Compare Hollow Knight: Silksong vs Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse

Loot and rewards are a weaker point, with reviewers complaining about bosses or difficult paths that provide little or disappointing material payoff.

Exploration rewards are valued for giving hidden chests and optional routes a tangible payoff. Weapons and useful passive equipment make discoveries feel worthwhile.

Accessibility is criticized as limited, with reviews noting the game is not trying to be accessible to everyone and lacks broader options.

Adjustable damage, healing, and boss respawns make the game easier to tailor to different skill levels. Most welcome that flexibility, though a few dislike the toggles or find they do not solve platforming frustrations.

Originality is praised where Silksong is seen as firmly on its own path rather than a simple copy.

Some see a distinctive identity, but many feel the game borrows too safely from established Metroidvanias. A competent revival does not always feel like a new benchmark.

Fast travel is praised in one review for reducing backtracking tedium through well-marked routes.

Fast travel helps with backtracking, but its locations, discovery, and extra transitions often feel cumbersome. Several players find revisiting distant areas slower than it should be.

Tutorial quality is criticized through comparison with Hollow Knight’s clearer early tutorial structure and more generous opening support.

The opening teaches movement and combat through practical encounters, making the basics approachable without removing the challenge.

Frame rate stability has limited but positive evidence from a Switch 2 review calling 120fps performance perfect.

Some versions maintain smooth action, while others show noticeable drops or limiting frame caps. Switch 2 reports are generally more favorable than original Switch and Steam Deck accounts.

Graphics quality is praised for a stunning hand-drawn world and a visual style that feels playful, dark, and richly realized.

The game can look striking in motion, but character models and image clarity receive mixed reactions. Nintendo versions draw repeated complaints about blur and low resolution.

Grind level is criticized where resource depletion and boss attempts can push players toward needless grinding.

Opinions split on repetition: some enjoy farming enemies for experience and testing combinations, while others find prescribed spell-upgrade tasks taxing.

Writing quality receives strong praise where reviewers call it top-notch and tied to Hornet’s conversations and character insight.

The writing is praised for personal stakes, thematic clarity, and eccentric characters. Other reactions point to weak scripts or dialogue that gives away too much.

Innovation is positive but measured: reviewers praise new directions and system changes, while one calls it evolutionary rather than revolutionary.

The whip and tarot systems bring welcome fresh ideas for some. Others find the exploration tricks and movement upgrades too conventional.

Character development is praised for Hornet softening through Pharloom and for character arcs that counterbalance the harsh world.

Rose’s growth and vulnerability give her arc emotional weight for many. Others see a determined heroine who changes too little or remains an underdeveloped archetype.

Handheld suitability has positive evidence from Steam Deck performance and battery life comments.

Handheld play can be enjoyable, particularly on Switch 2’s smaller screen. Steam Deck performance and cropped menus require more compromise.

Faithfulness to franchise is strongly supported by reviews saying it captures, continues, and improves on Hollow Knight while standing apart.

Franchise identity is a central disagreement. Many celebrate a thoughtful modernization, while others miss the RPG detail, atmosphere, and signature oddities of earlier Castlevanias.

Narrative quality is praised as more focused and engaging than the original, helped by Hornet’s voice and guided exploration.

Rose’s curse and her captured companions give the adventure more story presence than many expected. Reactions split over predictability, excessive explanation, and a tone that can feel more anime than gothic.

Atmosphere is a major strength, described as surreal, haunting, dreadful, beautiful, and full of wonder and horror.

A burning Paris, gothic interiors, and evocative audio create a strong sense of place. Brighter visuals and frequent chatter dilute the mood for some traditionalists.

Enemy variety is strong in scope, but evidence is mixed because flying enemies, monster rooms, and certain mobs can feel annoying.

Enemy variety is disputed: familiar monsters delight some players, while others tire of recolors and repeated types. Combat combinations sometimes compensate for the smaller roster.

The core loop is praised as pure Metroidvania satisfaction: tough encounters, discovery, and rewarding progression through new areas.

Hunting bosses, gaining powers, and opening new paths creates a compelling loop for most. One disappointed demo player found the loop slow and unrewarding.

Onboarding is a weak spot for some, especially in the opening hours where resources, checkpoints, and tutorial clarity are less generous.

Learning the core moves is often handled well, but important systems are not always explained clearly. Mirror travel in particular is easy to discover late.

Progression is generally praised for fresh upgrades and satisfying forward motion, but one review criticizes opaque true-ending requirements.

New abilities and equipment usually make Rose’s growth satisfying. Slow access to mobility tools and small level-up bonuses leave some players underwhelmed.

Side character depth receives positive evidence from a review praising Pharloom’s supporting characters as charming and motivated.

Captured bosses bring distinct personalities and rivalries to Rose’s journey. Some players wish the wider cast contributed more, while others find the constant commentary excessive.

Checkpointing is a common concern, with long runbacks, sparse benches, paid benches, and poor placement repeatedly criticized.

Checkpoint spacing is one of the most disputed design choices. Distant save rooms can mean tiring runbacks, while optional boss-door respawns considerably reduce frustration.

Lore depth is praised for hidden mysteries, optional heritage threads, and deeper history that rewards curiosity.

Franchise callbacks and ties to earlier events reward familiarity with Castlevania’s history. French historical references add another layer of interest.

Dialogue is mixed-to-positive: one review calls it shockingly good, while another says it can feel dry at times.

Companion banter can make the journey lively, funny, and less lonely. Frequent interruptions and overexplaining wear on players who prefer a quieter atmosphere.

Hornet’s movement is one of the clearest consensus wins, with reviewers praising her speed, agility, sprinting, and dance-like traversal.

Whip-assisted movement often feels fluid, acrobatic, and exciting, especially as new abilities arrive. Early sluggishness and awkward grapple follow-ups frustrate some players.

Environmental detail is repeatedly praised, from dense small touches to rooms and backgrounds that make Pharloom feel lived-in.

Layered backgrounds, gothic architecture, and detailed vistas make many locations memorable. One sharply negative demo impression found the environments bland instead.

Art direction receives near-universal praise for hand-drawn beauty, color variety, style, and a distinctive visual identity.

The vivid gothic art, tarot illustrations, and painterly backgrounds are widely admired. Its brighter, more stylized look is less appealing to players who want a darker traditional aesthetic.

Difficulty is the most divisive attribute: many reviewers call it rewarding and intentional, while others find it cruel, too punishing, or unfairly frictional.

The challenge can be rewarding, with learnable patterns and meaningful skill tests. Difficulty spikes, crowded rooms, and overpowered late-game equipment create an uneven curve for others.

Emotional impact is strong, ranging from adrenaline and triumph to reviewers saying they shed tears or were moved by events.

Family loss, personal growth, and moments of redemption give the story unexpected emotional pull. Rose’s relationships provide much of that impact.

Animation quality has limited but strong evidence, with reviewers noting gorgeous animation within the hand-drawn presentation.

Fluid movement and expressive combat animations are consistent highlights. The transitions between running, jumping, and grappling help sell the acrobatic action.

The learning curve is steep, with reviewers noting hours of mastery and occasional git-gud walls, but also rewarding skill growth.

Boss patterns and combat rhythms become satisfying as they click. Animation commitments and unfamiliar movement timing can take some adjustment.

Content variety is praised through multiple game-like challenge types, many systems, and plentiful options, while remaining tied to high difficulty.

Distinct weapon families, spells, and encounter combinations give the action welcome variety. The available toolkit feels more expansive to some players than to others.

Combat is a major strength, described as fast, precise, tense, dance-like, and rewarding, though some reviews tie its highs to demanding difficulty.

Combat is the clearest strength, combining weapon-specific attacks, grappling, spells, and parries. Crowded encounters and occasional sluggishness can interrupt that flow.

Polish is praised through meticulous design and presentation, though only one scored review directly supports the attribute.

The core action and presentation are often described as polished and carefully executed. That finish helps the revival make a strong impression.

Crests, tools, and upgrades are widely seen as flexible and creative, though a few reviews found early limitations or resource-linked tool use frustrating.

Works of Mercy encourages experimentation by tying spell upgrades to practical challenges. Repetitive requirements and uneven weapon upgrade rewards can make advancement feel like busywork.

Camera and hitbox-adjacent behavior draws criticism where bosses or damage windows appear from off-screen or feel overly generous.

The camera can drop ahead of Rose during falls, making incoming hazards difficult to react to in time.

Immersion is strongly supported by one review’s comment about Pharloom lingering after play.

The blend of French history, gothic locations, and compelling exploration makes the world absorbing. Strong atmosphere helps sustain the desire to investigate.

Exploration is a standout, with most reviewers praising dense secrets, rewarding routes, and curiosity-driven discovery, though a few disliked sparse rewards or risk pressure.

Hidden rooms, meaningful upgrades, and optional areas make exploration rewarding. Cryptic progression, repeated routes, and distant travel points can turn discovery into a chore.

Fun factor is high overall, with reviewers repeatedly saying they had great fun, wanted to return, or found the game compelling despite pain.

The strongest reactions describe a highly enjoyable, absorbing adventure. Combat and discovery keep those players eager to return even after setbacks.

Pacing has a notable concern around long checkpoint placement that interrupts practice and repetition in challenging sequences.

The adventure often improves once the castle opens up, but the early hours can drag. Repeated backtracking and long stretches between useful travel points are recurring interruptions.

Platforming precision is mixed: reviewers admire Hornet’s acrobatics, but several criticize the diagonal pogo or inconsistent bounce feel.

Platforming can be exhilarating when jumps, grapples, and light abilities click together. Its tight timing and repeated hazard rooms also produce some of the strongest complaints.

Horror tension receives limited positive support from the dream/nightmare tone described in one review.

The horrors are intimidating without overwhelming the empowering rhythm of play. That balance gives the macabre setting tension without making it oppressive.

The rosary and shard economy is the most repeated systems complaint, often described as stingy, grindy, or slightly misbalanced.

Limited healing makes long gauntlets and crowded encounters stressful. Mana-supported spell combinations are appreciated, but scarce restoratives and interrupted casts can make resource management feel punishing.

Review evidence frames the broader mechanics as more complex than the original, especially through Hornet’s expanded combat and movement options.

The whip and tarot abilities connect traversal, combat, and progression in satisfying ways. A minority find the individual mechanics inconsistent or too familiar.

Platform-specific support has positive evidence from ultrawide support that improves immersion.

The absence of a native Switch 2 version disappoints players who want the newer hardware used more fully. Resolution and control concerns strengthen that criticism.

Replay value trends high for completionists and build experimenters, though one reviewer said they were glad to play it only once.

Multiple endings and unfinished discoveries give reasons to keep playing. The lack of New Game+ and concerns about shallow upgrades limit the appeal for some repeat players.

Value for money is exceptional across reviews, especially because of the low price, large content volume, and long completion potential.

The lower price earns strong approval, especially given the amount of exploration and optional content. Players repeatedly describe it as good value.

Performance is praised on lower-end hardware, Switch platforms, and 120fps contexts, with only minor visual caveats.

Performance varies by platform and build, with solid experiences alongside frame drops, menu hitches, and disappointing handheld results. A stable presentation is not consistent across all reports.

The soundtrack is one of the clearest strengths, repeatedly described as magnificent, excellent, world-class, and emotionally fitting.

The soundtrack sharply divides opinion: some love its orchestral and electronic blend, while others miss the memorable melodies of older entries. Reworked classics are a particular point of disagreement.

Control feel is strongly praised, with one review emphasizing complete control of Hornet and another calling the Switch 2 Pro Controller perfect.

Many find the controls responsive, but others report input delay, long animations, or unreliable grappling. Platform and build differences matter when judging how crisp the action feels.

Hornet is consistently praised as an excellent, charismatic, well-rounded protagonist with stronger presence than the silent Knight.

Rose is often praised as a confident, vulnerable, and engaging new Belmont. Her headstrong personality is less convincing to those who want more agency or complexity.

Quest design is split: some reviewers like wishes and missions as structure, while others criticize boring or grindy fetch quests.

Tarot investigations give boss hunts a clear purpose, with late-game searches attracting the strongest praise. Familiar tricks make those quests less surprising for some genre veterans.

Sound design earns strong support from praise for surface-specific details and top-notch audio touches.

Snappy whip cracks and impactful combat sounds help the action feel satisfying. One review criticizes the overall audio quality.

Level design is strongly praised for seamless area flow, purposeful rooms, thoughtful platform placement, and dense Metroidvania structure.

The castle’s distinct rooms, secrets, and shortcuts earn broad praise. Opinions are less enthusiastic about the early areas and how well the larger regions connect.

World-building is one of the strongest areas, with reviewers praising Pharloom as immaculate, complex, sad, and worth exploring.

The ruined Paris setting and its history make the world engaging. A few reactions miss the ordinary people and encounters that would make its spaces feel more inhabited.

Map and navigation design is mixed: several reviews praise map structure and direction, but others dislike incomplete map support and 100% cleanup.

Map markers, completion tracking, and tarot clues help organize exploration. Even so, unclear objectives and awkward connections leave some players wandering for long stretches.

Puzzle design receives limited but positive evidence, with one review saying Silksong makes puzzle-solving and hidden-path discovery feel effortless.

Environmental clues, portraits, and room-specific mechanics produce satisfying discoveries. Some puzzles cross into obscurity or become frustrating when progress depends on finding a particular trigger.

User interface design has limited positive evidence around attractive mission HUD illustrations and attention to detail.

Tarot-themed menus are attractive and generally easy to understand. Cropped item information on Steam Deck undermines their usability.

Boss design is broadly praised as memorable, choreographed, varied, and exciting, though some reviews dislike spongey health pools, rewards, or runbacks.

Boss battles frequently stand out for inventive patterns, striking designs, and demanding use of movement. A smaller group finds them uneven, forgettable, or frustratingly spongy.

Enemies can track jumps and time attacks around dodges with frustrating precision. That behavior makes already demanding traversal and gauntlets feel less forgiving.

Precise whip aiming can be finicky, with missed anchors or unintended targets disrupting traversal and combat.

Several players encounter few bugs, but others report windowed-mode problems, a fast-travel glitch, or an HDR pop-up that prevents loading. The issues described vary substantially.

A familiar returning voice is especially rewarding for a longtime fan. The casting continuity adds an appreciated connection to earlier games.

The wider cast earns praise for interesting, distinct personalities. Creative companions help the journey feel lively beyond Rose’s own story.

Meaningful hidden rewards make optional searches worthwhile. Weapons, equipment, and upgrades help give discoveries a useful payoff.

Some players can read attacks clearly even in hectic fights, while others lose track amid projectiles and effects. That split matters in a game built around precise defensive timing.

Crafting has negative evidence where shard requirements pull the player away from action into repetitive resource hunting.

Crashes and freezes affect a handful of playthroughs. Reports include repeated Switch crashes and two freezes on PS5 Pro.

Keeping progress and experience after death can make retries feel productive. Poor respawn positions and lengthy returns to danger still create frustration.

Endgame content receives strong support from optional endings, zones, bosses, and post-credits discoveries.

The main adventure and optional discoveries generally feel substantial without overstaying their welcome. One player finds it a little short despite its density.

PC graphics options are criticized as sparse or absent, leaving little room to recover performance beyond changing resolution.

Tarot clues can make investigation satisfying without simply placing an objective marker. Their clarity varies, and some players find the hints too cryptic or too limited when stuck.

Bickering companions and eccentric personalities bring welcome humor and levity. These lighter exchanges help make the dark journey feel less lonely.

Streamlined equipment removes the routine of constantly equipping whichever armor has the highest stats. That reduced busywork is appreciated.

Loading is a recurring frustration, especially when mirror travel adds multiple transitions. Waiting repeatedly can make useful shortcuts feel slow.

Optional objectives can encourage fresh approaches and exploration. Repetitive or uninspired combat challenges are less successful.

The overall response is favorable, with many calling it a strong or excellent comeback. More reserved reactions see an enjoyable foundation held back by uneven difficulty, technical issues, or a weaker franchise identity.

The steelbook earns direct praise for its appearance, adding appeal to the physical package.

A full physical release is enthusiastically welcomed, especially by a player planning to keep it in a collection.

The leaner RPG systems divide opinion: some appreciate less equipment busywork, while others miss richer statistics, loot drops, and build depth.

There is some freedom to choose routes and approach the ending early. Players hoping for extensive sequence breaking may find the progression rules surprisingly rigid.

The macabre presentation is praised for restraint rather than for sheer intensity. Its intimidating horrors remain stylized instead of excessively grotesque.

Flashes and impact effects can overwhelm the screen or feel distracting. These touches do not work equally well for players who value restrained, readable action.

Distinct weapon styles reward experimentation and situational choices. Strong upgrades and dominant late-game options sometimes make other weapons feel redundant.

World interactivity has limited but strong support from one review that praises evolving locations, reactive hubs, and organic backtracking.

Weapons, spells, and three relic slots allow enjoyable combinations without excessive complexity. The freedom to adapt builds is a strength, though frequent menu use can interrupt experimentation.

The physical edition appeals to collectors, with enthusiasm for owning the game and praise for the steelbook presentation.

Menu reactions split between quick, clear operation and interruptions to combat flow. Frequent equipment swapping, cropped text, and occasional hitches are the main complaints.

Voice performances are mostly well received and help bring the cast to life. Some find the English delivery uneven, while the Japanese dub receives a particularly favorable comparison.

Refreshed classic monsters can look imposing and give combat personality. Criticism centers on generic designs, excessive health, and enemies that feel more annoying than interesting.

Mission design earns positive evidence where missions give players reasons to revisit areas and make NPC discoveries feel more purposeful.

The open-ended world leaves room for branching discoveries while keeping the main route manageable. Its initial linear stretch gives way to a more inviting search for secrets.

The short demo is criticized for underselling the full game. Later movement options and stronger areas make the adventure feel different from its opening slice.