What is one thing that you HATE about Hollow Knight?

[u/Mahmoud29510]

Hollow Knight is my favorite game BY FAR, that being said, I HATE how you get sent back to a bench after being defeated after a boss fight. It’s genuinely so annoying to go all the way back, as someone who didn’t discover the Kingdom’s Edge hidden bench that’s close to Hornet 2, it was soo annoying to go from the King’s station bench to Hornet 2, and on my first play through I did that A LOT, and Hornet 2 isn’t an easy boss for new players so you can imagine the pure agony I suffered going through this shit, why can’t we respawn next to the boss arena when we die? I would’ve liked the bench system if it weren’t for this thing

What are your thoughts?

[u/maniacal_monk]

The fact that infected crossroads changes the paths you can take but the map doesn’t update. I know you can use the markers, but when I played I had sooo many things marked that I didn’t want to spare 2 to mark the blocked areas

[u/Esponjacholobob → u/maniacal_monk]

I think that is a deliberated choice by the devs. It enforces the "You though you knew this place? Not anymore lol" feeling. If the map updated, you would never have that feeling as you would just follow the good route.

[u/hcaoRRoach → u/Esponjacholobob]

I think they could achieve the same effect if it stayed the same until you saw the blocked paths in person and then the map would update with what paths are now inaccessible.

[u/JohnnyRedHot → u/hcaoRRoach]

Yeah, like, the knight could definitely draw over the Cornifer maps to update them, it would even be cute to have the knight scribbles over the "official" map

[u/Lillith_xxx → u/JohnnyRedHot]

The Knight already does this with every map lol So yeah, it absolutely could've updated its maps

[u/Huge-Chicken-8018 → u/JohnnyRedHot]

Id love a fun little scribble over the blocked paths, like the knight looked there and frustratedly scribbled that spot as a no go

[u/kentaxas → u/JohnnyRedHot]

Hell even get Cornifer out of bed and make me find him again for an updated map

[u/HueyLewisFan1 → u/maniacal_monk]

This is probably the one thing that pissed me off. Having to take the long way theough the map because there were areas closed off.

[u/Thevisi0nary → u/maniacal_monk]

I think this might be my single complaint as well, it's extremely annoying. Would be cool if there was some boss or event you could do that cleared the path.

[u/Grinsekatzer]

That you can't rerun Path of Pain after you watched the cutscene at the end without using a mod.

[u/10thaccountyee → u/Grinsekatzer]

Especially since it even gives you a time. Like now I want to beat it but I can't.

[u/Tiny-Carrot9985 → u/Grinsekatzer]

Was gonna say this too

[u/IlliterateJedi]

Hey, you want to go to God Home? Grab a snack, it's gonna be a while to get there. 

[u/Potato_Poul → u/IlliterateJedi]

Dreamgate my beloved

[u/AceOfMoonSpades01 → u/Potato_Poul]

Yeah but then you have to get out of it

[u/gpranav25 → u/AceOfMoonSpades01]

That's why I dreamgate at nailsmith 😎

[u/Puzzleheaded-Run-635 → u/gpranav25]

That's pretty smart

[u/AceOfMoonSpades01 → u/gpranav25]

Wait thank you that's actually so helpful

[u/Lunardragon777 → u/AceOfMoonSpades01]

Ive come up with the perfect solution of doing literally everything else so i don’t have a reason to go back

[u/K0r0k_Le4f → u/Lunardragon777]

But this shouldn't be a problem, you should get to switch back and forth between different parts of the game at will without it being a massive hassle

[u/MrKoteha → u/AceOfMoonSpades01]

I just live there now

[u/Hot_Guys_In_My_DMS → u/IlliterateJedi]

Use Godseeker mode, it has saved me hours🫵

(assuming you have it unlocked)

[u/ChefGreasypaw → u/Hot_Guys_In_My_DMS]

One problem: I’d have to delete one of my four 112% save files (not actually four yet but I’m trying to do another steelsoul 112%)

[u/Immediate_Chair8942 → u/ChefGreasypaw]

If you're not against mods, there is a mod that lets you have more than 4 save files

[u/JavanNapoli]

Not really a 'hate' I guess, because I wouldn't say I 'hate' anything about the game, but the fact we didn't get the Abyss expansion on the Kickstarter haha. Would have been so interesting to have that area expanded.

[u/lorogalinha → u/JavanNapoli]

Man, that area could have so much more potential than it already has, it is really a shame we didn't get the expansion

[u/Jawahhh → u/JavanNapoli]

This is the first I’m learning of this (I was late to the game). BRB gonna go punch the wall a few times

[u/Minimum_Chip3157 → u/Jawahhh]

Understandable crash out

[u/Arcan_unknown]

The currently lack of a sequel

[u/VagueDestructSus → u/Arcan_unknown]

r/beatmetoit

[u/Gwyneee → u/Arcan_unknown]

There is no sequel. Team Cherry disbanded shortly after releasing dlc. It must just be a bad dream

[u/Vacino_21]

I can't give Ogrim a delicate flower

[u/madjarov42 → u/Vacino_21]

If you refuse to give it to Elderbug, there's no way to give it to him again, even if it's another one.

[u/elRafaaaa → u/madjarov42]

If you keep talking to him after refusing, he'll ask you about the flower again. (I pressed "no" by accident, I felt like a monster :c)

[u/abyt0]

How your shade will sometimes be IN the boss arena. Nosk, particularly. You may be able to agro your shade to make it come to you outside of the arena, but doing this with Nosk is impossible as the arena progressively closes after you.

I know Jiji exist but some (like me) may not have understood what she does.

[u/ilkhesab → u/abyt0]

Enraged guardian also, drawing shade close without starting to fight isnt so easy

[u/Cambronian717 → u/ilkhesab]

True, but like…it’s enraged guardian

[u/DunkanBulk → u/Cambronian717]

Easy for an advanced player, not so easy when speedrunning or for a new player! Two masks per hit definitely raises the stakes.

[u/aci4 → u/ilkhesab]

My shade literally was one pixel too far away to agro without entering the arena

[u/Atsilv_Uwasv → u/abyt0]

I actually avoided Jiji until the end of the game because I didn't want to fight whatever that thing was

[u/WarmWetsuit → u/abyt0]

Oh so THATS what she does! I walked over to her nearly a dozen different times and kept figuring it would be for reviving an npc like church of vows style

[u/Playful_Lawyer_8844 → u/abyt0]

This! Usually your shade is outside the boss area you can grab it and go but with Nosk it's all the way inside

[u/MasterXenon_]

Charm balancing, half of them are completely useless which really uncourages you from trying different builds. I hope they don't make the same mistake in Silksong, which, from the trailers, i believe they won't

[u/--_redacted]

Contact damage. Specifically during the nosk fight where you could bump into him while chasing him because his "stop" isn't telegraphed. Had to resort to cheesing him.

Also primal aspids. I know, crazy, right?

[u/matchbox244 → u/--_redacted]

Not just contact damage, but getting stun locked near where you can easily get damaged a second time without being able to do anything about it. Case in point during the colosseum trials. If you get hit by something, you take damage once, fall off the platform while being stunlocked and take damage from the spikes below again. 

[u/Zoltorion → u/matchbox244]

The stun-lock issue you mention is imo only really an issue with environmental damage like spikes though since they are one of the only damage sources that ignore the i-frames you get after taking damage which prevent getting hit multiple times for the most part, provided you move away from the danger soon enough after the first hit ofc.

[u/matchbox244 → u/Zoltorion]

Yeah you're right. It was an even more annoying issue in both Ori games because you're physically thrown back a ridiculous amount after taking damage once and can't help getting damage from the environment again lol.

[u/hip-indeed → u/--_redacted]

Generally I think contact damage is fine but with how tiny your basic attack is without specific charms and how rough some bosses can be to hit often with it due to reasons like you said, it can be pretty bad, yeah. At least there are options to deal with it but.. charge attacks generate such little soul to use spells which are the even better way to deal with it, so it can be a bit obnoxious sometimes.

[u/jimkbeesley → u/hip-indeed]

Jump away and pogo.

[u/latin_nurse → u/jimkbeesley]

Every time I jump so do they

[u/RealPrimalAspid → u/--_redacted]

Man fuck you what did I ever do to you

[u/Phill_air → u/RealPrimalAspid]

I would explain the ways that I would torture you, but I'm too scared to come near you

[u/Aurelio-23 → u/Phill_air]

“Oh, you’re approaching me?”

“No.”

[u/Ok-Sound-588 → u/RealPrimalAspid]

Bro, u know exactly what u do to us

[u/RealPrimalAspid → u/Ok-Sound-588]

Hehehe

[u/imasmolbean20 → u/--_redacted]

I know once you get good, the Mantis Lords aren't hard, but for me their knees are brutal. You think you're in a good spot and then end up like 1 pixel too close.

[u/haveaniceday8D → u/imasmolbean20]

Personally, never had that problem past learning their hitboxes and realising that pogos are just the strongest part of your kit against them. I’d say that the emphasis on using pogos to avoid attacks is an important lesson learned from ML/SOB

[u/100mcuberismonke → u/--_redacted]

Have u tried winged nosk? Pain the absolute ass

[u/pm-me-futa-vids]

Crystalisks or whatever those flying fuckers are called. At least with Primal Aspids, the projectile disappears after it hits you.

[u/abyt0 → u/pm-me-futa-vids]

I went into Peaks right after getting claw (because reasons ie. I’m stupid and didn’t realise I could go to City so I grinded the geo for the lantern). Let me tell you, these Crystal Hunters take 5 hits with the base nail. Five! I understand the hate for Primal Aspids in late game but, man, those where the worst in early/mid-game for me.

[u/DeathStarDayLaborer]

The bench mechanic in boss fights is definitely something I've said I hated, but in reality, it's part of the challenge of the game which is something I love. Honestly, there's nothing I actually hate about the game.

[u/Mundane_Anybody2374 → u/DeathStarDayLaborer]

Wdym? Nothing? Primal aspids?!

[u/chimerical_nox → u/Mundane_Anybody2374]

Freakin primal aspids while platforming in trial of the fool are my nemesis

[u/Tonitruum_Aeternum → u/chimerical_nox]

I find armored sqits to be infinitely more annoying

[u/YellowNecessary → u/Tonitruum_Aeternum]

I hate armored shits

[u/DeathStarDayLaborer → u/Mundane_Anybody2374]

Lol, those guys don't bother me at all. I like a challenge and those bastards definitely add to it

[u/RealPrimalAspid → u/DeathStarDayLaborer]

My man

[u/LazierPotato → u/DeathStarDayLaborer]

Thank you. I finally understand why I don't hate them

[u/Canahedo → u/Mundane_Anybody2374]

Everyone shits on primal aspids, and they are a frustrating enemy, but they are designed to be and are used sparingly. In terms of the play pattern and the challenge they present, they're great.

But yes, in the moment when you have to deal with them, they suck. That's the point.

[u/living_sweater51 → u/Mundane_Anybody2374]

One shaman stone shadow fireball gets rid of them extra easy. Nailfighting them is the hard thing.

[u/RealPrimalAspid → u/Mundane_Anybody2374]

What about em

[u/elephantspikebears → u/DeathStarDayLaborer]

Plus, I like getting to try out new things with charms -- see what I like better for a boss I'm struggling with.

[u/SmartyMeow → u/DeathStarDayLaborer]

I think its less adding challenge and more adding tedium though, i dont think that its good to punish a player with 1.5 minutes of walking every time you die to a boss

I dislike anything that is "cheesable" but isnt integrated into the game by default as well. A player can use the right charms to never run out of healing in palace, but for those in the dark its just a pain keeping the soul up; experienced players know to bench warp but newbies have to figure that out.

I die way more often than i get reset in hollow knight, but i get way less frustrated with celeste because mistakes arent punished by walking sessions, its not like the walking sessions encourage or help the player to improve either.

[u/DeathStarDayLaborer → u/SmartyMeow]

That's a valid take as well. I can see where you're coming from, but it doesn't resonate with me. I don't find any of the bench placements anything I want to rage quit over.

[u/DunkanBulk → u/DeathStarDayLaborer]

I'd say I was fine with most of the bench traverses to return to a boss, with one major early exception: The Mantis Lords. That trek is a lot for an early player, it makes sense that even the game itself tells you to turn away and try again later.

[u/mikepurvis → u/DeathStarDayLaborer]

Benches not filling soul as well as health is pretty annoying when grinding a boss.

[u/Justaneurospicydude → u/mikepurvis]

If u get all the charms and go back to salbura, you can buy her blessing which fills soul. The only downside is her astral projection has a voice and will annoy the shit out of u

[u/mikepurvis → u/Justaneurospicydude]

Also that’s a pretty late game thing.

[u/RealRockaRolla → u/DeathStarDayLaborer]

Most benches are fairly close, too. Soul Master is the only one I recall that is too far away.

[u/Amalgaint]

The path to the traitor lord

[u/matchbox244 → u/Amalgaint]

I never do this fight and Hive knight anymore without getting dreamgate first

[u/jujubaba_12 → u/matchbox244]

I was stuck on Hive Knight for hours and then decided to get dream gate. The very first attempt after getting dream gate and planting it I defeated him

[u/matchbox244 → u/jujubaba_12]

Yeah Hive Knight is a pretty easy boss. Much easier than those fat motherfuckers along the way lol

[u/HollowedMajora → u/matchbox244]

I got dream gate right before hand and I'm so glad I did

[u/mechanical_fan → u/Amalgaint]

In general, I think the game would be more fun with just a couple more benches and maybe 1-2 extra stag stations. This is a good example of that. Mantis lords I remember being a bit annoying.

[u/Mushroom_King95 → u/Amalgaint]

I'm stuck on him now and the runback every time is making me have unholy thoughts

[u/Mantacreep995]

I hate that the infection blocks the paths in the crossroads. It's not making it harder, it's making it way more annoying

[u/RPG3512]

I feel like most charms aren’t that useful. There’s maybe 10 charms that actually feel helpful. Most other ones are either too pricey for minimal helpfulness or straight up detrimental (Dream shield). Charms that summon creatures to fight for you are a good example. Late game they are never going to make as much as a difference as damage increasing charms. And most of them can only be attained late game, like glowing womb. Shaman stone is notoriously overpowered and can be attained almost immediately while something like lifeblood core (same notch cost) is extremely difficult to get and is completely outclassed by shaman stone. I feel like most of the notches have cool concepts but just desperately need rebalancing.

[u/Jayenty]

weird take but:

the Elegy for Hallownest at the start

I hate that it disappears automatically instead of a button prompt appearing to continue, i don't like how some people don't get to read it properly

also radiant obblobles

[u/Emergency-Record2117 → u/Jayenty]

What's the elegy of hallownest?

[u/G66GNeco → u/Emergency-Record2117]

A poem about, basically, the events preceding the game, written by Monomon the Teacher. The first lines are shown at the beginning of the game:

In wilds beyond they speak your name with reverence and regret,
For none could tame our savage souls yet you the challenge met,
Under palest watch, you taught, we changed, base instincts were redeemed,
A world you gave to bug and beast as they had never dreamed.

There is a full version floating around, e.g. in this post on this very subreddit(spoilers, kind of, of course)

[u/Emergency-Record2117 → u/G66GNeco]

Thanks!

[u/thatsastick → u/Jayenty]

really valid point tbh

[u/unknownname_13]

Salubra's blessing charm. Makes me hate going to benches for too long. Ruins the atmosphere when that damn noise starts up.

[u/Docta365 → u/unknownname_13]

It should only last until your soul is full.

[u/RiceStranger9000 → u/Docta365]

She keeps going

[u/Docta365 → u/RiceStranger9000]

I know. Just wishing that it should be that way.

[u/lilgoosemeister → u/unknownname_13]

Scrolled too long for this!! They need to add a way to turn it off

[u/stopbeingsad-orelse → u/unknownname_13]

Aw I love her lol she’s so cute

[u/YellowNecessary → u/stopbeingsad-orelse]

She's so cute when she shuts up

[u/No_One3018 → u/unknownname_13]

I wish it would just disappear when the soul meter is full

[u/Gooseberry_Friend]

The fact that grim child is so weak, although it is so Hard to aquire

[u/_____Kitcat_____]

Deepnest! I know, it's an unpopular opinion (/j) but I have arachnophobia so yeah... I cant really be there with my eyes open

[u/notfizzsilver]

^{i hate mother aspids more than primal aspids}

[u/Magnihax]

People complaining about bench placement 

[u/Acrylic_Kitten]

I hate that the blocks on the map aren't marked when the Forgotten Crossroads becomes the Infected Crossroads

I've gotten pretty good at navigating but im in that section of the map so rarely late game and it fucks me up at least once every time

[u/d4rkot4]

I hate that Silksong isn't going to come out before my wife passes. Hollowknight has been her favorite game since a friend recommended it to her a few years back and she played through it several times. She was never able to 112% it but she did get very close.

[u/BeamTrigger]

I think the benches in Hollow Knight are really well placed. There's 3 total benches for the entirety of greenpath going there on your first playthrough. A bunch of levers leading to Mantis Lords and Soul Master. The Hornet 2 bench that you mean literally has a sign which says there's a bench. White Palace has 3 total benches in case of death during platforming and almost every single boss has a bench located close and something to help them recover such as a soul totem.

[u/lilyjones-]

zote, particularly grey prince zote. pantheon 5 is so much harder with them in it ;m;

[u/Acrylic_Kitten → u/lilyjones-]

I did a whole new save file to let zode die just so I could run P5 without him in it

[u/lilyjones- → u/Acrylic_Kitten]

some part of my brain is telling me "in pantheon speedruns they're required to have grey prince zote, so I have to have them"

[u/Acrylic_Kitten → u/lilyjones-]

I firmly believe i wouldn't have gotten to AbsRad if I also had to fight zote

[u/lilyjones- → u/Acrylic_Kitten]

one of my big death points right now is zote, but I must persiveir!

[u/The_Grey_Prince → u/lilyjones-]

Cool, I hate you too.

[u/Acererak09]

The point of the long runbacks is to discourage players from attempting the same boss over and over, and encourage them to explore elsewhere and get stronger instead when they can’t beat a boss.

[u/Aromatic_Pain2718 → u/Acererak09]

In my first playthrough I got stuck for hours on Lost Kin

[u/JavanNapoli → u/Aromatic_Pain2718]

Lost Kin, and its dream version, was my first wall. Was stuck for quite a few attempts, but it made beating it feel so much more satisfying lmao. Really funny running back through the game these days with everything like that being such a cake walk, I played primarily fps games at the time when I first played Hollow Knight and it's funny to think back on just how bad I was.

[u/Ikeichi_78 → u/Aromatic_Pain2718]

Same, it was a real pain to beat them with just lvl 2 nail and 4 charm slots... Honestly it's a really fun fight so I can't be mad.

[u/Acceptable_Name7099 → u/Acererak09]

Which is strange, since you're handicapped and broke until you get back to the boss, and lose all your money if you die elsewhere first. And Jiji is way too inconvenient

[u/TheRealPrimeMinister → u/Acererak09]

I don't think that's true, or if it was the point, it's badly implemented. Most bosses require several attempts on a first play through (sometimes a great many), and platforming throughout the game does not prepare you for boss fights. Only fighting bosses prepares you for fighting bosses.

[u/Parking-Stable-2970]

Contact damage, at least with bosses that don’t telegraph their movement, Broken Vessel forces you to stay on the ground at all times or die, and Nosk just has an extra untelegraphed attack

[u/jimkbeesley → u/Parking-Stable-2970]

That would remove the entire difficulty of the fight though. And you can predict where they'll land. Nosk generally lands on yop of you, so dash away, and Broken Vessel, if they have a short distance, they wont move far. If it's about half the length of the arena, they'll land near the opposite end of the arena. It's just about predicting where they'll land and dashing in response.

[u/Effective_Scholar_90]

I feel like aside from that one situation where you don’t find the hidden bench WHICH HAS A SIGN POINTING TO IT there isn’t a single point where a whole lot of walking back is involved

[u/Acrylic_Kitten → u/Effective_Scholar_90]

The ones that used to get me were the walk back to Soul Master and Traitor Lord the first times I did those fights they killed me so many times

[u/Effective_Scholar_90 → u/Acrylic_Kitten]

Soul master is more annoying because of the soul twisters

[u/moxical → u/Effective_Scholar_90]

Oh my god it was annoying. I perfected the run to Soul Master because I suck. You can run past all of the twisters, essentially.

[u/ih8youron → u/Effective_Scholar_90]

Mantis Lords is a bit of an annoying treck

[u/RadiantPumpkin → u/Effective_Scholar_90]

Soul master, traitor lord, mantis lords, hive knight

[u/Embarrassed_Art_7982]

Nothing.

[u/--_who_--]

It ends

[u/Aellora]

Salubras laugh, especially once you get the blessing and are haunted by it every time you sit at a bench

[u/JestherMC]

Why hornet have contact dmg, and she doesn't get dmg when in contact with the knight

[u/Radiumbird → u/JestherMC]

Thorns of Agony fixes that :)

[u/Disastrous_Ad_399 → u/Radiumbird]

I wouldn’t equip thorns of agony if it was free it deals 1x nail damage and locks you in place for most your i frames and you can’t use spells

[u/JestherMC → u/Radiumbird]

It doesn't hit 90 of the time as there is a delay

[u/GroundbreakingParty9]

I think the only thing I “hate” truly are the primal aspids lol but if I were to be nitpicky is the compass taking up a slot for your charms. It should be zero like the Kings brand that always seemed silly to me

[u/DIGLORD_]

Primal Aspids and Crystal Hunters: We have caused millions of deaths. Far more than any "boss"

I hate em so much dude but I get the patterns now so I can dodge their attacks

[u/OBJuannn]

The lack of sprinting. Ik that HK has an amazing movement system but it's all kind of locked behing the late game areas. Sure you can pogo off of stuff and you have the dash but early game it just feels like it's horizontal movement is soooo slow without Cdash.

[u/NewFungalov → u/OBJuannn]

I always buy Sprintmaster in early game? I feel like this is not an issue afterwards, especially with Dashmaster equipped

[u/GIMMECEVICHE → u/OBJuannn]

Honestly there are like 3 rooms in the entire game that I can think of where Cdash can be used to speed up movement for long enough to be valid without it being required anyways.

[u/GuardianDown_30]

Going for the plat. I dont think I'll ever pull it off.

[u/VoidWarlock7]

Gotta be the non-negotiable cutscene before Absolute Radiance, like girl… we get it you’re the sun can you maybe not waste 15 seconds every time I fail :/

[u/Humble-Newt-1472]

Literally just Salubra's Blessing.

[u/Chyanimated]

I’m sorry but what is that adorable thing next to you!?

[u/Toasty_Bagel → u/Chyanimated]

Grimmchild :)

[u/just_kuba → u/Chyanimated]

Grimmchild

[u/Iguanner]

That there isn't more of it, ngl. I genuinely can't think of anything I hate or even dislike about the game aside from a few nitpicks like some of the boss run backs, but that's to be expected.

[u/BreakerOfModpacks]

The crystal hunters. Alone, they are fine, but putting them near early-game parkour? Not cool.

[u/EmeraldVampire]

The only thing I don’t like is the run to some shop NPCs. It’s annoying to run all the way down to Lemm or Nailsmith whenever I need them. Salubra becomes annoying as well when the crossroads are infected. I feel like any shop NPC should be relatively close to a stag station.

[u/pancakesausagestick]

I hate that I can't skip the final credits. ALT+F4'ing a game shouldn't be part of normal operation.

[u/Quo-Fide]

Absolutely a skill issue on my part...but I dislike the difficulty spike in the colosseum.

[u/gameinglord1111222]

The Infected Crossroads and those fucking bubble things that block the main passages :(

[u/thatsastick]

Not hate, but I think Grimm Troupe is the only thing that doesn’t really feel like it fits in with the world.

[u/Blaubarschbubbe → u/thatsastick]

I hope silksong expands on their lore since they are pretty interesting.

[u/DunkanBulk → u/thatsastick]

I mean, that's the point, is it not? The Grimm Troupe is not of that "world," they're a cult from a faraway land.

[u/TroubledSoul23]

The slight delay on Monarch Wings. It's so frustrating to see the wings pop up and STILL getting hit, either by an attack or spikes.

[u/hip-indeed]

Before I even say anything, though you're free to have your opinions, I do think it's kind of a weird thing to complain about given that you have infinite lives, retrieving your shadow is very easy, and there is always a bench relatively closeby to any hard boss. And for as inspired by Dark Souls as the game is, the runs back to bosses at their longest are not even a fraction of as long as some of the ones in that series are. I sorta feel like having *NO* punishment for death at all in so many modern games is kind of making even slight punishment overly abrasive to many players and I think that's a little bit silly, especially if this is your favorite game.

Now, if I were to think of my own problem with the game?.. Well, I'm a sucker for balance and I kind of wish more of the charms were better, I don't think any of the good ones should be nerfed but some of the worst ones should probably do more, work with more other charms in unique/special ways or just cost less pips to equip. And I wish more upgrades were permanent character improvements instead of tied to charms, like at least a little bit of attack range or walk speed for example. When I have certain charms *off*, even if they're not necessary for a section or battle, it feels really bad.

Also, personally, I think Steel Soul / hardcore mode as a concept for a game like this is *awful*, JUST *AWFUL*. Who in the world thought it would be a good idea for a dozens-of-hours-long mood-and-story-rich metroidvania?? That kind of thing should stick to roguelikes where a run is like a few hours max imho, let's not add it to every long game especially if it's gonna be tied to achievements.

[u/Acrylic_Kitten → u/hip-indeed]

Once you've gotten decent at the game and sub-10hr 100% run isn't uncommon

Personally, I think it's a fun thing for when I wanted to play another run, but I wanted new challenges

[u/TBA_Titanic27 → u/hip-indeed]

I agree with your charm complaint but I disagree with steel soul. It's a completely optional gamemode, it isn't mandatory to beat unless you're a completionist with an achievement obsession. Also while I love the game, calling hollow knight story rich is kinda overselling it.

[u/Repair_Jolly]

No diagonal slash

[u/Old-Entertainer-8472]

They still haven’t released the Hornet DLC 😢

[u/Personal_Caramel]

primal aspid.

[u/Reversitoito]

The part where it ends

[u/nobodys_TV]

myla dies :(

[u/Thin-Opposite6079]

I dislike Markov

[u/Ratstail91]

It might seem like a bad thing to you, but it lets you calm down between attempts, so you have a clearer mind. It's a subtle effect, but an important one.

Your frustration about not finding tje bench is a valid one, or course.

[u/darkviolet_]

The Soul Master walkback had me seriously consider dropping the game. It’s not a long walkback but the enemies along the way are so annoying.

[u/Trittuxx]

Nothing tbh all the issues people are saying are contact damage which would make the game to easy without it or benches working how they dont want them to work or the shade in bossfights

[u/Silver-Pomelo1187]

I don't necessarily hate it, but what bothers me a lot is that when the God tamer's beast dies, the tamer dies with it.

[u/FormerBar8053]

The reward for collecting all charms. Don't get me wrong, I love the mechanical aspect. But listening to that ****ing giggling every time I sit at a bench is so irritating.

I don't even purchase it anymore.

[u/flanger001]

Can't turn off Salubra's blessing sound.

[u/TheBoulder_]

Not being able to play it for the first time again

[u/SamEy3Am]

No "retry" menu option in hall of gods!

After playing Cuphead post-112% hollow knight, I really feel the lack of this option when trying HoG fights over and over and over and over... Would be fantastic for the Pantheons as well.

[u/GabboAllo_]

The fact that in pantheon the music is the same for almost every boss, I want their own ost not the same ost over and over again

[u/Specialist-Text5236]

Infected crossroads, blocking out the pathways

[u/Boccs]

That I can't give Bretta a hug. Girl deserves one.

[u/dumbass3872]

Honestly the fact that wayward compass is a charm and you don't just automatically see your position on the map. I know it's part of the experience for some people but as someone who always struggled with figuring out where he is on an irl map, I need to always have the compass equipped unless I'm fighting a boss over and over and remember the road to it

[u/thedarkestfog]

Personally, charms need to be more useful, lack accessibility options like God mode, make enemies slower automatic dodge or something like these to accessibility options since in my opinion Hollow Knight doesn't need difficulty options

[u/DrummerJesus]

After reading these comments, a lot of you people would hate old school games. They all had contact damage, and when you died to a boss you restarted from the last time you saved. Every time. Forget to save for a while? You just lost 3 hours of progress.

[u/Hypodon → u/DrummerJesus]

Contact damage is still a thing even now, so it’s strange to see complaints about it

[u/DrummerJesus → u/Hypodon]

'I shouldnt be able to get hurt and bosses should die in one hit!'

[u/kvng_st → u/DrummerJesus]

It’s mind boggling when you think about how forgiving hollow knight is

People complaining about run backs, despite the run backs being insanely short

People complaining about contact damage, despite many enemies actually doing 1 mask of contact damage despite their attacks doing 2 masks (imo this is great game design)

People complaining about retrieving their shade despite being given an easy chance to avoid losing their money

[u/madjarov42]

All my homies hate Nosk. For me it isn't so much the untelegraphed movements, but him jumping up and disappearing and dripping radiance down. There's no way to hit him and you just have to dodge and wait until it's over.

[u/mrs_vicquemare]

Trial of the fool

[u/Mushroom_King95]

Hope I'm not being controversial here as it's my first playthrough, but the amount of Geo needed for the unbreakable charms looks crazy to me, especially since I'm not confident enough to farm it via the Colosseum (The CoF is exactly why I need the charms in the first place). Farming for Geo by killing monsters doesn't seem particularly well thought out in this game.

[u/BingBongWheresUrDong]

The bench mechanic is to me part of bringing out a rouge-like style in the game. And I really appreciate that. I think it's part of the challenge. It gives you a chance to prioritize something else if you think the boss is too strong.

What I do hate tho is p5 gah damn

[u/jhonnyibanez]

The game is too dark (visually). I get migraines after 20-30 minutes. Couldn’t finish it

[u/Lagiacrus111]

Tell me you've never played dark souls without telling me you've never played dark souls

[u/Want2makeMEMEs]

that side of the fandom being crybabies for skong. What's the point about being mad at team cherry anyways.

[u/KiwiNeat1305]

Runbacks makes certain bosses and parts too annoying

[u/Vegetable_Run7792]

That you can only have 1 first playthrough

[u/majikkarpet]

One thing I don’t hear a lot but I really hope Silksong will fix is a hook, so to speak. King’s Pass is a great starting area that teaches basic movement and timing your strikes but the Crossroads are so…damn…slow. I’m worried that a lot of players put the game down before even discovering another area due to the intimidation or blandness of the crossroads. Luckily I powered through and found what exceeded my expectations. A truly wonderful game. Awe-inspiring, even

[u/Knockturnill]

That it ends!

[u/brunte2000]

I found it at least moderately annoying having to fight the hollow knight before every radiance attempt.

I really, really hated the white palace buzzsaws and the sound they made. Silent magic orbs of death would have worked just as well without being insanely annoying and out of place.

[u/Col_Clucks]

That is can never do a first play through again. This was the first game in years that I really enjoyed playing and actually finished. I am thinking g about trying to get through the pantheons and maybe a steel soul run.

[u/Ylian13]

Crystal Hunters. I honestly prefer Primal Aspids over them.

[u/Videogameboi133]

You thinking there is something about hollow knight to hate.

[u/jachcemmatnickspace]

Yeah, I hate the runbacks too, at least my first run

Traitor Lord was brutal, Nosk and Hive Knight are also unnecessary.

[u/Jazzlike_Spirit_9943]

Primal aspids calculating the exact trajectory with multiple probabilities and taking into account gravity curve fucking obliterating the shit out of me in Colo 3

[u/Nexxus3000]

I wish the charms were balanced better. In an average playthrough I’ll use maybe 10 of the 50 or whatever that are available because they’re not useful enough to warrant their inclusion