Stylish New Steam Game Is Perfect For People Waiting For Hollow Knight: Silksong

The wait for can be a frustrating one, but a new indie game on Steam could be the perfect option to scratch a similar itch. isn't the most revolutionary of great games, standing out more due to how thoroughly it refined aspects of the Metroidvania genre with an incredibly polished and compelling execution. Although it's easy to find titles that fit into a similar vogue, it's hard to find ones that deliver those ideas in a way that's as compelling as

Enter , a 2D action platformer that looks promising on a lot of levels. A quick glance at its Steam page reveals detailed art and atmospheric lighting that could easily appeal to the sensibilities of fans while very much feeling like a different approach. There's more to the game than just its looks, however, and the finer details might be what could make it both a perfect appetizer and an interesting game in its own right.

Hollow Knight: Silksong is hugely anticipated for a reason, but all of that hype could end up causing an unfortunate side effect when it launches.

There's one inspiration that isn't shy about, citing Sekiro's challenging deflection system as a model for how its 2D combat works. Often compared to a rhythm game, ignores the versatility of combat found in other FromSoftware games like in favor of battles where split-second timing is everything. It's possible to take down some bosses in by chipping through their health bars, but the best way to deal with most lies in perfectly parrying attacks until an enemy's posture breaks, setting the stage for powerful finishing blows.

officially releases on May 9, 2024.

's system isn't something that's often seen elsewhere, perhaps in part because of the high degree of precision required to execute it well. If can meet that standard, it could give the game a real edge. is essentially a pitch-perfect Metroidvania rendition of gameplay ideals, and moving on to 's style could be a more interesting progression than other games sticking to the Soulslike formula. It