Compare The Last of Us Part II Remastered vs Hollow Knight: Silksong

Reviewers praise the expanded accessibility suite, especially descriptive audio, speech-to-vibration support, and broader options that make the game easier to experience.

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.

Evidence points to mature-only suitability: reviewers cite an M rating and warn that younger players or those without a strong stomach may not appreciate it.

Enemy behavior is praised for unpredictable patrols, strong aim, and AI that can swarm the player, especially in No Return encounters.

Aiming is helped by precise PC controls and performance modes, with one technical review emphasizing fast aiming precision and dodging.

Animation remains a major strength, with industry-best combat animation and varied contextual actions supporting the game's brutal presentation.

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

The art direction is praised through scenic, atmospheric landscapes that reviewers repeatedly stop to admire.

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

The game maintains an oppressive, visceral atmosphere, with reviewers calling out its tension, revenge story, and masterclass sense of mood.

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

Boss encounters are supported mainly through No Return and Abby-focused PC coverage, with reviewers highlighting memorable boss fights and final-run showdowns.

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 and stutter reports are limited but present in PC coverage, including texture glitches, foliage pop-in, and stutter entering dense areas.

Camera praise is mostly cinematic rather than mechanical, with reviewers noting strong camera shots rather than camera problems.

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 supported by reviews praising Abby's humanization, character arcs, and the emotional impact of the main cast.

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

No Return's playable roster is a major positive, bringing Ellie, Abby, Joel, Dina, Lev, Jesse, Tommy, and others into the mode with distinct traits.

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

The co-op experience is essentially absent; one review explicitly notes that the gameplay bones are there but the online infrastructure is not.

Combat is one of the strongest areas, repeatedly described as dynamic, brutal, satisfying, and mechanically solid in both campaign and No Return.

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.

Community features are light but present through Daily Run-style shared challenges and leaderboard comparisons.

The remaster is praised for its extras: No Return, Lost Levels, commentary, guitar free play, skins, speedrun tools, and other options.

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 generally praised as responsive, smooth, and especially strong on PC mouse and keyboard.

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 is highly praised, especially the tight combat-survival rhythm and No Return's distilled version of the game's mechanics.

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

Crafting remains important, with reviewers tying it to survival, stealth, ammunition scarcity, and No Return upgrades.

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

Cross-save support is supported by a review noting that PS4 saves and achievements can be carried over.

Dialogue quality is split: one reviewer says no line is wasted, while another says some dialog exchanges stumble and bore.

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

Difficulty is framed as challenging but fair, with selectable difficulty helping players ease into No Return while preserving tension.

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.

Resource balance is a strength, with reviewers praising scarcity that makes ammo, crafting materials, and every shot feel meaningful.

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

Emotional impact is one of the strongest consensus areas; reviewers repeatedly describe the story as heavy, upsetting, and memorable.

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.

Endgame value comes primarily from No Return's daily and custom runs, ongoing boss attempts, and reasons to return after the campaign.

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 supported by No Return's randomized factions and the addition of new enemy types and infected encounters.

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 consistently praised, from photorealistic detail to Seattle's scenery, overgrown environments, and accurate city recreation.

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

Exploration is mostly positive because it rewards searching and environmental storytelling, though PC Gamer finds it more constrained than combat.

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 animation and capture are repeatedly praised as best-in-class or amazing, preserving the campaign's emotional delivery.

Faithfulness is mixed but positive: reviewers call it a fascinating, bold sequel that recontextualizes the first game rather than repeating it.

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

Family friendliness scores very low because reviewers emphasize the game's violence, mature tone, and need for a strong stomach.

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

Frame-rate impressions are mostly positive, especially on PS5, though PC coverage notes some scene-dependent or configuration-specific issues.

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 strongest in No Return, where reviewers repeatedly describe the mode as fun, addictive, and a strong reason to replay.

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

Gameplay mechanics are praised for fresh combat, stealth, top-notch play, and improved action systems over the original.

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

Graphics remain a major strength, with reviewers praising PS5 and PC visuals even when they call the upgrade modest.

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

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

Handheld suitability is supported by Steam Deck impressions, which describe playable performance and a fruitful handheld experience.

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

Haptic feedback is widely praised on PS5, especially weapon resistance, bows, subtle vibrations, and DualSense immersion, though one PC review says it feels weaker than PS5.

Horror tension is strong, with reviewers mentioning anxiety from headphones, clicker sounds, and overall atmosphere.

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

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

Immersion is helped by DualSense, 3D audio, haptics, and environmental presentation that reinforce the harsh world.

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

Innovation comes from the Lost Levels, developer commentary, and rare behind-the-scenes transparency more than from the unchanged campaign.

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

Learning curve is helped by selectable difficulty and clear No Return progression, though some automated hinting is described as blunt.

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 mixed: reviewers praise design explanations and training of expectations, but one PC review finds navigation unclear.

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

Live-service support is poor because the planned online or live-service multiplayer project is repeatedly referenced as canceled.

Load times are a clear improvement, with reviewers noting fast or seamless loading compared with older versions.

Loot systems matter in No Return through randomized shops, rewards, modifiers, and challenges, though this is not a traditional loot-heavy game.

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 supported by environmental storytelling and optional encounters that reveal wider stories without large exposition dumps.

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: No Return's route board is clear, but some campaign navigation is criticized as hard to read.

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 is supported by the feature-rich extras menu and speedrun recap tools.

Mission design is strongest in No Return, where randomized encounters and changing objectives create short, focused challenges.

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 is a No Return highlight, though a few reviewers say encounter types can eventually become samey.

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

Monetization is generally seen as fair because reviewers repeatedly accept or praise the $10 upgrade price.

Movement feel is praised for nimble combat, large arenas, smoother movement, and improved melee animation.

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

Multiplayer design is effectively absent because the Factions or live-service project was canceled.

Narrative quality remains the most divisive area: many reviewers call it profound or powerful, while others criticize cynicism, pacing, or its framing.

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 decent through difficulty settings and hint prompts, though some guidance can feel artificial.

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.

Originality is mixed: the core game remains singular, but No Return is described as fun without being a unique roguelike structure.

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

Pacing is the most repeated story concern, with reviewers citing excessive length, elongated sections, and short lost levels cut for pacing.

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

Performance optimization is generally good on PS5 and PC, but PC impressions vary with some stutter and texture-glitch caveats.

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

Platform-specific feature support is strong, spanning DualSense, 3D audio, VRR, FOV, ultrawide, HDR, PC options, and save carryover.

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 generally high, with reviewers citing Naughty Dog polish, top-notch PS5 optimization, and a strong PC definitive version.

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

Progression is praised in No Return through unlockable characters, cosmetics, bosses, modifiers, and an overarching progression track.

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

Protagonist appeal is mixed: Ellie is praised as carrying the sequel, but one reviewer says the character became harder to relate to.

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

Puzzle design appears mostly in Lost Levels and optional environmental sections, with reviewers calling out light or water-based puzzle elements.

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.

Remaster quality is strong as a special edition, not a remake: reviewers praise the package while noting visual changes are modest.

Replay value improves through No Return, daily/custom runs, unlocks, and extras, though a few reviewers question long-term staying power.

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

Sandbox freedom is strongest in No Return, where custom runs, modifiers, and route choices let players tune combat scenarios.

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

Side character depth is supported by praise for supporting performances and scenes involving characters beyond Ellie and Abby.

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

Skill depth appears in No Return through supplements, upgrade trees, skills, and temporary build decisions rather than a deep RPG system.

Social features are limited but include friend comparisons on leaderboards for Daily Runs.

Sound design is a major strength, especially stealth audio, clicker/stalker cues, and anxiety-enhancing headphone play.

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

Soundtrack quality remains strong, with reviewers praising the score and music's emotional impact.

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

Stealth mechanics are praised as improved, tense, and central to both campaign and No Return.

Tutorial and guidance are present but mixed, with hints and commentary explaining scenes but some prompts feeling artificial.

Upgrade systems are praised within No Return through weapon upgrades, skills, recipes, and character unlocks.

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

UI is mixed: the Extras menu is feature-rich, but one PC review notes a mouse/UI frame-rate issue and guitar free play clunkiness.

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

Value for money is usually positive, especially at $10, though one review argues the package may not be worth every player's time.

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

Visual effects remain strong, with praise for lighting, scenery, pop-in improvements, and environmental effects.

Voice acting is consistently praised, with reviewers calling the cast superb and the performances central to the story.

Weapon balance is supported by scarcity and weapon tradeoffs, where having ammo for one weapon often means lacking it for another.

World-building is praised through Seattle's detail, environmental storytelling, and the expanded world of the sequel.

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 optional encounters, environmental clues, and small interactive moments that deepen the setting.

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

Writing quality is mixed but high-impact, with praise for intentional storytelling alongside criticism of some script choices.

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