‘VOID ARCADE: The AfterGame Podcast’ is back with Brando and Zach! This episode features a lengthy conversation about all of their thoughts encompassing the all-powerful, finally released Hollow Knight sequel: Silksong. They take a light dip into just about every aspect of the game, from its history through its combat mechanics. All the while, the two share their thoughts. Perhaps you had some similar inclinations as you played through the game yourself? Be sure to let us know!
By the nature of this “AfterGame” podcast, expect spoilers at any time without warning!
What games have you been playing lately? What do you think would make for a good “AfterGame” style podcast? Send your feedback! We’d love to know!
If you’re interested in the outline that served as our show notes, those have been included below for your reference.
Game History
From add on DLC to full standalone, ‘sequel’ game, Hollow Knight Silksong was developed by Team Cherry over the course of maybe 6 or 7 years? Announced it would become a full length game in 2019.
the long dev time led to a number of memes like silk posting - “will this game ever release?”
(re-read discord messages from that article maybe) this part of the game’s history is mega important IMO
images (from “Why ‘Silksong’ Took Seven Years to Make” by Jason Schrier of Bloomberg)
On release, It’s got a mighty 91 on OpenCritic https://opencritic.com/game/7425/hollow-knight-silksong
93% very positive on steam (with a peak player count of 587,150 at launch). Still consistently pulls 20k players a night on steam.
Will it get game of the year?
public reception?
are they valid? Skim through negative steam reviews the babies left lol, talk about that
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1030300/Hollow_Knight_Silksong/#app_reviews_hapublic reception?sh
at glance it’s mostly: “everything hurts ow why is this game so much harder than hollow knight I quit”
quick personal opinions to kinda frame who we are for the rest of the conversation (basically, “I loved it” & perhaps why and how you rank it maybe IDK)
General game flow & Progression
Introduce the game
metroidvania, explore at your own pace, learn lore if ya want, get good, fight bosses, do little quests, etc.
similar to hollow knight… but not similar
On that note, not so much a sequel as a side story? How to say that thought concept…
Story Synopsis
IDK read Wikipedia if we do this? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hollow_Knight:_Silksong#Plot
about a 2.5 minute spoken read, so perhaps.
Act 1, 2, 3 Observations?
Secret-ish act 3? Not sure if this section goes here, lol.
Areas/exploration
What is Silksong to you? Area wise
https://www.gamerguides.com/hollow-knight-silksong/maps/pharloom
When I think of this game in the future, I’ll never forget
probably the citadel?
Loved Mount Fey though, fun area
Greymoor is probably another one I’ll remember pretty easily.
hard to quantify answering this honestly, every area is designed and themed exquisitely how did they do it
skills/tools/crests etc.
https://hollowknight.wiki/w/Tools
https://hollowknight.wiki/w/Crests
https://hollowknight.wiki/w/Skills_and_Abilities_(Silksong)
perhaps the defining difference between hollow knight
change your moves
What did you gravitate towards?
Brando
I was ALMOST exclusively reaper for at least 80% of the game. I could NOT for the life of me figure out the diagonal pogo, so I’d experiment, love the uniqueness of it, then die because I could not pogo, basically, so I swap to reaper, rinse and repeat lol.
I did swap my skills a bunch, though! Cross stitch got a lot of playtime from me, but I’d regularly swap ‘em
whenever I was in a bind, I’d use cog flies and long pins, with the pollip pouch and druids eyes.
Loved to use the memory crystal with the druids eyes as well when I wasn’t doing particularly well, lol
bosses & dudes & bugs
https://hollowknight.wiki/w/Bosses_(Silksong)
just about every one is exceptionally well-designed and incredibly fun to overcome
first boss wall?
highlight some favs
TRRRROBIO!
Lace is funnnn to fight
Last Judge
Cog work dancers
Also non-favs
Carmelita made me want to die
Groal can die
Seth was difficult but fun (RIP)
Savage beast fly the second time kinda evil
enemies perhaps
Best NPCs?
Sherma wins
Lore? If we want
I was thinking about perhaps condensing this video down, but it’s so dense that I’m not sure how to do it, lol. Maybe the story synopsis is enough, unless you got ideas
Misc
Larkin’s music is, again, so fire?
Additional personal anecdotes? Tips and tricks?
IDK if it’s interesting as to why it took me 3 months to beat, lol, but I can and perhaps will tell that
this is definitely a part of it, which I think is important for all players:
killed grandmother silk first time without double jump lol
lack of HP haha pain (aka if I can get good, ANYONE can)
frickin’ Carmelita and swamp dude can screw right off, hah
uhh platforming challenges (cog work core and the sands of Karak) can die, I had a hard time (even with no diagonal pogo)
I never got captured?? Seen so much footage of people losing the cloak, and it never happened to me
yeahhhhh I used a user made map at the end there
100% completion worth it?
Comparisons… Must Occur
we must compare to hollow knight
the rub from online:
Movement and combat are faster and more vertical. Hornet’s tool and silk systems reshape builds and boss approaches.
Crafting and loadout variety lean into situational swaps rather than a single “set and forget” charm build.
Level design emphasizes multi-route traversal and speed, with fresh enemy archetypes and boss pacing distinct from Hallownest.
Post launch hopes and dreams?
DLC 👀
Ultimately…
Final thoughts here
Outro Stuff
Thank you for joining us in today’s episode! As always, if you enjoyed it, please like it, or rate it on your platform and share it with a friend.
Void Arcade is an audio production of TheNameBrand, edited by Brando Calrissian. Show notes for this episode can be found at www.TheNameBrand.co/podcast which is also this page that you’re reading them on (not that they’re helpful for you lol)
