Summary
Hollow Knight: Silksongpromises to give players a world that’s just as large or even larger than its predecessor’s. Those who have played the previous game or seen content regarding the sequel will know that their plots revolve around the lives of insect-like creatures and the rulers and deities that affect them. Given both games' dark undertones, players will likely encounter many off-putting enemies that could prevent them from enjoying the experience. The sequel could avoid that problem if it borrows a specific andsignificant accessibility feature ofHogwarts Legacythat toned down a certain aspect of the game.
While players have only seen a glimpse of whatHollow Knight: Silksong’s kingdom of Pharloom has to offer, it will likely have many areas that border on creepy and disturbing. Such places would also have enemies that match, potentially making some players anxious about what they could face. Those who have slight entomophobia, acarophobia, or other similar fears may benefit from the sequel having a mode likeHogwarts Legacy’s arachnophobia option. Toggling it on turns the models of the wizarding game’s creepy spider enemies into cartoonish toys with amusing animations. Something like that could help the players ofSilksongremove certain uncomfortable parts within the sequel, ensuring they can at least experience its other notable aspects.
Why Silksong Could Use Something Like Arachnophobia Mode
Before its inclusion, some believedHogwarts Legacymight have needed an arachnophobia modeto help those who cannot stand the game’s realistic-looking spider enemies. The developers understood this concern and eventually put it in via an update. Such a feature managed to help those with a fear of spiders get through parts of the game that would have otherwise turned them away, ensuring they had a proper and enjoyable playthrough experience.
Considering howSilksong’s world consists of numerous insect-like creatures, it’s likely to have a lot of creepy and disturbing sections and enemies that some might want slightly turned down. The sequel having something similar to arachnophobia mode could help these people, and the game also benefits from having it due to the following:
While there’s no telling what many ofthe new areas inSilksongwill consist of, some will at least have the relief of knowing they can make certain sections less frightening. So long as Team Cherry implements the mode properly, the sequel is likely to become more accessible than its predecessor ever dreamed of being.
How Silksong Can Implement Its Own Arachnophobia Mode
IfSilksongplans on copyingHogwarts Legacy’s arachnophobia mode, then it could just follow the same direction where it makes certain enemies look cartoonish. However, Team Cherry can use this opportunity to get creative about how the feature can change the game. For example, the enemies affected by the mode can look like they were made only from large blocks of pixels. Something like that is less taxing than creating more detailed models and allows more room for the developers to produce more imaginative ideas during its implementation. While there’s no telling if and how the developers will add such a mode to the sequel, they at least have many areas of opportunity to play around to see if it could work.
Implementing something similar to arachnophobia mode could allowSilksongto tap into a goldmine that its predecessor didn’t. Making the sequel accessible to those with a fear of insects will make many turn their attention towards considering playing it, helping ensure its success upon release. If executed right, Team Cherry could set the precedent of what other insect-based Metroidvanias should strive to become.
