Hollow Knight: Silksong has been out for less than a week, and the indie gem continues to dominate gaming conversations. Some are discussing the game’s rich lore and fascinating characters, while others praise the challenging yet rewarding gameplay loop.
As a casual fan who doesn’t immediately pick up on the game’s subtle world-building, I can confirm that the difficult gameplay keeps me coming back. Trust me, I was making progress, but that random enemy got lucky. It’s not my fault that I decided to heal when they attacked me. Ugh, I died, but the save point’s not too far from here, so let me try again…
Where was I? Right, Hollow Knight: Silksong is difficult, but that’s part of its charm.
So when a mod that removes the game’s double damage was released, I had mixed thoughts. On one hand, making games more accessible isn’t the worst thing you can do, and, theoretically, fans should be able to alter the products they buy. On the other hand, this game’s difficulty makes each victory feel ten times better, so the mod somewhat robs players of that feeling.
A mod like this has its pros and cons; let me walk you through some of them.
Pro: No Double Damage Acts as the Game’s Easy Mode
Since Hollow Knight: Silksong doesn’t have a difficulty setting, the No Double Damage mod can essentially be that Easy Mode Soulslike haters have been asking for. Games should try to be accessible to all kinds of fans, so this mod does make things more manageable. Plus, it only affects damage, so memorizing boss patterns and tricky platforming are still on the menu.
Con: No Double Damage Mod Misses the Point of Escalating Challenges
While I’m all for adding an Easy Mode to this game, specifically removing double damage makes progression feel dull since the enemies all do the same damage. Sure, you still have to work out their attack patterns and dodge, but it makes each new area feel hollow (hehe) and meaningless.
Challenge is a huge part of this game’s identity in terms of gameplay and story. Hornet will meet characters in her travels who are struggling to reach the same places as her because enemies are getting tougher, and they’re feeling hopeless. Modding out the double damage not only takes away from the gameplay but also makes their plight feel meaningless because they all do the same damage.
How can a boss be scary if they do the same damage as a random enemy?
Pro: If You Bought Silksong, You’re Allowed to Mod It
Despite what these gaming publishers will try to tell you, buying a game like Hollow Knight: Silksong should entitle ownership to the product. While this is a piece of art made by some talented developers, it’s still a game you bought with your own money, so that entitles you to mod this adventure.
Modding the difficulty might not be for me, but fans should be able to do what they like with a product they own. They bought it with their hard-earned cash, after all.
Con: Modding the Game’s Difficulty Is Against the Artists’ Vision
Even if Silksong is a product you purchased, it was made by developers who had a specific vision for this game. If you saw the previews for this title and decided to buy it, you owe it to the devs to play the game as it was intended: by getting good.
When you’re consuming a piece of art made by someone else, you’re doing it because of the vision and identity that the artist had. Fans who had an inkling of interest in Silksong did so because they knew this was going to be a difficult game with beautiful visuals. Maybe it was harder than they would have liked, but these fans still picked it up for the difficulty, and just removing that feels blasphemous.
Pro: We Only Have So Much Free Time, What’s Wrong With Modding?
As we all get older, finding time to game can be more difficult. Most people are working five days a week, and then it's about having that balance between family time, chores, and other parts of everyday life.
The weekend would theoretically be a great time to game, but plans change. Sometimes your friend has a party, or you simply don’t have the energy to progress through anything, even if it’s just a video game.
If using the No Double Damage mod of Hollow Knight: Silksong helps you spend more time with loved ones, who am I to say “don’t mod the difficulty?”
Con: Why Did You Even Buy Silksong?
Honestly, if you bought Hollow Knight: Silksong due to all the hype that came from those seven long development years, modding the difficulty is almost an insult.
You knew this game was going to test your limits as a Metroidvania player. You chose to buy it for the experience these developers were advertising. If you did all that and decided to mod the game because it's “too hard,” that’s just poor judgment on your part and no one else's.
Just to be clear, I’m not against Easy Mode in gaming. I beat Metroid Prime: Remastered on Easy Mode because the enemies were getting too rough for my liking. But that’s because this game offers an Easy Mode, while Silksong doesn’t. Difficulty should be up to the developers who make the product, so if there's no Easy Mode, that was intended. If this game is too hard for you, get a refund or just don’t buy it.
Hollow Knight: Silksong is worth playing for its difficulty. You can mod it, but you’re robbing yourself of a truly special experience.
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