Yep, that contrast from the grey and dull to the lively green really intrigued me to uncover how many vibe shifts can this game have, which led me to many more amazing moments.
I think that's why Silksong is taking so long. TC knows there are high expectations, and they set a high bar, and they're trying to deliver something bigger and better and probably feeling a lot of pressure.
@@samcunningham9804 for sure, mechanically there are obvious comparissions. I meant the vibe this game gives off, at least to me. I can scroll through my whole game library but Hollow Knight will forever stick out, it's almost as if it has an aura around it. But that's just me and I'm sure not many people will relate with that
I could not agree more on the pathway to the City of Tears. One of the only things I remember clearly from my very first playthrough, having done 10s of playthroughs since, is sitting down on the bench with Quirrel and just listening to the rain and taking in the gorgeous ambiance.
Honestly I was hooked the moment I walked into green path from the forgotten crossroads. The forgotten crossroads had me thinking that the whole game was going to be kind of moody and colorless, but walking into green path and seeing all the vibrance was amazing. The sound design in green path is especially immaculate, I would definitely recommend exploring it with headphones. Love the ost and all the little noises of walking on grass and slashing vines.
Logistics wise, it makes sense since it’s the capital city of Hallownest, but at the same time, it’s symbolic in that the City of Tears represents the story of Hallownest in a nutshell, just from its state of existence within the game, so it makes sense that the city is what opens up the entirety of Hallownest for you on that front as well.
I saw the title of the video and was immediately able to guess the two experiences based on my own first playthrough. Two very well designed moments for sure! It is a bit of a shame that the beginning of the game has such slow pacing though. Many players do indeed quit before reaching Mantis Lords.
That one bench, with Quirrel, at the start of the City always gets to me. There is something profound about that moment of respite, rain pattering against the window, shared with a friend right between the tense intro and the great and dangerous unknown of the rest of the game. It's one of my desktop wallpapers and very rightly the last image in this video. What a game.
I was lost forever because i didn’t know to pogo off the flowers early on. When i finally figured that out and fought The Mantis Sisters….. It changed everything. I was hooked. Great video.
Yeah, happened for me in greenpath with the big floaty shell things you're meant to pogo in some rooms. I just wanted to check if it was an ability I got later, or I was missing something
For me, my two moments were when I first walked into green path, before I gave up because it was boring, but green path showed me it was more. My second time was when I went into city of tears for the first time, and for the same reasons as you, but it cemented itself the moment I sat on the bench next to Quirrel for me.
the moment that trasformed the game to my eyes was seeing hornet retreating back deep into greenpath, because wow, there was another charachter with a white mask like me, but unlike elderbug, it moves, that means i was gonna get some lore soon. and i like greenpath in general: the music, the theme, a range of new enemies that weren't what i was used to and the first hint to the true objective thta we had to achieve, free the hollow knight from the radiance
I am one of those that bounced off a few times. I'm gonna pause the video now and go play it again so I don't spoil anything, but I'll give myself that 10 hour challenge like you had!
Dude I ALWAYS nod back to those mantis' bows when I pass them, it's such a qute little moment! The other one is just sitting a bit on a bench with Bretta until she blushes :3
This is the first time I’m watching you, and all I have to say is that this video is on a high level. TH-camrs with hundreds of thousands of subscribers can’t always make videos of this quality. It included jokes aswell as a great storytelling which easily convinced me to stay throughout the entire video. You definetly earned my sub and if you keep this up Im sure you’ll make it big!
In my first playthrough of the game I totally missed the pathway towards the City of Tears. I instead fought my way through Deepnest, collected the tram pass and used it to go to the Kingdom's Edge. I climbed all the way to the top and found the right-most entrance to the city from there. I didn't realize there was a different way to get in until I explored the area more, but when I did I was in pure awe: the game functioned perfectly despite me missing the most obvious of hints and the experience felt great regardless. Then and there I knew the game was an absolute masterpiece that unlocked a new sense of freedom that most game struggle to imitate.
I'm so happy someone else sees Mantis Lords as a sort of dance. I've said this for years about the Mantis Lords, and they're just SO. FREAKING. FUN! Hollow Knight will forever be one of my favorite games of ALL TIME. Thank you Hutchkey, this video made me tear up multiple times, this is more than a game, it means so much to so many people.
There were two moments in Hollow Knight that completely changed my perspective on the game. When I first started playing, I wasn’t really engaged. I wandered around wondering what the point of the game was, and even after reaching the Forgotten Crossroads, I still wasn’t feeling it. I didn’t know where to go or what to do. But then I reached Greenpath. The ambience, the atmosphere-it all changed in an instant. The moment I heard the music, I immediately perked up and felt way more connected to the game. That was the first moment that truly pulled me in. The second moment was when I entered the City of Tears. At that point, I still hadn’t pieced together that the maps were connected. Every time I passed the elevator in the Forgotten Crossroads-the one that can’t be accessed until you unlock the City of Tears-I was so curious about where it led. The area near the elevator was eerily quiet, with no music, which only made me more eager to explore. When I finally entered the City of Tears, I was blown away. The atmosphere was unlike anything else in the game. Even the enemies felt different. Like you mentioned in your video, Hollow Knight’s combat is usually simple, and most enemies aren’t too threatening. But when I first encountered the Great Husk Sentry, I actually struggled. I died a few times, and in my opinion, those enemies were a real challenge. In fact, the Great Husk Sentry is one of my favorite enemies in the game because it actually feels strong, unlike others that go down in just a few hits. What made the City of Tears even better was its sheer size. When I got there, I was glued to my screen for about a week, determined to explore every inch of it. And then there was the Ancient Basin-another fascinating area. But by far, the two biggest moments for me were discovering Greenpath and stepping into the City of Tears. Those experiences were absolutely unforgettable
You hit the nail on the head with this one, the mantis lords fight is when the games combat and story really start to take up your thoughts, and I will never forget sitting on that bench with Quirrel in the city of tears, It's my pc screensaver too, with the animated rain, and the muted song constantly playing whenever I'm on my pc. It feels more like home than home does.
I completely agree. The mantis lords remains my fav fight in the game to this day (barring the sisters of battle) And on top of the atmosphere, learning that I am in fact NOT the hollow knight from a mini cutscene in the most beautiful area in the game imo. Absolute cinema. 🙌
The City of Tears is absolutely memorable. And I think most of it is explained, at least for me, the absolute perfect match between the visuals, the environment, and (most of all) the music
The mantis lords man. They took me forever to beat, but they are now my absolute favourite boss fight. I ADORE the rhythm of that fight. I constantly go back to godhome to fight them. The rhythm man. THE RHYTHM.
thats wild, these were also my two moments. when you step into city of tears for the first time, the music kicks up. you think "wow, that's such a pretty melody. i can only imagine what the rest of the area is like." and then you step out of that tower for the first time, and more layers are added, and there's that vocalization. peak cinema
I love that your moments where so completely different from mine. I saw the mantis lords just as another boss i needed to kill. But you never even mentioned greenpath in this video, which left a profound impact on me. I love the ambiance, the feeling, the music and the artwork of hollow knight. I love the bossfights and that you'll find your own place in hallownest. You have completely different reasons, and yet, we love it all the same. That's what makes hollow knight such a masterpiece.
For me, the moment the game won me over was right in Dirtmouth, with its melancholic music that still moves me to this day, perfectly conveying a sense of emptiness and mystery, inviting you to explore this fascinating world. Besides that, of course, the game's perfect and meticulous design in all its aspects
my two personal best moments were 1) The mantis because it was very challenging for me (about 20 tries) and I really enjoyed the learning process as the game design is really good providing you all the necessary information to learn. 2) The first time I got to the dream world. It was completely unexpected and I just wanted to know what happened and what was this new world. I feld like the game had suprises everywhere and it gave me motivation to go through all the previous areas and look for details and missed stuff. Also a top -1 moment is the lever after dug defender, I missed it and ended up completely stuck for a few hours, I was forced to look up the solution on internet and felt stupid.
I'd say one of the most memorable moments for me is when I beat grimm, killed the nightmare thingies, and then went back and found myself a new, harder, and more fun boss
I remember the first time I played hollow knight. I didn't really enjoy my entire first playthrough, as I was rushing the game - didnt see what metroidvanias are about and such. The second playthrough and the many more to come solidified it as one of my favourite games of all time tho. It just clicked at some point and doing the "true" ending really put a lot of the game into perspective for me
This is an awesome video. I hope to see your channel grow, you are a really strong storyteller. City of tears was definitely a core experience for me too, and I got lost in the first area and gave up, and then came back months later. I feel like the issue with the crossroads is there’s only one area to progress to, which is through the entrance to green path. But, throughout hollow knight, there are multiple areas you can go simultaneously, or always have options (for example, the tram and the elevator shaft below the city that both go to ancient basin) I feel like this is hollow knights biggest flaw and takes a toll on the amount of players who stick to the game. I’m so grateful I gave it another chance though, definitely one of the greatest games period.
Completely agree! I do think the most memorable moment for me, was when I accidentally rested at the bench in Deepnest after I fell into it. They read me like a book.
This game was the first video game I ever clicked with. I'd been feeling a need for a game where I could wander and get lost and feel wonder but had no idea if that even existed. Hollow Knight filled every longing want I ever had. This game is truly wonderful
I will always love the City of Tears. Had a girl over at my apartment, and we had gotten high, and she was out in the living room wanting to watch something on the TV. I told her I had to use the bathroom, which was in my bedroom, so I went to my room, used the bathroom, and came out. Before she came over, I was playing Hollow Knight in my bedroom, and had gotten to the City of Tears, and left my game running. I must have sat there for seven minutes just looking at the rain fall on the city in the background, listening to the music. She finally came in to check on me and although I tried to explain it, she couldn’t understand why I was so hypnotized by this game. I went back into the living room, but in that moment, a single area in a video game was more important to me than a woman, and that is by no means easy for a game to do lmfao!
As the emotional climax of the story, the Birthplace dream sequence obviously occurs well after your “hooked”. But if I already had moments that took the game from good to great, this was the moment that took it from great to GOAT-contender. For a game with little dialog and a story mostly told in the form of cryptic lore drops, the dream sequence / memory is an absolute master class in story telling. Before it is hinted that you are just one of many discarded vessels. (No cost too great.) However to not only see it happen, but to PLAY it, climbing out of the Abyss as the music swells only to fall ruthlessly down. Ooof. And the slight little look the young Hollow Knight gives to suggest it might not be totally hollow. Big oooof. The Knight may be an empty vessel, but I’m not! That scene hit hard.
Wow, @hutchkey, I'm new to your content... you are a very, very, VERY gifted and talented writer. Your structure and diction is top notch. As a professional creative writer, I appreciate your effort here, and (presumably) the constant rewrites as you compose your script. This is all very well composed. As for the content, thank you for sharing a bit of your relationship with the game. I also started, and threw it away, several times until I "got it." But once I got it, there was simply no going back.
Similarly to you, the City of Tears ambience is just something else to me. And also the Hollow Knight statue. Seeing it shocked me for some reason lol But my favorite moment of all time, though very late game 💀, is the Abyss climb after you get the void heart. The OST and the amazing dialogue, it immersed me so so much even though I wouldn't call this game immersive. Not to mention the plottwist at the end of the climb 👀 10/10 moment
I have hundreds of hours on Hollow Knight, more than any other game I've probably ever played. I went from struggling past the False Knight to now defeating the Hollow Knight in one try and running play throughs on Steel Soul mode. Like the nailsmith, it's honed my platforming beyond any expectations. Soul Master has always been my favourite fight though.
This is a perfect representation of my favorite game on this planet! Thank you for being so particular with your words and trying your best to relay just how good this game really is.
Honestly, what got me into Hollow Knight were the boss fights. Constantly getting my skull caved in by something I thought I couldn't beat only to do it a little while later is an awesome feeling. Can't wait for Silksong so my skull can be bashed in some more!!!
I clicked into this video wondering what the other thing was going to be besides the Mantis Lords. As a game design nerd, I am fascinated by the idea of presentation, and I would place the Mantis Lords at #2 out of any game I have ever played in terms of presentation.
on my first playthrough, i went straight over the pit of the mantis lords, i didnt even SEE it. i just thought 'WALL JUMP? now i can go chase that character' and went to city of tears. Might be cause im autistic but the game clicked the second i loaded into the game. I went left, got the geo rock and saw the gap above me. And when i saw the map for the first time i was on a mission, it was literately the perfect game. (i went back and challenged the lords because i saw the door from deepnest's side after getting double jump and taking tram)
I also tried the game a few times, played max 2 hours and still didnt "feel" it. You just convinced me to give it another try, maybe for a longer time. Hope it clicks this time!
My main two moments were. 1. After a so lifeless map (Crossroads), to stumble into a so rich a lifefull place (Greenpath), I went speechless. 2. YES YES YES AND YES getting into the City of Tears for the first time FOR SURE! It has so much weight that I sat at the bench for minutes just because I cold, to listen the music, the rain, to feel the atmosphere.
I held off on Hollow Knight for so long. After paying Ori and the blind Forest it just didn't appeal. This game ended up being my fav game of all time. Over 400hrs into it, and it's the first game I've EVER wish I could forget and experience it for the first time again. A true matter piece in story telling, game design, soundtrack and ambiance.
I felt the exact same with the mantis. I ended up fighting them pretty late but god, how this fight is entertaining ... I'm pretty sure even after not playing the game for more than a year I could pick up the fight and clean it without a hit taken, it's written in my reflexes now
I'm literally sitting in the same boat at 1:40. I've been trying to play and off for about 2 years, and only got 10h. Recently got a bit of a longer session going on and I think i'm getting there, slowly
That experience is extremely common, have seen many of these videos and almost all mention the same thing.. happened to me as well. Once it clicks you’ll be addicted
@ruohos last time i went to mantis village and I kep attacking on instinct, cuz yeah they were mobs. Until i realized one of them had a different idle pose. Then it hit me, just like this video. City of tears is beautiful, but it didn't get me. I took a long break even after arriving there. But mantis aftermath, and especially just a couple weeks ago, I somehow ended up in a "dream" to avoid spoiling. That was... So interesting. I have finally learnt what that plant does that i saw everywhere haha. I just want to unlock new abilities and finally buy the charm that lets me see in the dark to progress on other areas. I want to get abilities just for exploration's sake. And this is where I am at currently. Perhaps explored places I shouldn't have access to, at least with my current setup, but it feels nice improving on the most basic skills after slashing so many times. This is why I mentioned I'm getting there. I'm happy that I'm finally "hooked" in the gameplay loop, despite it being my first of its genre. Now, i'll continue until the next big thing happens, which will turn me from being hooked to loving it. I can feel it. This game is truly something else. It has lots of attention to detail and many mysteries!
I don't remember why I bought hollow knight in my freshman year back in 2020. I didn't know anything about the game prior to that and only heard that its good from forums and stuff. Best pirchase of my life I binged the game in a week and it was the best gaming experience I have had.
My click moment was really really early, in kings pass even. There were some spikes way too long to cross over, but cause I wanted to see what'd happen if I tried, I went to ju8mp over them and when I couldnt make the jump I just slashed down trying to break them. Bounce. And thats when I knew the game had deeper depths then it'd even hinted at and I'd found one of them by accident. From there the whole place was a mystery, what other secrets were hiding, what else could I do that I wasn't told? It was a spark that lit the exploration fire in me.
I'm currently going through my second playthrough of the game. My first took 34 hours, as I didn't know Hollow Knight's world would have been a mix of an open world map with a metroidvania one. It's truly a fest in gaming history for the genre, but it never fully clicked for me on my first playthrough, probably because I'm not a fan of open world games. I prefer more linear-based level designs, as I personally believe that creativity and charm are easily evoked through their boundaries. Hollow Knight was the first to break that opinion for me, yet it still didn't wow me, so I'm hoping it clicks with me this time around.
I finished Hollow Knight at about 60% the first time, thought it was beautifully made but didn't know what the game was about. Like you, didn't quite understand the praise and went back for a second look about 6 months later. The second time, finished at 112%. And then did it again after I pieced the story together. It's now one of my favorite games. When and if we get Silksong, it's got a tough act to follow.
EVERYONE I know who has played through all of hollow knight (which is 5 people including myself) have all played the game for less than two hours and then dropped it, only to pick it up again for whatever reason a year or so down the line. I don't know why but its interesting as.
Seeing the knight bow back at 5:03 would make even my dog tear up
I always bow to them back xD
I just realized that, thats very beautifull actually.
I think one of the moments for me was first entering Green Path, where the world finally changed from bleak and muted -- to alive and vibrant.
yup, this and first hornet fight for me. took me like 50 tries lmaooo
Yep, that contrast from the grey and dull to the lively green really intrigued me to uncover how many vibe shifts can this game have, which led me to many more amazing moments.
Hollow Knight truly feels like there will never be anything like it. It's not even comparible to anything, it just feels... extraordinary
SILKSONG SOON
Try any of the older super metroid games. Theyre nowhere near as beautiful but the gameplay is similar and theyre worth playing through.
I think that's why Silksong is taking so long. TC knows there are high expectations, and they set a high bar, and they're trying to deliver something bigger and better and probably feeling a lot of pressure.
@@samcunningham9804 for sure, mechanically there are obvious comparissions. I meant the vibe this game gives off, at least to me. I can scroll through my whole game library but Hollow Knight will forever stick out, it's almost as if it has an aura around it. But that's just me and I'm sure not many people will relate with that
Well yeah the sequel will never come out so there’ll never be another hollow knight
I almost lost my mind when I entered the city of tears for the first time, slowly going down the elevator with the title card dramatically appearing.
3:10, moment you said it wasn't Hornet, I was absolutely chanting in my head, mantis lords!
I could not agree more on the pathway to the City of Tears. One of the only things I remember clearly from my very first playthrough, having done 10s of playthroughs since, is sitting down on the bench with Quirrel and just listening to the rain and taking in the gorgeous ambiance.
Sitting on the bench with Quirrel was unforgettable
@@Zecocoz-z8s literally the best moment of the game imo
The city of tears was the second last map I discovered so I completely came into it from the wrong angle lol
Honestly I was hooked the moment I walked into green path from the forgotten crossroads. The forgotten crossroads had me thinking that the whole game was going to be kind of moody and colorless, but walking into green path and seeing all the vibrance was amazing. The sound design in green path is especially immaculate, I would definitely recommend exploring it with headphones. Love the ost and all the little noises of walking on grass and slashing vines.
the fact that city of tears marks the point of being able to access every area is hallownest makes its entry even more important
Logistics wise, it makes sense since it’s the capital city of Hallownest, but at the same time, it’s symbolic in that the City of Tears represents the story of Hallownest in a nutshell, just from its state of existence within the game, so it makes sense that the city is what opens up the entirety of Hallownest for you on that front as well.
All roads lead to the City of Tears.
I would sell my left lung just to get to experience Hollow Knight for the first time again😢
DUDE! Are there more “Bapanada” lovers?!
Yep😂😂
Me too but I always head bafanada
Hae.... bapanada
BAPANADA!!!!
I also love the fungal wastes “wah” enemies. And the Stag also has a great “voice”
I saw the title of the video and was immediately able to guess the two experiences based on my own first playthrough. Two very well designed moments for sure!
It is a bit of a shame that the beginning of the game has such slow pacing though. Many players do indeed quit before reaching Mantis Lords.
The fact that the start of the game is slow makes these moments even more memorable and impactful.
That one bench, with Quirrel, at the start of the City always gets to me. There is something profound about that moment of respite, rain pattering against the window, shared with a friend right between the tense intro and the great and dangerous unknown of the rest of the game. It's one of my desktop wallpapers and very rightly the last image in this video. What a game.
algoritm bless this guy
I was lost forever because i didn’t know to pogo off the flowers early on.
When i finally figured that out and fought The Mantis Sisters…..
It changed everything.
I was hooked.
Great video.
ikr I couldn't for the life of me figure out the mushrooms were supposed to be pogoed
Yeah, happened for me in greenpath with the big floaty shell things you're meant to pogo in some rooms. I just wanted to check if it was an ability I got later, or I was missing something
For me, my two moments were when I first walked into green path, before I gave up because it was boring, but green path showed me it was more. My second time was when I went into city of tears for the first time, and for the same reasons as you, but it cemented itself the moment I sat on the bench next to Quirrel for me.
the moment that trasformed the game to my eyes was seeing hornet retreating back deep into greenpath, because wow, there was another charachter with a white mask like me, but unlike elderbug, it moves, that means i was gonna get some lore soon. and i like greenpath in general: the music, the theme, a range of new enemies that weren't what i was used to and the first hint to the true objective thta we had to achieve, free the hollow knight from the radiance
the bank lady is one of the greatest gaming moments of all time
I'm tearing up EVERY TIME I hear the City of Tears music. It's truly the best area in the game.
I am one of those that bounced off a few times.
I'm gonna pause the video now and go play it again so I don't spoil anything, but I'll give myself that 10 hour challenge like you had!
(I'm not the OP, I'm just here to give support hehe) I'm happy for you! I hope you do end up enjoying it. ^^
Dude I ALWAYS nod back to those mantis' bows when I pass them, it's such a qute little moment! The other one is just sitting a bit on a bench with Bretta until she blushes :3
Another day waiting for silksong, another day clicking in any video who shows in my home with Hollow Knight in the title.
This is the first time I’m watching you, and all I have to say is that this video is on a high level. TH-camrs with hundreds of thousands of subscribers can’t always make videos of this quality. It included jokes aswell as a great storytelling which easily convinced me to stay throughout the entire video. You definetly earned my sub and if you keep this up Im sure you’ll make it big!
I really appreciate the comment. Thank you!
In my first playthrough of the game I totally missed the pathway towards the City of Tears. I instead fought my way through Deepnest, collected the tram pass and used it to go to the Kingdom's Edge. I climbed all the way to the top and found the right-most entrance to the city from there.
I didn't realize there was a different way to get in until I explored the area more, but when I did I was in pure awe: the game functioned perfectly despite me missing the most obvious of hints and the experience felt great regardless.
Then and there I knew the game was an absolute masterpiece that unlocked a new sense of freedom that most game struggle to imitate.
I'm so happy someone else sees Mantis Lords as a sort of dance. I've said this for years about the Mantis Lords, and they're just SO. FREAKING. FUN! Hollow Knight will forever be one of my favorite games of ALL TIME. Thank you Hutchkey, this video made me tear up multiple times, this is more than a game, it means so much to so many people.
8:48 this moment in the final battle hit harder than I thought the game could, it really changed my perspective of it, and its emotional depth
There were two moments in Hollow Knight that completely changed my perspective on the game. When I first started playing, I wasn’t really engaged. I wandered around wondering what the point of the game was, and even after reaching the Forgotten Crossroads, I still wasn’t feeling it. I didn’t know where to go or what to do.
But then I reached Greenpath. The ambience, the atmosphere-it all changed in an instant. The moment I heard the music, I immediately perked up and felt way more connected to the game. That was the first moment that truly pulled me in.
The second moment was when I entered the City of Tears. At that point, I still hadn’t pieced together that the maps were connected. Every time I passed the elevator in the Forgotten Crossroads-the one that can’t be accessed until you unlock the City of Tears-I was so curious about where it led. The area near the elevator was eerily quiet, with no music, which only made me more eager to explore. When I finally entered the City of Tears, I was blown away. The atmosphere was unlike anything else in the game. Even the enemies felt different. Like you mentioned in your video, Hollow Knight’s combat is usually simple, and most enemies aren’t too threatening. But when I first encountered the Great Husk Sentry, I actually struggled. I died a few times, and in my opinion, those enemies were a real challenge. In fact, the Great Husk Sentry is one of my favorite enemies in the game because it actually feels strong, unlike others that go down in just a few hits.
What made the City of Tears even better was its sheer size. When I got there, I was glued to my screen for about a week, determined to explore every inch of it. And then there was the Ancient Basin-another fascinating area. But by far, the two biggest moments for me were discovering Greenpath and stepping into the City of Tears. Those experiences were absolutely unforgettable
damn good audio and editing for a small channel🔥 you have potential
I just stumbled on this video, the theme is awesome and the rest you just nailed.
Beautiful video. I also have ‘entering city of tears’ as one of my favorite gaming moment. I still get goosebumps thinking about it.
You hit the nail on the head with this one, the mantis lords fight is when the games combat and story really start to take up your thoughts, and I will never forget sitting on that bench with Quirrel in the city of tears, It's my pc screensaver too, with the animated rain, and the muted song constantly playing whenever I'm on my pc. It feels more like home than home does.
I completely agree. The mantis lords remains my fav fight in the game to this day (barring the sisters of battle)
And on top of the atmosphere, learning that I am in fact NOT the hollow knight from a mini cutscene in the most beautiful area in the game imo. Absolute cinema. 🙌
The City of Tears is absolutely memorable. And I think most of it is explained, at least for me, the absolute perfect match between the visuals, the environment, and (most of all) the music
Bro when i saw the hollow knight star stabbing itself i almost cried bro it was lowkey emotional asl
Another one of my favorite moments is the fight with ummu, when quirrel helps you, its felt amaizing
The mantis lords man. They took me forever to beat, but they are now my absolute favourite boss fight. I ADORE the rhythm of that fight. I constantly go back to godhome to fight them. The rhythm man. THE RHYTHM.
thats wild, these were also my two moments. when you step into city of tears for the first time, the music kicks up. you think "wow, that's such a pretty melody. i can only imagine what the rest of the area is like." and then you step out of that tower for the first time, and more layers are added, and there's that vocalization. peak cinema
Listening to Marissa for the first time, and how her voice mix so well to the somber tones of City of Tears...
I think a lot of people would point to the Mantis Lord fight and aftermath as one of the really defining moments of Hollow Knight.
Climbing out of the Abyss solidified this game as one of my favourites of all time.
The moment i first entered city of tears and the music started is engraved in my brain till this day
when i saw the title i immediately thought of my first time seeing the city of tears, it's such a perfect place
I love that your moments where so completely different from mine. I saw the mantis lords just as another boss i needed to kill. But you never even mentioned greenpath in this video, which left a profound impact on me.
I love the ambiance, the feeling, the music and the artwork of hollow knight. I love the bossfights and that you'll find your own place in hallownest.
You have completely different reasons, and yet, we love it all the same.
That's what makes hollow knight such a masterpiece.
For me, the moment the game won me over was right in Dirtmouth, with its melancholic music that still moves me to this day, perfectly conveying a sense of emptiness and mystery, inviting you to explore this fascinating world. Besides that, of course, the game's perfect and meticulous design in all its aspects
I saw green in a Hollow Knight thumbnail, and reflexively flinched at the prospect of news 😭
For me it was the cutscenes from forging and learning swordsmanship, and of course discovering and fighting in the Colosseum of Fools!
my two personal best moments were
1) The mantis because it was very challenging for me (about 20 tries) and I really enjoyed the learning process as the game design is really good providing you all the necessary information to learn.
2) The first time I got to the dream world. It was completely unexpected and I just wanted to know what happened and what was this new world. I feld like the game had suprises everywhere and it gave me motivation to go through all the previous areas and look for details and missed stuff.
Also a top -1 moment is the lever after dug defender, I missed it and ended up completely stuck for a few hours, I was forced to look up the solution on internet and felt stupid.
I'd say one of the most memorable moments for me is when I beat grimm, killed the nightmare thingies, and then went back and found myself a new, harder, and more fun boss
I remember the first time I played hollow knight. I didn't really enjoy my entire first playthrough, as I was rushing the game - didnt see what metroidvanias are about and such. The second playthrough and the many more to come solidified it as one of my favourite games of all time tho. It just clicked at some point and doing the "true" ending really put a lot of the game into perspective for me
I only have an hour of gameplay and it hasn’t stuck with me yet, watching your video has convinced me to give it another try.
This is an awesome video. I hope to see your channel grow, you are a really strong storyteller. City of tears was definitely a core experience for me too, and I got lost in the first area and gave up, and then came back months later. I feel like the issue with the crossroads is there’s only one area to progress to, which is through the entrance to green path. But, throughout hollow knight, there are multiple areas you can go simultaneously, or always have options (for example, the tram and the elevator shaft below the city that both go to ancient basin) I feel like this is hollow knights biggest flaw and takes a toll on the amount of players who stick to the game. I’m so grateful I gave it another chance though, definitely one of the greatest games period.
Completely agree! I do think the most memorable moment for me, was when I accidentally rested at the bench in Deepnest after I fell into it. They read me like a book.
This game was the first video game I ever clicked with. I'd been feeling a need for a game where I could wander and get lost and feel wonder but had no idea if that even existed. Hollow Knight filled every longing want I ever had. This game is truly wonderful
I will always love the City of Tears. Had a girl over at my apartment, and we had gotten high, and she was out in the living room wanting to watch something on the TV. I told her I had to use the bathroom, which was in my bedroom, so I went to my room, used the bathroom, and came out. Before she came over, I was playing Hollow Knight in my bedroom, and had gotten to the City of Tears, and left my game running. I must have sat there for seven minutes just looking at the rain fall on the city in the background, listening to the music. She finally came in to check on me and although I tried to explain it, she couldn’t understand why I was so hypnotized by this game. I went back into the living room, but in that moment, a single area in a video game was more important to me than a woman, and that is by no means easy for a game to do lmfao!
As the emotional climax of the story, the Birthplace dream sequence obviously occurs well after your “hooked”. But if I already had moments that took the game from good to great, this was the moment that took it from great to GOAT-contender. For a game with little dialog and a story mostly told in the form of cryptic lore drops, the dream sequence / memory is an absolute master class in story telling. Before it is hinted that you are just one of many discarded vessels. (No cost too great.) However to not only see it happen, but to PLAY it, climbing out of the Abyss as the music swells only to fall ruthlessly down. Ooof. And the slight little look the young Hollow Knight gives to suggest it might not be totally hollow. Big oooof. The Knight may be an empty vessel, but I’m not! That scene hit hard.
The city of tears made me realize the game I was playing was a masterpiece.
Wow, @hutchkey, I'm new to your content... you are a very, very, VERY gifted and talented writer. Your structure and diction is top notch. As a professional creative writer, I appreciate your effort here, and (presumably) the constant rewrites as you compose your script. This is all very well composed. As for the content, thank you for sharing a bit of your relationship with the game. I also started, and threw it away, several times until I "got it." But once I got it, there was simply no going back.
Definitely spend a lot of time working and reworking the script, and it evolves a bit when I start editing.
I really appreciate the comment!
Similarly to you, the City of Tears ambience is just something else to me. And also the Hollow Knight statue. Seeing it shocked me for some reason lol
But my favorite moment of all time, though very late game 💀, is the Abyss climb after you get the void heart.
The OST and the amazing dialogue, it immersed me so so much even though I wouldn't call this game immersive.
Not to mention the plottwist at the end of the climb 👀
10/10 moment
It wasn't until my 2nd play-through that the game clicked for me.
still remember the exact moment when I entered the city of tears
I have hundreds of hours on Hollow Knight, more than any other game I've probably ever played. I went from struggling past the False Knight to now defeating the Hollow Knight in one try and running play throughs on Steel Soul mode. Like the nailsmith, it's honed my platforming beyond any expectations. Soul Master has always been my favourite fight though.
This is a perfect representation of my favorite game on this planet! Thank you for being so particular with your words and trying your best to relay just how good this game really is.
Honestly, what got me into Hollow Knight were the boss fights. Constantly getting my skull caved in by something I thought I couldn't beat only to do it a little while later is an awesome feeling. Can't wait for Silksong so my skull can be bashed in some more!!!
Mantis Lords is my favorite boss fight in any game. It's perfect.
Hey man great video, when I read the title I instantly thought of the mantis lords
I clicked into this video wondering what the other thing was going to be besides the Mantis Lords. As a game design nerd, I am fascinated by the idea of presentation, and I would place the Mantis Lords at #2 out of any game I have ever played in terms of presentation.
I loved when I found Spore Shroom early because of my curiosity and used it for most of the game as I liked healing playstyle
Everything about this game is so perfect. I just want Silksong, I don’t care how long it takes as long as I can play it before I die
i cant wait to absolutely crash out trying to grasp the combat of silksong
That moment for me was when I reached dirtmouth for the first time.
For me it was my first time entering Greenpath and hearing that delectable soundtrack. That’s when I knew I was in for a good time.
My two favorite moments atm are currently: finding the city of tears for the first time and beating the 3rd pantheon. (Attempting fourth atm)
on my first playthrough, i went straight over the pit of the mantis lords, i didnt even SEE it. i just thought 'WALL JUMP? now i can go chase that character' and went to city of tears. Might be cause im autistic but the game clicked the second i loaded into the game. I went left, got the geo rock and saw the gap above me. And when i saw the map for the first time i was on a mission, it was literately the perfect game. (i went back and challenged the lords because i saw the door from deepnest's side after getting double jump and taking tram)
I also tried the game a few times, played max 2 hours and still didnt "feel" it. You just convinced me to give it another try, maybe for a longer time. Hope it clicks this time!
My main two moments were.
1. After a so lifeless map (Crossroads), to stumble into a so rich a lifefull place (Greenpath), I went speechless.
2. YES YES YES AND YES getting into the City of Tears for the first time FOR SURE! It has so much weight that I sat at the bench for minutes just because I cold, to listen the music, the rain, to feel the atmosphere.
Man.... now I really got to get good.
I held off on Hollow Knight for so long. After paying Ori and the blind Forest it just didn't appeal. This game ended up being my fav game of all time. Over 400hrs into it, and it's the first game I've EVER wish I could forget and experience it for the first time again. A true matter piece in story telling, game design, soundtrack and ambiance.
Here before 1k subscribers!!! I look forward to seeing you grow!
You really had me at the Fog Canyon
I felt the exact same with the mantis. I ended up fighting them pretty late but god, how this fight is entertaining ... I'm pretty sure even after not playing the game for more than a year I could pick up the fight and clean it without a hit taken, it's written in my reflexes now
I'm literally sitting in the same boat at 1:40. I've been trying to play and off for about 2 years, and only got 10h. Recently got a bit of a longer session going on and I think i'm getting there, slowly
That experience is extremely common, have seen many of these videos and almost all mention the same thing.. happened to me as well. Once it clicks you’ll be addicted
@ruohos last time i went to mantis village and I kep attacking on instinct, cuz yeah they were mobs. Until i realized one of them had a different idle pose. Then it hit me, just like this video.
City of tears is beautiful, but it didn't get me. I took a long break even after arriving there.
But mantis aftermath, and especially just a couple weeks ago, I somehow ended up in a "dream" to avoid spoiling. That was... So interesting. I have finally learnt what that plant does that i saw everywhere haha.
I just want to unlock new abilities and finally buy the charm that lets me see in the dark to progress on other areas. I want to get abilities just for exploration's sake.
And this is where I am at currently. Perhaps explored places I shouldn't have access to, at least with my current setup, but it feels nice improving on the most basic skills after slashing so many times. This is why I mentioned I'm getting there. I'm happy that I'm finally "hooked" in the gameplay loop, despite it being my first of its genre. Now, i'll continue until the next big thing happens, which will turn me from being hooked to loving it. I can feel it. This game is truly something else. It has lots of attention to detail and many mysteries!
i Haven't even gotten to the place with those Rolly thingies in the beginning. im scared lollll
I don't remember why I bought hollow knight in my freshman year back in 2020. I didn't know anything about the game prior to that and only heard that its good from forums and stuff. Best pirchase of my life I binged the game in a week and it was the best gaming experience I have had.
the moment the player realizes that they're actually NOT the hollow knight? amazing.
My click moment was really really early, in kings pass even. There were some spikes way too long to cross over, but cause I wanted to see what'd happen if I tried, I went to ju8mp over them and when I couldnt make the jump I just slashed down trying to break them. Bounce. And thats when I knew the game had deeper depths then it'd even hinted at and I'd found one of them by accident. From there the whole place was a mystery, what other secrets were hiding, what else could I do that I wasn't told? It was a spark that lit the exploration fire in me.
Hollow Knight is like the Metroidvainia version of Rain World, there will never be anything like it (Besides Silksong but that’s not coming out ever)
Hollow knight is more like soulslike
You explained the allure of this beautiful game so well. Thankyou
I'm currently going through my second playthrough of the game. My first took 34 hours, as I didn't know Hollow Knight's world would have been a mix of an open world map with a metroidvania one. It's truly a fest in gaming history for the genre, but it never fully clicked for me on my first playthrough, probably because I'm not a fan of open world games. I prefer more linear-based level designs, as I personally believe that creativity and charm are easily evoked through their boundaries. Hollow Knight was the first to break that opinion for me, yet it still didn't wow me, so I'm hoping it clicks with me this time around.
I finished Hollow Knight at about 60% the first time, thought it was beautifully made but didn't know what the game was about. Like you, didn't quite understand the praise and went back for a second look about 6 months later. The second time, finished at 112%. And then did it again after I pieced the story together. It's now one of my favorite games. When and if we get Silksong, it's got a tough act to follow.
Damn the video the edit and your thoughts about the game even the comments, you deserve way more support
Good video and i hope u liked the game
This video just increased my need for silk song😂
moment 3: quirrel
This video deserves more attention
I did the exact thing you said at the start except my friend who got into the game convinced me to play it
Maybe Silksong was the infection we met along the way.
2:09 based and steady body-pilled
Great video, my man
I’ve been trying to get my friend to play this game forever and he keeps getting to hornet and then stopping and I just need him to continue.
4:03 *Grimm has entered the chat*
I loved it the moment I started playing it. Perfect all the way through, excluding NKG and the Pantheons.
Well, it happens, took me several attempts to get into WITCHER 3.
Luckily I got into HOLLOW knight from minute 1.
EVERYONE I know who has played through all of hollow knight (which is 5 people including myself) have all played the game for less than two hours and then dropped it, only to pick it up again for whatever reason a year or so down the line. I don't know why but its interesting as.