Compare Metroid Prime 4: Beyond vs Hollow Knight: Silksong

Reviewers found only a basic accessibility set: camera shake, HUD size, audio sliders, and remapping appear, but difficulty, color-blind, and repeated-input options are called limited or absent.

Reviewers liked the precision possible with gyro, pointer, or mouse-style aiming, though comfort and consistency varied by setup.

Animation is repeatedly praised as part of the hand-drawn presentation, especially Hornet's character movement and the many detailed environmental touches.

Art direction is a consistent strength, with reviewers calling out alien visual design, striking environments, and strong Switch 2 presentation.

The art direction is a major strength, with reviewers emphasizing hand-drawn beauty, richer color, distinctive biomes, and a style that feels carefully authored.

Atmosphere is one of the clearest wins: many reviews describe Viewros as eerie, lonely, alien, and richly mood-driven.

Pharloom's atmosphere blends beauty, melancholy, dread, charm, and danger, creating a world reviewers often describe as memorable even when it frustrates them.

Boss design lands well overall, often described as puzzle-like, spectacular, intense, and among the stronger parts of the adventure.

Boss design is one of the strongest areas overall, with many reviewers praising choreography, variety, spectacle, and pattern learning while noting occasional slog or runback friction.

Bug frequency receives limited but positive evidence from one completion-focused review that reported no glitches or frame drops.

Camera behavior has limited negative evidence, with one review describing the bike/camera targeting as snapping away from the intended object.

Only one direct camera-related complaint appears, but it is meaningful: a reviewer says some high-speed boss movement leaves threats outside the camera bounds.

Character development is divisive: some moments lose impact because Samus stays silent, while companions rarely receive deep arcs.

Hornet receives more explicit characterization than the Knight, and reviewers describe her softening through relationships, duty, and reactions to Pharloom's residents.

The supporting cast is broader than older Prime games, with some reviewers enjoying the team and others seeing them as thin archetypes.

The supporting cast is repeatedly described as charming and varied, with bug NPCs, pilgrims, fleas, mapmakers, and side characters giving the world personality.

Checkpoint design drew criticism in boss fights, especially when deaths send players back to the beginning of lengthy encounters.

Checkpoint design is the most repeated concern: sparse, paid, trapped, or distant benches and long boss runbacks often turn difficulty into tedium.

Combat is generally fun, weighty, and quick, although some reviewers found its action focus repetitive or less exploratory than classic Prime.

Combat is widely praised as fast, precise, rhythmic, and expressive, with Hornet's agility and tool options creating dynamic fights despite the harsh damage model.

Companion behavior is one of the most divisive elements, ranging from tolerable or charming to intrusive, over-explanatory, and mechanically awkward.

Reviewers consistently point to a huge amount of areas, enemies, bosses, tools, secrets, and optional content, though some additions create minor clutter or friction.

Controls are widely praised, with strong support for dual-stick, gyro, pointer, and other setups, aside from ergonomic caveats around mouse mode.

Controls are generally praised for giving strong control over Hornet, maintaining flow, and supporting precise combat and traversal once the player adapts.

The core loop still works best when it emphasizes scanning, combat, puzzle-solving, upgrades, and atmospheric exploration, though some reviews say action and padding disrupt it.

The Metroidvania loop of exploring, unlocking abilities, opening shortcuts, and returning stronger is described as satisfying and central to the appeal.

The tool and shard systems add flexibility, but some reviewers criticize their resource costs and the way consumable repair needs can lead to grinding.

Dialogue is often praised for making Hornet and Pharloom's cast more engaging, though one reviewer found some dialogue dry at times.

Difficulty is mixed: boss fights can be challenging and adjustable, but some reviewers called spikes or easy completion balance uneven.

Difficulty is strongly debated: most reviewers call it intentional, rewarding, and often fair, but many also highlight two-mask damage, early friction, and harsh runbacks.

DLC value is only lightly supported through criticism of amiibo-locked music, framed as poor value rather than traditional expansion content.

Vi-O-La is polarizing: several reviewers love its speed and feel, while others dislike its drift, open-hub use, or role as padding.

Resource balance is mixed to negative, with repeated complaints about rosaries, paid benches, tool shards, and farming interrupting the otherwise strong flow.

Emotional impact has limited positive evidence around the finale and companion relationships, but it is not a universal strength.

The game creates notable emotional peaks through hard-won victories, character moments, music, and late-game story beats, though some players feel relief as much as joy.

Reviewers describe substantial post-credits or alternate-ending content, optional bosses, zones, and secrets, making the endgame unusually large for the genre.

Enemy variety is mixed-to-negative in several reviews, with some praise for boss variety but repeated complaints about similar bots, bugs, and aliens.

Enemy variety is broadly praised for giving biomes and combat encounters distinct threats, though flying enemies and monster-room waves annoy some reviewers.

Environmental detail is a strong point, with varied biomes, dense visual detail, and effects that communicate heat, cold, and alien scale.

Environmental detail is consistently praised through lived-in spaces, small animation touches, surface-specific sounds, and dense background storytelling.

Exploration remains a major draw inside the main regions, though the desert hub and linear structure weaken the Metroidvania feeling for some reviewers.

Exploration is a core strength: reviewers describe Pharloom as vast, secret-filled, interconnected, and rewarding, though a few completion and corpse-run frustrations remain.

Facial animations receive limited positive evidence, mostly tied to Nintendo taking a step forward with character presentation.

Faithfulness is split: some see it as unmistakably Prime, while others feel the open hub, companions, and linearity dilute classic Metroid identity.

Reviewers generally agree Silksong honors Hollow Knight while feeling faster, bigger, and more colorful, with some preferring the original's simplicity.

Fast travel convenience is weak, with multiple reviewers wishing for faster ways to revisit areas or move between hubs.

Fast travel through Bellways and marked stations helps reduce backtracking, though some stations must be unlocked or paid for.

Frame rate stability is a strong technical point, with repeated praise for 60fps, 120fps, and barely dropping frames on Switch 2.

Frame-rate impressions are positive across Switch 2, PC, and video coverage, with reviewers citing 120 fps, 60 fps, and stable low-end performance.

Fun factor is mostly positive despite caveats, with several reviewers saying the core adventure kept them engaged or was hard to put down.

Even frustrated reviewers repeatedly describe Silksong as fun, compelling, or worth pushing through because its victories and discoveries feel so rewarding.

Gameplay mechanics are solid but uneven: classic Prime mechanics still compel, while psychic powers and some additions feel conservative or clunky.

The broader mechanics are praised for adding aerial combos, diagonal dives, tools, crests, and more agile traversal, though they raise the learning demand.

Graphics quality is one of the strongest consensus positives, frequently described as gorgeous, stunning, or best-looking on Switch 2.

Graphics are a consensus highlight, with reviewers praising gorgeous hand-drawn visuals, richer color, strong biome identity, and platform-specific crispness.

Grind level is a repeated concern, especially around green crystal collection and late-game resource padding.

Grinding is a common caveat, especially around rosaries, shards, fetch quests, and repeated boss attempts that exhaust consumable tool resources.

Handheld play is well supported, with reviewers praising handheld performance and docked/handheld control smoothness.

Handheld suitability is positive: Switch 2 handheld and Steam Deck impressions suggest the game works especially well as a portable Metroidvania.

The game is not reviewed as pure horror, but reviewers repeatedly note frightening, cruel, eerie, or terror-filled spaces that give Pharloom tension.

Supported by direct review evidence.

HUD clarity is supported mainly through TechRadar's note that HUD size can be customized; no broader HUD praise appears.

Immersion is high in the crafted areas, although chatter, hints, and hub padding can interrupt the mood.

Immersion comes through the dense world, ultrawide support, atmosphere, music, and the feeling of being pulled into Pharloom's secrets.

Innovation is mixed-to-weak: the game adds psychic powers and a bike, but many reviewers call the changes conservative or not compelling.

Reviewers see innovation in how Silksong builds on Hollow Knight through Hornet's movement, crests, tools, protagonist voice, and uncompromising design.

The learning curve is steep because of diagonal pogoing, higher enemy damage, resource management, and a higher skill floor, but many reviewers find mastery rewarding.

Level design is strong in the dungeon-like areas but more criticized when reviewers discuss linearity or the desert connector.

Level design is strongly praised for purposeful rooms, seamless area transitions, shortcuts, hidden branches, and spaces that teach or challenge the player.

Load times are mixed: some praise minimal loading, while others criticize traversal layers and disguised loading sequences.

Loot and reward structure is one of the weaker areas, with several reviewers noting bosses may give little or no material reward after difficult fights.

Lore depth is a strength, especially through scanning, environmental storytelling, and Lamorn history.

Lore depth is strong, with reviewers pointing to mysteries, world history, item details, subtle reveals, and connections between Pharloom and Hallownest.

Map and navigation design is mixed, with useful markers and collectible tracking offset by split areas, hub traversal, and reduced discovery.

Map and navigation design is mostly strong thanks to pins, clearer direction, shortcuts, and story-rich maps, but completion tracking and map clarity draw criticism.

Menu usability has limited negative evidence around unclear progress/menu information for crystal collection.

Arena or mission-like encounter design is mixed, with some reviewers disliking repeated combat rooms and endurance-style waves that feel less creative.

Mission variety exists through wishes, hunting, collecting, fetch tasks, puzzles, and optional routes, though fetch quests are a repeated weak spot.

Monetization fairness has limited negative evidence tied to criticism of amiibo-locked bike music and perceived Nintendo greed.

Movement feel is strong for Samus and general first-person control, though vehicle handling is more divisive.

Movement feel is one of Silksong's clearest strengths: Hornet is fast, agile, expressive, and satisfying to control after the adjustment period.

Narrative quality is mixed-to-negative: Lamorn lore interests reviewers, but the conclusion, Sylux, and Samus's silence often disappoint.

Narrative quality is stronger than the original for many reviewers because Hornet speaks and the story is more explicit, though some still experience it as sparse.

Onboarding is divisive, with some reviewers appreciating newcomer guidance and others criticizing forced tutorials and aggressive handholding.

Onboarding is mixed: reviewers say the game works as a standalone entry and teaches some basics, but its opening hours create notable friction for new players.

Open-world design is the clearest repeated weakness; Sol Valley is often called empty, barren, dated, or padding.

Originality receives limited and lukewarm evidence, with reviewers saying the game has fewer memorable ideas than Prime Remastered.

Originality comes from Silksong's confident, sometimes cruel identity, which reviewers see as distinctive even when comparing it to other Metroidvanias.

Pacing is inconsistent: dungeon progression can flow well, but desert backtracking, late-game crystals, and bloat are common complaints.

Pacing is mixed: exploration and progression can be absorbing, but punishing progression, long checkpoints, and structural ending requirements interrupt momentum.

Performance optimization is excellent on Switch 2, repeatedly praised as technically strong and stable.

Performance optimization is a strength, with reviewers citing smooth play on lower-end hardware, flawless-feeling performance, and strong PC/Switch handling.

Platform-specific support is strong on Switch 2 thanks to control options, HDR, and 60/120fps display modes.

Platform-specific support is meaningfully discussed through ultrawide PC support, Steam Deck suitability, and Switch 2 120Hz support.

Platforming precision is divisive: many praise demanding obstacle design, while several criticize diagonal pogoing and certain sections as inconsistent or punishing.

Polish is mixed: presentation can be excellent, but some reviews note rough spots, glitches, or awkward technical seams.

Polish is consistently praised through meticulous detail, precision, high production values, and the feeling of a handcrafted game refined over years.

Progression works when upgrades make Samus feel more capable, but the macro-structure is often considered too linear.

Progression is strong overall, with frequent tools, abilities, upgrades, optional routes, and build-altering discoveries, though some requirements are opaque.

Protagonist appeal is limited by Samus's silence in dialogue-heavy scenes, even though her iconic presence remains central.

Hornet is widely liked as a protagonist because she is agile, voiced, heroic, confident, and emotionally connected to Pharloom's people.

Puzzle design is generally good, especially in boss and dungeon contexts, though some psychic mechanics feel familiar.

Puzzle evidence is limited but present in special puzzle areas, Needolin interactions, mechanical puzzles, and path-solving through exploration.

Quest design is mixed: wishes and optional tasks give structure and reasons to revisit areas, but fetch quests and opaque ending requirements are criticized.

Replay value has limited positive evidence from a reviewer who wanted to continue collecting and replay after near-completion.

Replay value is high due to 100% completion, alternate endings, optional bosses, build variety, second runs, and reviewers wanting to return.

Nonlinear freedom is strong: reviewers describe multiple routes, optional bosses, different paths to objectives, and broad freedom to leave hard walls for later.

Save reliability is a recurring concern, especially point-of-no-return behavior and limited autosave frequency.

Side character depth is mixed, with some attachment to the crew but repeated criticism that arcs and personalities are thin.

Side characters are a strength, giving relief, charm, pathos, and recurring interactions across Pharloom's towns and hubs.

Sound design is praised for maintaining Prime's atmospheric feel and supporting the alien setting.

Sound design receives strong praise for surface-specific footsteps, detailed audio, and atmospheric effects that make areas feel alive.

Soundtrack quality is very strong, with many reviewers calling the music excellent, fantastic, or phenomenal.

The soundtrack is a consensus highlight, with reviewers praising Christopher Larkin's orchestral, haunted, dynamic, and boss-specific music.

Tutorial quality is criticized in limited evidence for a mandatory motorcycle tutorial and over-explanation.

Upgrade system is mostly positive where quality-of-life upgrades and ability growth improve return visits.

Upgrade systems around crests, tools, abilities, and silk skills add major build flexibility and playstyle changes.

User interface design gets positive evidence from map item display, though some hinting systems were too aggressive.

Interface design is mixed-positive: journals, tracked quests, pins, sliders, and tool categories help, though map and compass limitations remain.

Value for money is mixed, with one reviewer recommending a sale for the Switch 2 version and another feeling the purchase was not worthwhile.

Value for money is excellent across the reviews, with multiple reviewers citing the $20 price and huge amount of content.

Visual effects are strong overall, with impressive lighting and particles, though one review notes some effects animate at a lower frame rate.

Voice acting is mixed, praised by some as strong and criticized by others as uneven or tied to annoying characters.

World-building is a major strength, especially in how Viewros, the Lamorn, and environmental scans make the planet feel coherent.

World-building is one of the strongest consensus areas, with Pharloom's history, class structure, religion, silk, architecture, and inhabitants reinforcing the setting.

World interactivity appears in subtle touches such as water preventing map use, Needolin interactions, NPC events, and changing locations.

Writing quality is uneven, with repeated criticism of clichés, caricatures, repeated reminders, and over-explaining.

Writing is praised for stronger dialogue, clearer story beats, and emotional character interactions, although a few reviewers find parts dry or sparse.