It’s dark. Ominous music plays in the background, and you’re lost in a forgotten kingdom where danger lurks in any corner. Whether you fight or flee, a wrong move can mean your spirit separating from your body. This is Hollow Knight, and it’s an experience that every gamer should enjoy. Sure, it sounds a little creepy, but not in a gory or scary manner. I also learned some valuable gaming lessons that I found apply to real life, in various layers.
If you are a fan of platformers similar to 2D games like Super Mario, Metroid or Castlevania then this game will certainly keep you entertained. Controls are very simple which I liked so I didn’t have to figure out tricky attacks or dodging. At first, you start with basic moves like attacking with your nail (looks like a white sword) and recharging your health. You gain soul by beating enemies which increases a little mask on the top left of the screen. As it fills, you can regain a hit point but lose one when you are hit. The trick is to make sure your health is always filled.
What really kept me playing was the music and artwork. It blends so perfectly that it becomes a joy just to explore the game. The moment you enter a new area, the environment changes and your not sure what to expect. It was like finding a secret area that I was discovering all on my own.
I was careful not to run ahead too quickly in a new area because I wasn’t sure what to expect. If I lost all my mask points (that’s what I call them), you lose and your soul becomes a floating apparition that has all your money! You have to travel back to where you lost, defeat the ghost and gain your coin back. If you lose before doing that, you lose all the money you gained previously.
This game took me back to my NES days when games were difficult and didn’t care about your feelings. It reminded me about how recently, video games have become too easy and when a game like Dark Souls or Sekiro is released gamers begin to complain about how hard they are to beat. New gamers aren’t used to video games being so relentless in not allowing you to win, like arcades that want you to keep putting in another quarter or back in the day when game rentals were still a thing.
Hollow Knight also reminded me about how lonely and unforgiving life can be. As you battle enemies, you don’t get any help from anyone and anything that breathes want to fight you. For many people who have a lot of support, family, friends, money and opportunities, being alone isn’t a reality since life can often be pretty easy to get through. There aren’t many obstacles in the way, and many hands are reaching out for support. On the opposite side, myself included, there isn’t much help and we have to figure things out carefully and with little room for error. Starting a business could cost you all you have, or just be a donation from “friends and family”. Getting through college could take longer for those that have to work full time, or it could just be a place to party and socialize since mom and dad are paying for everything.
Unfortunately, there are no second chances, repeats or continues in life. At least you can keep replaying in Hollow Knight, but there are instances in reality where you can’t fix certain decisions. Thankfully, Christ forgives us and heals our heart, soul and body but some things have consequences that have to be dealt with.
For example, you could have a damaged relationship, broken the law, not taken advantage of an opportunity that isn’t available anymore or had an abortion. Sure, God will forgive you and help you overcome those obstacles, but there are moments that once they are gone we can’t get them back. Some mistakes are irreversible and the scars they leave carry us until our last day, so learning to head wisdom in every area is important.
Proverbs 19:20-21
20 Listen to advice and accept discipline, and at the end you will be counted among the wise.21 Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.
I hope you get to check out this work of art called Hollow Knight, and let me know in the comments what your opinion of the game is. God bless, and thanks for passing by.
You can purchase Hollow Knight for PS4, Xbox, Switch and PC.
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