Hollow Knight: Silksong, the much-anticipated follow-up to the original Hollow Knight, is finally making its way to PC, and it’s bringing a slew of features aimed at both modern rigs and those of us still holding onto our trusty Steam Decks.
Zooming In
The game isn’t just looking to capture your attention with its stunning visuals, but also to accommodate a range of gaming setups. This involves more than just a fancy coat of paint; it’s about making sure everyone can experience it the way they want.
Technical Features: Beyond the Basics
Silksong has stepped up its game, offering more than the basic graphics settings. Here’s what stands out:
- Aspect Ratios and Resolutions: Whether you’re a fan of the common 16:9, the Steam Deck-friendly 16:10, or even the sprawling vistas offered by 21:9 ultrawide displays, Silksong has you covered. Unfortunately, if you’re looking for 32:9 support, you might be out of luck.
- Framerate Options: The game lets you cap framerates-or ditch caps entirely-offering choices like 30, 60, 120, 144, and 165 Hz to suit whatever screen you’re playing on.
- Visual Customization: Tweak everything from V-Sync to particle effects and blur quality. Make it feel right for your hardware and eyes.
Input Versatility: Gamepads and Keyboards
While Silksong suggests using a gamepad for that classic feel, it’s got flexibility for everyone:
- Gamepad Compatibility: Full support for controllers is a given, but there’s freedom here if you’re not gamepad-inclined.
- Keyboard Adaptability: Remap all in-game actions to your keyboard or mouse, though secondary bindings aren’t an option yet.
Comprehensive Gameplay and Sound Settings
The game dives deep into how you can control your playing experience:
- Language Options and Visuals: With over ten languages and settings like HUD scaling, you’re able to customize how the game looks and reads.
- Sound Tweaking: Fine-tune your auditory atmosphere with adjustable master, sound, and music levels.
- Extra Features: From toggling “Hero Voice” to camera shake settings, accessibility and personal preference are key focuses.
System Requirements: Designed for Broad Reach
Inclusivity is the name of the game with Silksong’s system requirements, making it runnable even on older machines:
- Minimum Requirements: 4GB RAM, Intel Core i3/AMD FX processor, and GeForce GTX 560 Ti graphics give you a good start.
- Recommended Specs: For the full experience, aim for an Intel Core i5, 8GB RAM, and a GeForce GTX 1050.
Industry Reactions and Future Outlook
Industry watchers have praised Silksong for really pushing the envelope on performance and flexibility. With the growing interest in platforms like the Steam Deck, such adaptability is not just a nicety but a necessity.
As we inch towards the release, the expectations are high, and Team Cherry looks set to deliver a sequel that not only builds on its predecessor but elevates the entire experience.
