Compare Hollow Knight: Silksong vs Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter

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

The main combat feels responsive, but the remapped high-speed toggle and crowded Quick Battle inputs frustrate some longtime players and make the control scheme feel less elegant.

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

Estelle is a standout protagonist, praised for warmth, optimism, vulnerability, and believable growth. Several reviewers place her among their favorite or strongest RPG heroines.

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

Revisiting Liberl and repeating the familiar town-to-town Bracer routine can feel too close to 1st Chapter, especially early on. The stronger story and returning cast help, but the structural repetition remains noticeable.

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

The reactive world and smooth presentation help immersion, but inconsistent voice coverage can break it when one character speaks aloud while another abruptly returns to text.

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

This is a poor starting point for completely new Trails players. The recap can refresh returning players, but multiple reviewers say it cannot replace the emotional and narrative foundation of 1st Chapter.

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

The wide difficulty selection is well received, and tougher settings reward careful builds, buffs, positioning, and resource use. A few boss mechanics can feel harsh, but most reviewers find the challenge flexible and fair.

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

Fast travel is usually welcomed for cutting down the original’s heavy backtracking, but its usefulness is not universal. One late-story stretch temporarily removes travel points, and several reviewers still find repeated traversal tedious.

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

The remake’s character and combat animation earns strong praise for smoother movement, livelier cutscenes, and more cinematic attacks. A few comments frame the gains as refinement rather than a radical leap.

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

Enemy variety is viewed positively, with bosses standing out most for memorable attacks and presentation. Regular encounters provide enough variation to support the expanded combat systems.

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

Liberl benefits from richer color, detail, and expressive 3D spaces. New areas are singled out as visually delightful, while towns and environments feel more alive than in the older presentation.

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

Liberl feels reactive because NPC conversations and small resident storylines change after major events. That continuity makes revisiting familiar towns feel more meaningful.

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

Pacing is the most divisive major trait. Some reviewers love the stronger urgency and momentum, while others criticize dull opening chapters, repeated backtracking, long dialogue stretches, or a late-game slowdown.

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

Portable play is a strong fit for such a long RPG. Switch 2 and Steam Deck impressions praise the convenience, though Steam Deck users may need settings compromises for the best balance of clarity, frame rate, and battery life.

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

Progression remains satisfying because levels, Orbments, Quartz, equipment, and Bracer rewards feed into one another. Reviewers enjoy how new options steadily broaden build possibilities.

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

Character banter and conversations are a major strength, especially when the established cast is allowed to reconnect and deepen relationships. The tone can occasionally swing sharply, but the strongest exchanges are memorable.

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

The writing earns strong praise for character arcs, emotional payoff, and the way long-running story threads interlock. Improved localization also helps the script land more naturally than in the prior remake.

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

The remake is seen as respectful of the original’s spirit and broader Trails identity, modernizing presentation and systems without discarding the series’ deliberate storytelling style.

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

Expanded Orbment slots and stronger Quartz give the sequel more room for build experimentation, making upgrades feel meaningful without abandoning the original system’s structure.

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

The 3D remake is widely praised for colorful environments, strong character models, and a cleaner modern presentation. Even reviewers nostalgic for the older art generally consider the new visuals attractive.

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

The bright anime-inspired 3D style is viewed as a polished, appealing modernization of Liberl, with bold color and a clear visual identity.

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

The sequel lands unusually hard emotionally, with several reviewers describing tears, catharsis, heartbreak, and hope. Estelle’s personal journey and the payoff to her relationship with Joshua drive much of that response.

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

The hybrid combat system draws broad praise for blending fast field attacks with deeper turn-based strategy. Some reviewers find it simpler than newer Trails entries or occasionally too easy, but the overall response is strongly positive.

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

The underlying systems become manageable once learned, but the sequel assumes familiarity and introduces mechanics at a brisk pace. Newcomers can feel overwhelmed, while returning players tend to find the systems straightforward.

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

The supporting cast is a major asset, with returning companions receiving more personal stakes, stronger relationships, and memorable scenes. A few characters get less focus, but the ensemble is broadly praised.

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

Estelle’s growth from grief and dependence toward confidence and maturity is one of the game’s most celebrated achievements. Supporting characters also receive meaningful arcs and personal conflicts.

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

Frame-rate performance is exceptionally consistent in most reports across Switch 2, PS5, PC, and Steam Deck configurations. Reviewers repeatedly describe steady or near-locked performance.

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

The sequel greatly expands the interconnected Trails mythology, political context, and long-running story threads. Returning fans appreciate the foreshadowing, while newcomers get a much broader sense of the world’s scale.

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

The story is the game’s clearest consensus strength, delivering major payoffs to 1st Chapter while expanding Ouroboros, Liberl, and Estelle’s personal journey. Even reviewers with pacing complaints tend to praise the eventual emotional and dramatic payoff.

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

The remake is repeatedly described as polished, with smoother combat, refined presentation, and fewer rough edges than expected from such a large RPG.

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

Tutorial support is mixed because the sequel often behaves as though players already know 1st Chapter. Returning players may appreciate the quick reminders, but newcomers can find the early systems dump too rapid.

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.

Exploration is consistently rewarding thanks to treasure, side quests, fishing spots, NPCs, and optional encounters. Reviewers like that wandering off the main route usually produces something worthwhile.

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

Despite its length and occasional slow stretches, the game is repeatedly described as a joy to play. The combination of combat, characters, side activities, and emotional payoff keeps enthusiasm high.

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

Dungeon and route layouts are one of the clearer weak spots. Several reviewers find some dungeons too long, repeated areas too familiar, or layouts increasingly repetitive.

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

Side quests work best when they deepen Liberl’s residents and ongoing stories, making ordinary Bracer jobs feel personal. Some routine objectives remain, but the stronger quests add meaningful world-building and rewards.

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

The interface is functional and readable, but one reviewer finds it somewhat plain compared with the otherwise upgraded presentation.

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

Maps generally make overworld and dungeon navigation straightforward, but not every navigation aid lands cleanly. Some reviewers praise convenient guidance while another finds certain indicators vague and clunky.

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

Bosses are generally memorable, visually spectacular, and satisfyingly demanding, but reactions to Rage Boost, Endure, and similar difficulty spikes are less positive because they can feel abrupt or underconsidered.

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

Liberl’s politics, towns, recurring NPCs, and connections to the wider Trails saga are major strengths. The sequel builds on the first game rather than resetting the world, making prior events feel consequential.

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

The score is one of the presentation highlights, with new arrangements frequently praised for strengthening emotional and dramatic scenes. A few reviewers prefer selected original versions or dislike some rock-oriented arrangements.

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

Performance is strong across PC, PS5, Switch 2, and Steam Deck impressions, with smooth play and few technical interruptions. Steam Deck benefits from tuned settings, but the underlying port is still viewed positively.

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

Platform-specific options are solid where discussed, including portable modes and PC features such as ultrawide, HDR, upscaling, and soundtrack or voice switching.

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

Character-choice dialogue, New Game Plus enemy-level options, and fresh perspective for series veterans give the long campaign meaningful reasons for another playthrough.

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

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

The action-to-turn-based structure is one of the most consistently praised parts of the game. Quick Battles keep routine encounters moving, while Command Battles preserve the positioning and timeline tactics reviewers value.

Technical bugs appear uncommon overall. One Switch 2 playthrough hit a late cutscene glitch, while a PC reviewer reported no bugs at all across roughly 70 hours.

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

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

The main story is described as a complete experience on its own, with side activities adding texture rather than being required to understand the core narrative.

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

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

Stability is generally excellent across the tested platforms. Most playthroughs report no crashes, with only isolated single-crash experiences mentioned on PS5 and in one video review.

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

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

Facial expressions are praised for giving emotional scenes substantially more impact than the older presentation could deliver.

The redesigned fishing is a clear improvement for reviewers who disliked the older timing-based system. Better controls, useful rewards, and visible catch information make it an enjoyable side activity.

The game is very long, and one reviewer warns that its heavy dialogue and pacing issues can test patience. Others embrace the scale, but this is a substantial time commitment.

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

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

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

The battle timeline and attack information are repeatedly praised for making turn order and tactical choices easy to read at a glance.

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

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

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

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

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

The remake is overwhelmingly seen as a successful modernization that preserves the original’s heart while improving visuals, combat, voice work, and convenience. Several reviewers call it the definitive way to experience SC.

Large creatures, airships, Crafts, and major set pieces can look spectacular, though one reviewer still notices some unpolished effects around the edges.

Quartz and Orbment setups give the party meaningful build flexibility without erasing individual roles. Reviewers especially like experimenting with Estelle and tailoring characters around magic, physical damage, and support.

Orbment and combat menus do a better job than the original of explaining how systems connect, helping players understand elemental values and party setup.

Performances are widely praised for strengthening both comedy and the game’s biggest emotional scenes. The main recurring complaint is selective voicing, where some lines or characters abruptly remain text-only.

The new localization and voice direction are widely viewed as an improvement, with corrected terminology and pronunciations bringing the remake closer to established series conventions.

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

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

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

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