Compare Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake vs Hollow Knight: Silksong

Accessibility and quality-of-life options are a major positive, with reviewers repeatedly citing objective markers, difficulty settings, battle speed, autosave, chest markers, and toggleable assists.

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.

AI behavior receives mixed-to-negative comments, with reviewers noting tactic AI can be unwise or not especially bright.

Animation quality is praised in battles and monster presentation, with reviewers noting spell, strike, and enemy animations.

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 highly praised for HD-2D's blend of sprite work, lighting, and 3D spaces.

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 warm, colorful, nostalgic, and sometimes cinematic, supporting the classic fantasy tone.

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 is often praised as tougher, more numerous, and more rewarding, though difficulty can still be demanding.

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.

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 much stronger than in the originals, especially for Dragon Quest II's cousins and expanded party dynamics.

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

The roster is stronger thanks to the Princess of Cannock and a more defined Dragon Quest II party.

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.

Combat is broadly praised for preserving old-school turn-based structure while adding more tactical tools, though some solo-hero and encounter-balance issues remain.

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.

Content variety improves substantially through new underwater regions, postgame material, endings, expanded areas, and added story content.

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

The core loop remains a traditional Dragon Quest rhythm of overworld travel, towns, treasures, dungeons, random encounters, leveling, and equipment upgrades.

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 quality gets positive attention through the localized text and additional characterization.

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

Difficulty is one of the most debated points: many reviewers liked the challenge, but spikes, RNG, grinding, and solo-hero fragility frustrated others.

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

Emotional impact is surprisingly strong for some reviewers, with late-game or introductory scenes prompting tears or sobbing.

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 content is expanded with postgame dungeons, extra challenges, and additional completion goals.

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

Enemy variety expands through enemies from later Erdrick titles appearing in the first game.

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 visual strength, with lighting and detailed spaces giving the world more life.

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

Exploration is usually a strength, especially with secret spots, map options, open-sea travel, and treasure hunting, though underwater and backtracking sections can feel awkward.

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

Faithfulness to franchise is positive, with reviewers seeing the remake as respectful to classic Dragon Quest while updating it for modern play.

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

Fast travel is convenient but somewhat controversial because it saves time while reducing old-school tension and making Evac less meaningful.

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

Frame rate stability is strong in reported platform testing, including consistent 60 FPS and no frame drops.

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 high overall, with reviewers calling the collection enjoyable, compelling, addictive, or a treat for RPG fans.

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

Reviewers describe the remake as adding meaningful new mechanics, including expanded abilities, sigils, scrolls, and tighter gameplay, while keeping the classic JRPG foundation intact.

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 earns consistent praise, with reviewers repeatedly calling the HD-2D presentation gorgeous, brilliant, vibrant, or superb.

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

Grinding remains part of the experience, but reviewers vary on whether it is rewarding, tolerable, or frustrating when difficulty spikes appear.

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

Handheld play suitability is strong on Steam Deck, where one reviewer completed both games and praised the fit for portable play.

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.

HUD clarity is helped by map and chest icons that make locations easier to read at a glance.

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

Immersion benefits from the combined effect of visuals, scenery, audio, and presentation upgrades.

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

Innovation is modest but effective, especially in the sigil system's small changes to classic combat.

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 softened by options but still asks players to learn and adapt to old-school RPG challenges.

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.

Dungeon and level layouts draw some criticism for being overly simple or uninspired compared with the stronger story and combat upgrades.

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

Load times receive a positive note on Switch 2, with one reviewer calling them quick.

Loot rewards, especially Mini Medal turn-ins and powerful equipment, make exploration feel more materially rewarding.

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 expanded through added Erdrick-trilogy connections and extra story material.

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 repeatedly praised for objective markers and minimap support, while still allowing purists to turn guidance off.

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 improves through skill hotkeys that make frequently used spells and abilities easier to access.

Mission design is expanded around the new lore and story additions, giving previously simple objectives more structure and payoff.

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 benefits from towns and vignettes that give the journey more localized stories to complete.

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

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 one of the remake's clearest upgrades, with expanded scenes, stronger trilogy connections, and especially improved Dragon Quest II storytelling.

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 helped by immediate quality-of-life guidance that makes the old structure easier to approach.

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 comes from making Dragon Quest I feel meaningfully new rather than merely resurfaced.

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

Pacing is mixed: several reviewers praised the flow or Dragon Quest II's expansion, while others found padding, bloat, or uneven sections.

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

Performance optimization is viewed positively across platforms, with reviewers mentioning strong Switch 2/Steam Deck performance and stable modes.

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 noted on Switch 2 through performance and graphics 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 reflected in the sense of care, respect, and overall quality given to the remakes.

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

Progression is improved by scrolls, sigils, leveling, and character customization that give players more ways to build strength without abandoning the classic structure.

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

The protagonist gains appeal through small personality cues despite remaining silent.

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

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

Quest design benefits from added lore and scenario changes that make the remakes feel more deliberate than the originals.

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

Remake quality is the consensus highlight: reviewers repeatedly call these thoughtful, definitive, or gold-standard updates rather than simple ports.

Replay value is limited for at least one reviewer because the longer, more bloated versions are less inviting to revisit than shorter originals.

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 strength thanks to generous autosave and expanded save options that reduce frustration.

Side characters gain depth from new and returning figures receiving their own storylines.

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

Sound design supports atmosphere, especially through musical instrumentation that makes caves and locations feel more distinct.

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

The soundtrack is widely praised for orchestral arrangements and classic themes that enhance exploration and mood.

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

The sigil system gives upgrades and conditional combat enhancements that add a light but meaningful layer to battles.

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

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

Value for money is supported by the two-game package, expanded runtime, and strong companion value within the trilogy.

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

Visual effects stand out in combat, especially spell and attack effects that make battles more spectacular.

Voice acting is generally well received, adding presence and emotion, though some reviewers wanted more or found it uneven.

World-building is strengthened by deeper setting detail, a more cohesive Erdrick trilogy, and added context for Alefgard and its people.

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 is supported through environmental searching, Mini Medals, barrels, rocks, secret spots, and rewards that encourage checking every nook.

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

Writing quality is praised for improved character writing, localization, and personality, with some reviewers calling the added dialogue a highlight.

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