probably my second favorite game of all time. the music, the gameplay, the setting, and the character/ monster designs all feel so exceptional. it super nails what makes metroidvanias so enjoyable to me: exploration that you're excited to backtrack for. the sheer number of paths you can take through this game and the vast wealth of upgrades through charms and even some skills you don't need for basic endings make it extremely replayable (and also incredibly ripe for randomizer). the progression is so delightfully horizontal; you almost never kill a boss or discover a hidden area and "just get a minor little damage up," but instead always get something cool and new you can do, like a new attack or spell or equipment.

everytime I think about this game, I wish i could play it for the first time again. beyond hyped for silksong.