Hollow Knight: Silksong vs. Hollow Knight – 15 Biggest Differences

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The long-awaited game, “Hollow Knight: Silksong,” has finally arrived, even though it initially started as DLC for the original. Despite the wait, the unique ambiance that characterizes the series remains unchanged, yet there are numerous modifications and additional features. You can now equip your character in fresh ways to combat the myriad enemies and bosses you’ll encounter; learn new spells and utilize resources; and most notably, your protagonist now speaks. Here’s a sneak peek at 15 major distinctions between “Hollow Knight: Silksong” and its predecessor that we’ll explore in depth.

Ascending vs. Descending

In the upcoming game “Silksong”, Pharloom seems poised to captivate players much like Hallownest did, as they delve deep to unearth the kingdom’s hidden mysteries. A notable distinction lies in the objective – instead of venturing into the depths as was the case in Hollow Knight, Hornet aims to climb Pharloom to lift its curse (whatever it may entail). Contrastingly, Hollow Knight had a focus on descending into Hallownest’s underbelly. Yet, don’t be fooled – there will still be depths to explore in Silksong, just as Hollow Knight featured elevated locations.

Number of Benches

In simpler terms, the new expansion, Pharloom, created by Team Cherry, is living up to its promise of being as large or even larger than Hallownest, the original game. A clear indication of this is the significant increase in resting spots – approximately twice as many benches for players to rest compared to when Hollow Knight first came out. Although more benches don’t necessarily mean a double-sized map, it does suggest a denser and more diverse world overall. However, we’ll have to experience it ourselves to fully understand the extent of the expansion.

You Say It Best

In the game Hollow Knight, the knight character is mute due to lore reasons, but if his continuous battle cries and exclamations of “Shaw!” don’t already give it away, Hornet is not a silent character. Beyond that, she has the ability to communicate with various NPCs (non-player characters), sharing her thoughts and insights with them. I wonder if this interaction could potentially involve dialogue choices in certain parts, leading to different outcomes based on the choices made, though this remains to be seen.

Crests vs. Charms

In Hollow Knight, charms served as the primary means of enhancing abilities, influencing aspects such as melee attack range and revealing your current location. Each charm required a specific number of Notches, yet given enough space, countless combinations could be achieved. In Silksong, Hornet utilizes Crests instead, which feature multiple color-coded sockets to attach various Tools. For instance, the initial crest, Wanderer, has red, blue, and yellow sockets that enable equipping one Tool of each type. Additionally, there are other crests with more red sockets (like Reaper), enabling you to equip more red Tools.

Passive Crest Effects

Not just that, but Crests also alter Hornet’s attacks in unique ways. For instance, the Claw Crest transforms her regular slash into a claw swipe and her dive attack into a spinning saw. With various Crests and potential Tool combinations, there’s a multitude of playstyles to explore.

Potentially Multiple Cloak Types

In Hollow Knight, equipment was minimal with just one cloak and any acquired movement abilities. However, in Silksong, it appears that Hornet’s cloaks are distinct, as demonstrated by her diverse movement techniques such as the double-jumping with wing-sprouts, floating, and even scuttling away from enemies in a spider-like manner. Although not yet officially confirmed, the strong evidence suggesting this includes Hornet’s default cloak being an item, and no footage showing two different cloak abilities used together at the same time.

Silk vs. SOUL

As a devoted admirer, let me share my perspective: The Knight in Hollow Knight embodied depth beyond measure, and Hornet carries Grace – or Silk, if you will. Just like the Knight’s SOUL, Hornet’s Silk can be expanded to perform comparable abilities, such as Bind for healing, and also provides extra agility with maneuvers like Grapple for transporting Hornet to a chosen spot.

What’s fascinating is that these actions can be seamlessly linked together, and upon engaging an adversary, some Silk is replenished. Considering the intricate platforming challenges I encountered in Hollow Knight, this opens up a world of possibilities for even more devious twists and turns.

Silk Spells vs SOUL Spells

In addition to being worn, silk can also be employed in various offensive spells. For instance, the Silk Spear penetrates multiple targets and the Gossamer Storm unleashes numerous threads striking enemies. Another example is the Silk Dash, which not only attacks but temporarily shields you from harm. To put it in perspective, the original game featured Vengeful Spirit as a projectile, Howling Wraiths as an upward strike with multiple hits, and Desolate Dive as a ground slam. Each of these had dark counterparts, so it’s reasonable to expect similar dark versions for Hornet’s silk spells as well.

Parrying

In the world of this franchise, the concept of “Parrying” isn’t entirely novel. Back in the original game, you could counter certain attacks by perfectly timing your own response, essentially deflecting harm rather than parrying it outright. However, in Silksong, this mechanic has evolved into a distinct ability for Hornet. She utilizes her silk strands to shield herself from damage and then respond with an attack afterwards.

Red Tools

Red Tools serve as your go-to option for all offensive maneuvers, however, they tend to malfunction following a certain number of uses, necessitating repairs with Shell Fragments. There’s an impressive assortment at your disposal, ranging from the Tri-Pin projectile to the Pimpillo, which detonates upon impact with a target. Certain tools also introduce new attack types, such as the descending spiral drill. The comprehensive list of available Tools hasn’t been fully disclosed yet, but they undoubtedly add an appealing touch for players yearning for additional deployables and items that align well with the original style of Hollow Knight.

Blue and Yellow Tools

The enigmatic features of the new system could be the blue and yellow tools. They offer passive abilities, as demonstrated by the Magma Bell that protects against harmful lava and heat in places such as Deep Docks. However, other instances of their use remain unclear. Ultimately, based on your Crest, it’s your decision whether to utilize these advantages or not.

More Complex Enemies

In a simplified and engaging style: Team Cherry has introduced over 200 new enemy types in their game (versus more than 140 in Hollow Knight), making them more intricate and clever, as suggested in an EDGE magazine preview from December 2020. This enhancement fits well with Hornet’s enhanced mobility and strategies, but it’s also evident in certain boss battles. For instance, Lace can be knocked into the lava during an encounter, yet she manages to leap out unscathed, showing no signs of distress.

More Challenging Than Hollow Knight

The recent demo of Silksong has sparked a strong consensus among those who played it: it appears to be tougher than its predecessor, Hollow Knight. A major part of that challenge comes from learning new mechanics and adapting to the absence of infinite jumping off enemies. Additionally, the enemies are more complex and the combat moves at a quicker tempo. Although this might not come as a shock, Team Cherry has hinted at making the game more approachable for novice players, potentially by offering adjustable difficulty settings.

Needolin vs. Dream Nail

In the world of Hallownest, the Dream Nail allowed for extraordinary abilities such as entering dreams and fighting tough adversaries. In the upcoming game, Silksong, we have the Needolin. Although it didn’t exhibit any functionality in the recent demo, a plausible conjecture is that Hornet might use her Needle like a musical instrument (given its name, combining ‘Needle’ and ‘violin’). It’s uncertain whether she’ll unlock songs for special purposes and advancement or play when nearby compatible NPCs are present. The details are yet to be unveiled.

Disabling the HUD

In the new game, Silksong, there’s a novel feature that wasn’t available in the initial version without utilizing mods – the ability to hide the HUD. Although it might appear illogical, considering that keeping track of the remaining Silk is crucial in certain situations, this option offers a more immersive gaming experience and an unobstructed view of the captivating artwork if that’s your preference.

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2025-09-04 14:19