these Dream Bosses as well. They are original, optional content that tests expert players’ mettle and rewards them with varied bonuses upon completion, something that sounds perfect for Silksong's larger proposed scope. A dedicated boss rush and boss rematch system like what Godhome offers is also important, but the more easily produced, but still bespoke content of the Dream Bosses holds value for even casual players looking to safely dip their toes into endgame content.

How Hollow Knight: Silksong will handle its equivalent to a Dream Nail is unknown, but the merits of Dream Bosses are great enough that it should consider adding one just for them. Dream Bosses can be worked directly into Silksong's quests like they were in the first game, with even greater variety in their rewards and progression. A couple of those bosses even encouraged repeat playthroughs with varying differences in each successive fight, which Silksong can experiment with further. Hollow Knight's Dream Bosses have a lot to offer Hollow Knight: Silksong and its players, and hopefully, Team Cherry takes full advantage of them.

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