Hollow Knight: Silksong is set to take place after the events that transpired in the kingdom of Hallownest, and its new protagonist is a familiar face in the form of the princess-protector, Hornet. Players can enjoy her acrobatic movements and fighting style as she delves deep into the kingdom of Pharloom and uncovers its secrets. A lot will be riding on Hornet’s shoulders to carry the sequel to success, but with that in mind, Silksong may kick off a pattern for future Hollow Knight games, assuming more will be made.
With Silksong being a direct sequel to Hollow Knight, it’s only logical for its protagonist to be a character that fans have gotten to know in the first game. Hornet seemed a good choice, as not only did she play a significant role in the story, but she was also beloved due to her graceful yet deadly combat style during her encounters. Repurposing a familiar and meaningful character as the main protagonist may be the start of a winning formula for Team Cherry to reuse in future Hollow Knight-related games.
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Hollow Knight: Silksong’s Title Raises One Question for the Franchise
Hollow Knight: Silksong holds a lot of promise so far, but its title raises an important question that affects the franchise’s future.
How Silksong’s Protagonist Choice Can Help the Hollow Knight Series
Having a character come from the world of Hollow Knight become the sequel’s main protagonist makes a lot of thematic sense, and Team Cherry can turn that into a formula for success. Establishing and continuously using it for future entries can lead to benefits for the series, such as:
- Turning beloved characters from past games into the main protagonists helps get fans on board with the next story, as there is an already established connection
- It allows Team Cherry to reuse a readily available resource, giving the developer opportunities to improve on what already exists rather than start from scratch, allowing for more time for innovation on other aspects
- A returning character’s established move-set and personality gives fans an idea of the gameplay and narrative themes they should anticipate
If the sequel can take one of the characters of Hollow Knight and successfully debut her as a protagonist, then there’s a good chance of seeing the formula again in the future. All eyes will be on Team Cherry to put in the effort to ensure that it is so, as the series has the potential to achieve even more than it already has.
Returning Characters Can Take Hollow Knight Far
If the formula is repeated in future projects, there are ways to make it interesting. For instance, the next one after Silksong doesn’t have to take characters directly from the game prior, as a new title can still delve into those whose stories are tied to the regions of Hallownest. A good example would involve the Pale King and his rise to power, letting players better understand the series’ narrative while controlling someone who has significance in its lore. Also, it’s possible that the returning character turned protagonist could lead to gameplay other than that of a Metroidvania’s; for instance, the Pale King could have a management system that focuses on building and ruling rather than exploration.
The expectations for Silksong remain Team Cherry’s priority for now, but it wouldn’t be surprising if the studio is thinking long-term too. The returning character formula can work so long as the developer chooses someone with the right flexibility and appeal.
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Team Cherry
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Team Cherry
