No matter how challenging you find Silksong, the sequel to Hollow Knight might have presented an even steeper challenge. In a recent conversation with Dan Allen Gaming, voice artist and playtester Matt Trobbiani shared insights about his experience with Team Cherry’s highly anticipated game, revealing that some encounters were tougher during testing than in the final release.
Trobbiani, who contributed voice lines for the boss character Trobbio, had the unique opportunity to test Silksong while it was still in development. He engaged with various enemies during his quality assurance testing and noted that many debuffs were introduced after his gameplay sessions.
“It was almost entirely nerfs to bosses that I got put in,” Trobbiani explained. “It was much harder when I did it.” Although he faced Trobbio, he doesn’t feel that there were significant alterations to that particular encounter by the time it reached players. “His fight was pretty much the same by the time I got to it,” he added.
Fan Reactions and Community Feedback
Many fans argue that Team Cherry may have made a misstep with the difficulty balance, claiming that Silksong is actually “noticeably harder” than the original Hollow Knight. Players are experiencing relentless challenges from both the movement mechanics and bosses right from the start of their journey in this Metroidvania.
The voice actor for Shakra mentioned that Team Cherry would echo the advice shared by players: if you find something significantly difficult, perhaps it’s a signal to explore additional areas.
In the community, discussions are heated over whether an early boss in Silksong truly needs a nerf. Gamers are already proudly sharing their achievements of defeating the boss pre-nerf, adding to the ongoing debate.
The Importance of Balancing Difficulty
For a game like Silksong, where the inherent challenge is a key attraction, finding the right difficulty balance is crucial. Regular updates from Team Cherry have included nerfs and bug fixes, as the developers carefully listen to community input to refine Hornet’s quest into a game that players genuinely desire.
Reflecting on his dual role as a voice artist and tester, Trobbiani recounted a brief exchange that led to his involvement: “They said they had a character in mind, thinking of naming it Trobbio, and asked if I could do the voice. I immediately replied, ‘Yeah, of course! That sounds like a lot of fun.'” This was certainly easier than facing off against formidable foes like Sister Splinter or Groal the Great.
On a related note, I’m eager to jump back into Silksong thanks to an impressive mod that allows Hornet to sing Sherma’s song instead of the needolin.