In my opinion, Hollow Knight is an overall bad game carried by a select few immaculate, nigh untouchable moments. The vast majority of the game is directionless wandering until you’re inevitably blocked by an obstacle that only exists so that there can be a solution hidden somewhere else entirely (likely somewhere the player didn’t even know existed). Combat against standard enemies often feels clunky without the inclusion of any hitstun, and they instantly charge back at full speed after getting hit since there isn’t any acceleration.

There definitely are some high notes, however, like the White Palace and Nightmare King Grimm. The latter of which is possibly the most fun and optimizable boss in any game I’ve ever played. The soundtrack and art style deserve praise too. A vast majority of Hollow Knight’s problems come solely from it committing too hard to the tropes of the Metroidvania genre, which often serve to dilute the experience and waste the player’s time. Hollow Knight definitely isn’t awful, but I personally wouldn’t recommend it.

What is bad is locking Pure Vessel and Absolute Radiance behind the Pantheons. I don’t understand why I’m getting gatekept to the challenge itself--completely inane.