There is a point where the phrase “nothing worth doing is ever easy” drives one to near masochism. It usually doesn’t. I would say on most occasions it’s a decent enough shorthand. But there is no shortage of Sisyphean tasks out there, and some are even less useful than eternal torment pushing a boulder up a hill only for it to roll back down whenever you get close to the top. Some bureaucratic formwork comes to mind. Although, as an engineer, I will die on the hill that proper documentation is important. No matter, there are countless classic examples of daily chores that fit into the traditionally Sisyphean bucket: laundry that can never be truly done because you are dirtying clothes even as you wash others, dishes because the necessity of eating creates more, and weeding a garden because nature has its own designs that will inevitably overcome mortal efforts. I’m empathetic to the absurdist takes of philosopher Albert Camus in this regard: revolt against a universe unresponsive to humanity’s desire for meaning, clarity, and order. Revolt by accepting the silence and forging forward regardless, finding your own meaning along the way. However, I am no absurdist. Personally, I’m an agnostic. I would never go so far as Camus and call the acceptance of a higher power “philosophical suicide.” When religion is done well, it offers a place for hope, comfort, and caring acceptance. Why would I ridicule others for that? Rather, my stance can be summed up by a phrase I personally think most people would do well to more readily say: “I don’t know.” I don’t know if there is a god. My experiences viewing the world and the stories of those far less fortunate makes me think it unlikely. There is so much needless pain and suffering in this world. Joy too, absolutely. But the prevalence of the former makes the existence of an all-caring, all-powerful god hard to accept for me. And so I continue on, trying to do right by myself and others and find meaning along the way. And if there is a hell, I should think there is a special place reserved for those who usurp the intrinsic human need for hope and meaning for their own gain, for those who use religion as a tool for power and manipulation. But, I digress, how does this relate to the video game Hollow Knight: Silksong created by Team Cherry? If you’ll indulge me, a fair number of ways actually.
For those unaware of this game, it is a sequel to 2017’s Hollow Knight. I played that game all the way through, eventually getting 112% completion or whatever ridiculous percentage was the max. Suffice to say I enjoyed it immensely. It, and its sequel, is a metroidvania platformer. If those words don’t mean anything to you, it’s a 2d side-scroller where you control a little guy as he jumps and fights his way through a haunted bug kingdom to uncover hidden secrets. The sequel, Silksong, picks up after the events of the first from the perspective of a character who’d only had limited scenes in the prior game. The boss fights are plentiful and difficult (just like in the first game), and you will die many times before you manage to succeed (also just like the first game). Think of old-school Super Mario World but harder and you’re getting near the right track. I reference Sisyphus, Camus, and near masochism above because, unless you are an experienced gamer, the difficulty of Team Cherry’s games will likely summon that familiar Dark-Souls-like urge to throw your controller across the room in frustration as you die to the same boss for the umpteenth time. I certainly had those moments. I also recall the triumphs when those bosses made up of pixels on a screen fell to my digital blade. Pointless? By most metrics I would say it was. Hard? Certainly. Enjoyable? Yep, aside from when the frustration burned at its hottest perhaps. But now for the all-important question. Did I find it worthwhile in the end? Indeed I did! And therein lies the paradox. I don’t have an answer mind you. I’m just some random dude on the internet. But I will say this, accomplishing something hard can be its own reward. And when you throw in a stellar soundtrack, fantastic art, and impressive game design, you have yourself the makings of a great time. In my opinion, Hollow Knight: Silksong followed in the steps of its predecessor and delivered a solid experience. If I had to get nit-picky, I would say it does have a bit more fetch quests of sorts than I would like, but that is a small quibble in the scope of things. For any interested in a challenging video game to throw themselves against, I give both Hollow Knight and Hollow Knight: Silksong a hearty recommend.
Oh yeah, I almost forgot. Why did I bring up the comments about religion above? Well, while these games take place in kingdoms of intelligent bugs, they are quite dark in theme, and they delve into religion used to manipulate the masses. I won’t spoil any of the lore here, as I think it interesting to uncover while playing the games, but suffice to say the gods of these bugs often don’t bother themselves much with the wellbeing of their followers.
That’s all I’ve got for today. All the best.
M. Weald
M. Weald 