Recent reviews by HEIMDALL2304

Before writing the complete review, I would like to say this game came out in 2017 and I am playing it in 2022-2023. I wish I knew this game exists before. I write reviews after complete the game fully. As of writing this review completed the game having 133 hours of this game including base game and DLC content.

Before starting, I would like to thank Team Cherry for bringing this absolute stunning game to the world. And also most importantly thanks to all the backers who actually saw potential in this game and actually backed the game and let Team Cherry complete and publish their game.

I will give my review based on several points. This will be a long detailed review-

The graphics is way good as a 2D game.

There are multiple characters in the game each having their own story to tell. You have to explore the whole world and find the characters. Each characters is unique in terms of their behaviour, style, interaction. Depending on the situation and timing, characters can die. Some characters will offer you items, upgrades etc. What you do with the characters is upto your playstyle.

There are huge collection of enemy types in the game. There are over 150 enemies type including base game and DLC in whole map. I am not talking about bosses though. Each area has its own types of enemies. Each enemies have their own design, attack pattern which differentiate them from one another. My favourite is the "Head banging mushroom".

This is a soul like game. So anyone who is familiar to souls like game can say there is no souls like game without boss fight. Each boss is unique in play style, fighting, attach pattern, damage etc. Each boss has a vibe which suites the area where the boss resides. Each boss has 2 variants, one is the normal boss and another is the dream version of that same boss. The dream variant is harder than the normal boss. I like the boss fight. Its challenging and gets satisfaction after defeating it. There are in total 47 boss in the game including base game and the DLC I believe.

The world of hollow knight is a stunning masterpiece. This is what took my eyes apart from the gameplay. The whole world of hollow knight is divided in multiple regions/area. Each area has its own environment, hazards, gameplay style, visual style. There are total 15 areas I believe. Different biomes exist in each area, starting from green wet forest area, fungal wasteland, city to deep underground region etc. Each area harbours different types of enemies, bosses. All the area are interconnected with each other via several paths. There are some hidden path and areas which can only be found while exploring the area. The more you explore the more you come to know about the world of hollow knight.

a. Exploration is the major strong point of this game. The game has a unique gameplay style, you cannot explore all the area in one go. There is a lot of forward and backward movement in the game and also remembering the path. One advice I can give while exploring is "If you find yourself in a place and you don't know how to go to the area in front of you, probably you are not suppose to be there at that moment. Come back later there after acquiring some abilities or items etc.". There are many hidden paths and areas which can only be accessible after you acquire a specific ability. So one advice is "Check everything" while exploring. The game does not have a objective marker, the game wants you to explore the whole world and find out what is waiting for you in each area.
b. The game has a fast travel system which you unlock while exploring.
c. There are upgrades, items which you need to acquire to upgrade yourself. You can upgrade your nail. You can acquire charms which will provide new abilities, utilities for your character. You can think of these charms as a skill tree, but you equip all charms at once. Each charms cost different charm notches and there is total 11 charm notches in game you can get. The charms also has a combination effect. You need to decide what charms you need and what charms combination suites you according to your playstyle. You cannot equip all charms at once.
d. Your playstyle shapes the world and story of hollow knight. Your playstyle can lead to different endings, different achievements. Your actions against and with the characters in the game leads to different branches in the game and ultimately different achievement. Some achievement are not possible in a single playthrough. You decide what type of playstyle and endings you want and actions you take.
e. If you like platforming, this game provides you some. But if you are madlad and you like platforming, there is a seperate area for that for the absolute madlads.
f. If you like to test your skill, the game offers a seperate area for fighting waves of enemies and a seperate DLC content, where you fight waves of bosses.

The story of hollow knight is not straightforward, not all laid out in front of the eyes.. You can interact with every characters in the game. Each characters you meet will add something to the story of the game. But to fully understand the story check out any video on youtube. In short, the story of hollow knight is kinda dark and infectious. Not gonna say much about the story much here. Some characters play important role in the story of the game and importantly in the ending of the game. Regarding ending. there are total 5 ending you can achieve depending on the playstyle and whether or not you possess one specific item or not (not gonna say what it is).

The sound in this game is phenomenal. Thank you Christopher Larkin for the sound design. Every area has its own unique sound design. And also the soundtrack are also so soothing tot he ear. Every boss encounters have a unique soundtrack. My favourite soundtrack is the "Nightmare King Grimm" soundtrack. Each enemies have their own unique sound. You will never feel a moment while exploring any sound, fighting a boss, enemies that the sound track is boring. The sound is designed in such a way to keep in the game without hurting you ear.

There are I believe 4 DLC content currently available.
My favourite is the grimm troupe and godmaster content.
a. Grimm Troupe DLC introduces a new boss and a version of it.
b. Godmaster content introduces pantheon, which are for those players who love boss fights.

I managed to give out everything I encountered in the game. I may miss some thing to discuss. In my opinion, the whole game is a masterpiece. Overall I will give 10/10 in every aspect of the game. I liked the game in every aspect the way it is, from the world design to the end game content. That's why I played 133 hours till now including the base game and all the DLC. Because there is something to keep you in the game and something encouraging, satisfaction and also frustation in the game. All of these makes a perfect blend in the game which will keep a player coming back to it.

Now the most important question whoever is reading this review before playing the game is "Is this game for you?"
If you like 2D style game, If you like platforming, If you like souls like game, If you like challenges, If you like fighting bosses, If you like exploring, If you like minimalistic design, If you like great visual colorful design, If you like branches in the playstyle, If you like different playstyle, If you like great soundtrack, this game is must go. I can say for sure, you will not be disappointed after playing it.

Again Thank you Team Cherry for this wonderful masterpiece. Now I am eagerly waiting for Silksong. Let's see what hornet has laid out for us.

Thank you

First of all, thanks to SONY for releasing this masterpiece in PC. As a PC player myself, and also many other player, I enjoyed this masterpiece every last bit of it. My rating is based on different category based on 5 star. Before I start, I will not include the graphics good or bad, because personally i am not a graphics hungry player who only judge game based on only graphics.

1. Gameplay :- 5/5
What I liked about this game, is the game mechanics of using bow and arrow against the machines, that goes with the theme of the game of rising human civilization. Scavenging is important part of this game.

2. Audio :- 5/5
The audio is topnotch. I always listen to the main theme of this game on youtube.

3. Campaign Length:- 5/5
I am writing this review after completing the game fully, which took around 140 hr. without new game+. The no. of side quests also quite good.

4. Environment:- 5/5
I liked the environment more than the actual game. The environment of "advanced prehistoric" civilization. I spent half of my playtime in photo mode, for some sweet pic of this world. The environment itself tells a story.

5. Map Size:- 5/5
The map is pretty large. Multiple biomes are present across the map, makes the game not boring.

6. Story:- 5/5
The story is quite good and absurd at the same time. Fighting against an AI Octopus. Also there are many collectibles across the whole map which tells the story of the old world, visuals of old world etc.

7. Character:- 5/5
The characters in this game is topnotch. The variety of the machine is something quite satisfying in the sense the structure are animals structure from real world. The variety of NPC character is also good.

8. Customization:- 4/5
The variety of customization is good. Many types of clothing is available. Modification for bow. I wished there was variety of weapons, not just bow.

9. Detail:- 5/5
The level of detail is topnotch.

10. DLC - The Frozen Wild:- 5/5
One advice who is playing new, play the frozen wild part before the final boss of the game.
NOTE: The DLC is not based on events after the main boss, its connected to the main boss. So play to the very last of the main game, just before going to the final boss battle (you will know when), do the frozen wild. Its not mandatory, but if you want the contiguous flow of the game, do this.

Lesson learnt from this game: AI is the saviour of humankind, and AI will be the destroyer of humankind.

Hope SONY will bring Forbidden West to PC.

Played the first part..liked it. Though the mechanics is way different than the first part, but thats good...Good graphics, way colorful and the puzzles were just amazing....

Great game, Great Story, Colorful, Nice puzzle, NIce Stress moments...Just play it...Its a chill game...

Excellent story. Vast open world filled with missions each with their own little story. The story is fantastic. The DLCs are also good as the base game each with their new region, story, open world..There is a reason it's the GAME OF THE YEAR.

free to play...best hero shooter..its in beta..but its good