27: Hollow Knight

Virtual Homework

In this episode of Virtual Homework, Dana and Sam open their conversation with a deep dive into the world of Hollow Knight and the Metroidvania genre as a whole. Listen in as our hosts discuss what to expect from Hollow Knight in terms of playtime (for both the regular campaign and a completionist), what they like and don’t like about the game, why many refer to it as “2D Dark Souls”, and the pros and cons of the death system. In the latter half, Dana and Sam go on to share their thoughts on Runescape and the evolution of MMOs, DMCA takedowns on Twitch and the Billy Mitchell case, the difference between board games and tabletop games, the continued delay of Cyberpunk and games they’re looking forward to in the near future, and what's hip in the world of YTMND. Key Highlights • [06:39] A primer on Hollow Knight and the Metroidvania genre • [16:00] Comparing Hollow Knight to Dark Souls and Kaizo games • [17:10] Hollow Knight’s plot and debating the death and recovery system • [28:44] Who is this game for? • [34:44] Would Sam recommend Hollow Knight? • [36:28] Dana talks about his experience with Runescape’s Trailblazer League • [46:29] Thoughts on MMOs in general • [48:37] The issue of DMCA strikes on Twitch • [56:48] Cyberpunk’s delay and defining RPGs • [1:05:00] Discussing tabletop games • [1:09:26] YTMND and the early days of the internet Memorable Quotes: “People call Hollow Knight ‘2D Dark Souls’ because you’re trying to get from the save point to where you need to go without dying, which is a pain due to its unforgiving death system.” ~Dana “Hollow Knight is definitely a game where progress feels good because you literally start only with the ability to jump and use your sword.” ~Sam “What I love so much about Hollow Knight is that you find out more about the story as you progress. It just throws you into it. You’re just an adventurer looking for guts and glory, but then you uncover things about the world and you’re drawn in along with the character.” ~Dana “When a game I don’t like gets 9/10 on Metacritic, I know that it’s just me and not the game.” ~Sam “Regardless of everything else Hollow Knight has to offer, if you’re into video game art at all, this one is amazing. This is honestly the most beautiful game I’ve ever seen.” ~Sam “YouTube completely ruined other video streaming sites in the mid-2000s.” ~Sam