Silksong’s Early Grievances: Benches, Rosaries, and Boss Runbacks
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I still remember the strange mix of excitement and frustration that hung over the first 48 hours of Hollow Knight: Silksong. The sequel launched at 10am EDT on September 4, 2025, without pre-orders, and the resulting surge crashed every major storefront for a few hours. That chaos made history, but once the dust settled, players—myself included—started comparing notes. Is it fair to judge a game by its first two days? Maybe not, but those hours revealed the pressure points that would dominate early discussion. Now, looking back from 2026, I can see that the complaints were real, even if they never ruined the overall experience. The Rosary Economy Feels Like a Toll Booth What hit me first was the economy. Rosaries—Silksong’s currency—felt less like a reward and more like a toll. Tools, maps, items, and even benches demanded payment, and the prices added up fast. I quickly understood why so many players said farming rosaries was basically a requirement from the get-go. The bigger problem? Many enemies do not drop rosaries, and exploration rewards often feel minimal. Even the most well-hidden rooms frequently contain little in the way of valuables. That combination can turn curiosity into a chore. Why should a secret room feel like a wasted trip? In a metroidvania, discovery is supposed to be its own reward, but Silksong often asks for a down payment on that pleasure. Benches, Checkpoints, and the ‘Anti-Homeless’ Joke Benches became the lightning rod. The cost of unlocking checkpoints invited especially high scrutiny, and some fans started calling them ‘anti-homeless benches,’ a dark joke about city benches designed to stop people from lying on them. I laughed at the phrase, then winced because it captured the feeling so well. Bench placement also frustrated players. Boss runbacks were boring at best and frustrating at worst, especially when a difficult fight sat far from a safe spot. Is a long walk back really the best way to build tension? For many of us, it just drained momentum. Bosses, Rewards, and the Metroidvania Loop The bosses themselves drew criticism for offering minimal rewards. That complaint cuts deeper than it might seem. Classic metroidvania design tends to reward hard-fought victories with useful skills and tools, creating a steady loop of challenge and payoff. When a boss gives little more than a pat on the back, the loop feels broken. I do not need every fight to hand me a new toy, but I do want a reason to feel stronger after a win. Other grievances included a lack of quest variety and useful rewards like tools and crests being locked behind excessive fetch quests. Those are not minor details; they shape how the adventure breathes. Platforming, Double Damage, and the Difficulty Spike Then there is the platforming. Silksong’s diagonal pogo is a clever move, but many segments rely on pulling it off in quick succession. When it clicks, it feels brilliant. When it does not, it feels like the game is testing my patience rather than my skill. I also noticed the abundance of enemies doing double damage, something that was a rarity in the original Hollow Knight. Combine that with difficult fights and no nearby benches or checkpoints, and the difficulty can feel less like a curve and more like a wall.
https://dealnesthq.com
https://dealnesthq.com
I still remember the strange mix of excitement and frustration that hung over the first 48 hours of Hollow Knight: Silksong. The sequel launched at 10am EDT on September 4, 2025, without pre-orders, and the resulting surge crashed every major storefront for a few hours. That chaos made history, but once the dust settled, players—myself included—started comparing notes. Is it fair to judge a game by its first two days? Maybe not, but those hours revealed the pressure points that would dominate early discussion. Now, looking back from 2026, I can see that the complaints were real, even if they never ruined the overall experience. The Rosary Economy Feels Like a Toll Booth What hit me first was the economy. Rosaries—Silksong’s currency—felt less like a reward and more like a toll. Tools, maps, items, and even benches demanded payment, and the prices added up fast. I quickly understood why so many players said farming rosaries was basically a requirement from the get-go. The bigger problem? Many enemies do not drop rosaries, and exploration rewards often feel minimal. Even the most well-hidden rooms frequently contain little in the way of valuables. That combination can turn curiosity into a chore. Why should a secret room feel like a wasted trip? In a metroidvania, discovery is supposed to be its own reward, but Silksong often asks for a down payment on that pleasure. Benches, Checkpoints, and the ‘Anti-Homeless’ Joke Benches became the lightning rod. The cost of unlocking checkpoints invited especially high scrutiny, and some fans started calling them ‘anti-homeless benches,’ a dark joke about city benches designed to stop people from lying on them. I laughed at the phrase, then winced because it captured the feeling so well. Bench placement also frustrated players. Boss runbacks were boring at best and frustrating at worst, especially when a difficult fight sat far from a safe spot. Is a long walk back really the best way to build tension? For many of us, it just drained momentum. Bosses, Rewards, and the Metroidvania Loop The bosses themselves drew criticism for offering minimal rewards. That complaint cuts deeper than it might seem. Classic metroidvania design tends to reward hard-fought victories with useful skills and tools, creating a steady loop of challenge and payoff. When a boss gives little more than a pat on the back, the loop feels broken. I do not need every fight to hand me a new toy, but I do want a reason to feel stronger after a win. Other grievances included a lack of quest variety and useful rewards like tools and crests being locked behind excessive fetch quests. Those are not minor details; they shape how the adventure breathes. Platforming, Double Damage, and the Difficulty Spike Then there is the platforming. Silksong’s diagonal pogo is a clever move, but many segments rely on pulling it off in quick succession. When it clicks, it feels brilliant. When it does not, it feels like the game is testing my patience rather than my skill. I also noticed the abundance of enemies doing double damage, something that was a rarity in the original Hollow Knight. Combine that with difficult fights and no nearby benches or checkpoints, and the difficulty can feel less like a curve and more like a wall.
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3 hours ago
