Hollow Knight: Silksong and Prince of Persia: Lost Crown's Format is Ideal

Summary

It would appear that, in spite of the major leaps in gaming technology over the past few years, there is still a place for old-school game design. Ubisoft proved this with its recentMetroidvaniaPrince of Persiagame, which should give fans of more classically inspired releases some hope for the future. At least, it suggests that the upcomingHollow Knight: Silksongis on the right track with its approach to game design.

The Metroidvania genrehas exploded in popularity over the past few years. This explosion was sparked, in part, by the firstHollow Knightgame back in 2017, but other indie darlings likeBlasphemousandYoku’s Island Expresshave managed to carve out their own legacy as well. Even some AAA games, includingControlandStar Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, adapt core aspects of Metroidvania progression, but the genre is generally associated with games that boast a more retro flavor, drawing more directly from the classicMetroidandCastlevaniagames that birthed the style. It looks likeHollow Knight: Silksongwill once again draw from the well of classic game design, which will likely work in its favor.

Hollow Knight: Silksong Tag Page Cover Art

Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown Sets the Stage for Hollow Knight: Silksong

The Lost Crown Proves that AAA Gaming Isn’t Scared of Old-School Design

AlthoughThe Lost Crownbuilds on classic Metroidvania features, the core of the game is traditional, through and through. Zooming out from the game and looking at Ubisoft’s broader catalog and expected, often maligned approach to game design, it’s rather surprising thatThe Lost Crownwas developed in the first place; those familiar with Ubisoft are used to impressively detailed, sprawling worlds that can be traversed in three dimensions, not retro-inspired side-scrollers.

Moreover,Prince of Persia: The Lost Crownis among the most critically acclaimed Ubisoft games in years, and its focus on tried-and-true, old-school game design principles is a big part of this warm reception. Unfortunately, recent rumors have suggested thatThe Lost Crownmay have underperformed financially, but that doesn’t change the fact that both consumers and AAA developers see potential in the Metroidvania framework.

Gaming Audiences Are Primed for Hollow Knight: Silksong

The wait forHollow Knight: Silksonghas been a particularly painful one for many fans of the original. 2024 will mark the seven-year anniversary ofHollow Knight, and thoughSilksongwas initially meant to release last year, it wound up being delayed indefinitely. Despite delays and radio silence, however, fans are still ready to welcome the game with open arms, with many expecting it torepeat the successes of the firstHollow Knight.

Crucially, the more old-fashioned approach toHollow Knight’s game design is what most players love about the franchise. Rather than being viewed as a hindrance,Hollow Knight’s commitment to seemingly outdated elements like a hand-drawn 2D art style, minimal voice acting, and concise, focused gameplay are seen as strengths. While little is known aboutSilksong, it doesn’t look like Team Cherry is looking to modernize its formula, choosing instead to focus on the fundamental, long-established design pillars that make its predecessor so beloved. It’s telling that, even as gamers prepare for impressive andcutting-edge games likeGTA 6, hype forSilksong, a game that will likely not be technically advanced, is still through the roof.

It’s easy to assume that sky-high framerates, resolutions of 4K or higher, and advanced graphical features like ray tracing are what make a video game good. After all, these are the sorts of talking points that sell current-gen consoles and PC components. However, games likePrince of Persia: The Lost Crownare evidence that bigger and shinier isn’t always better, and ifHollow Knight: Silksonglives up to expectations, then it will be hard to deny that an old-school approach isn’t still effective.