does it? I love the music so much, I go through PoP just to listen to it for longer than it lasts if I were to listen to the track on its own. sure, I cursed more than once my first time through, but I actually love PoP.
The ending of the song is a leit motif for the character you play as. It crops up time to time, notably in the title song, yet the melody never resolves in any instance of it except the ending of this very track.
A few things to note about Sealed Vessel: the track is actually a medley of sorts! It contains the follow songs/sections (in order): The area right before the final boss, the intro to the boss fight, phase 1 of the fight, phase 2 of the fight, the ending cutscene for the “bad” ending, and the ending cutscene for the true ending. The true ending cutscene is where you noticed the “lightening” of the music, so to speak, so that’s the reason for it ingame. Also, the part that corresponds to the second phase of the fight (the melancholic string section after the intense portion) also plays in a couple other points throughout the game on its own, without the rest of the track, due to plot/lore reasons. The song also intensifies as you progress through both those sections and phase two of the fight, which is why more instruments were layered on as that section of the track progressed. It just does so a little differently ingame versus the soundtrack version here.
"it sounds like a play" - yes, absolutely yes. God, when this song plays, let me tell you, it HITS. I won't say any more, because to explain why the song is like it is would give too much away. What I will say is that there are some more vibrant, chill tracks during exploration that you'll love, it's just we all love to request the darkness 😅
You're pretty spot on with the Mantis Lords part. It's actually a boss fight where in phase 2 you have to fight two enemies at once, staggering their attacks to keep you always moving. So the instruments answering each other actually fits very well
Sealed Vessel may be the most heartbreaking track in the game. No cost too great... edit: the comment about "seeing sunlight for the first time in a long time" is very fitting given the context of that part of the song
It does make sense that you are hearing more than one instrument playing notes because about halfway through the fight you are fighting 2 separate people
On the subject of the mantis lords- I never thought about how the melody is always played with two instruments at once, but it makes a ton of sense! The Mantis Lords are 3 sisters, and phase 1 of the bossfight has you fighting one of the sisters, and the second phase has you fighting the remaining sisters simultaneously, as they fight you in tandem. Their movements and fighting styles are very deliberate and elegant, showing that unlike most of the things you fight, these sisters have their wits about them, and are engaged in honorable combat with you, and even when you defeat them, they are not killed, but they admit defeat and honor you with a cordial bow from each sister, and their tribe stops being aggressive towards the player character, instead bowing respectfully whenever you encounter them
Thanks for the video! Mantis Lords was the first boss that I got super stuck on so both the song and the fight itself are super memorable to me. And the final fight... man that song is making me emotional just hearing it. I am very much looking forward to your playthrough of Hollow Knight. You are correct that some people may not like the game but still respect it. I can't say I dislike the game, but it's not my favorite genre so it won't be in my top games list. With that said, I can confidently say that this game is a freaking masterpiece, and the soundtrack is just one part of the reason.
Hollow Knight is the sort of game where, even though it's too tough for me to finish on my own, I still keep coming back to the game for more. My top keywords to describe the game would be melancholy and wonder. The story, world and music is so connected. When I listen to Sealed Vessel, I feel the emotions of the final part of the story, and the story is elevated by the music. It's 100% worth playing, and playing attentively and patiently. The story isn't spoonfed to you, but it's SO worth gradually piercing it together. No one gets every nuance to the story on the first playthrough, which adss to the replayability of the game - or you can find a lore video.
It's funny that you say "this may have a leitmotif in it" because Sealed Vessel very much is built on leitmotifs from throughout the game. One that represents the player (and really the game as a whole) basically acts as the foundation for the whole piece, which has meaningful lore connections all on its own. And another character's motif is featured in a section of the ending as well. I'm sure there's more, but yeah leitmotifs are this soundtrack's bread and butter.
Mario is kind of the golden child for platform games, maybe a game will be better at parts but Mario tends to have the better overall package. That's HK for metroidvanias now. Mantis lords is played at the 2nd boss fight people tend to have trouble with and man it's one of those fights where it seems SO FAST and you're so relieved when you make it through. Probably my favorite fight even through it's wicked easy on repeat playthroughs
That's a really good, like, analogy, with Mario and Hollow Knight! ^^ And I kinda agree! I love Hollow Knight And also, yesss XD This fight is so fun, it's so fun and feels so satisfying to get into the rhythm of dodging, weaving and getting hits in
I didn't like metroidvanias that much, but I loved that game! They totally nailed it. Just like Hades with roguelikes. I never could play a roguelike game before Hades. These 2 games did something different to draw people in and hook them. The lore in both games is great, the gameplay is tight, the music is awesome, the progression is well done.
Mantis Lords: "This has a doubled melody." Oh, I never noticed that before. But that's so cool and appropriate for this boss music, since it's Mantis Lords, plural. Very cool! Sealed Vessel: "This also has a doubled melody." Oh! Uh, oh. I never noticed that either. Oh. Uh, wow. Very thematically appropriate, but with WAY different implications.
Man, these two songs are both just so great on their own ways! Both fit their respective battles perfectly. Mantis Lords was one of those bosses that made me think "wow, this battle is just like a dance!" for the first time when playing this game. It feels just like the song sounds. And Sealed Vessel - i think you're right on the mark when you say it feels like a play. It's incredible how you can hear this Story through the music, even without context. The music perfectly captures different parts of the fight - the intense drama, the melancholic tragedy, and finally, the hope.
I'm so excited to hear what you think about Mantis Lords after you fight them in your playthrough. The fight honestly enhances the music because they mesh so well together sealed vessel just rips my heart out, that second half hurts (in the best way)
Sealed Vessel is such a tragic sounding OST. It sounds like something happens during the fight, who the boss is and then the consequence of defeating it. All of that is reflected in the OST.
17:50 The only people I've seen disliking the game, are the ones who can't play it because of difficulty. This game has no mercy, no easy mode. Just the tough experience it is. I mean, the game isn't super hard, with trial and error you can get to work with it, but just saying there's no difficulty setting in the game and some suffer from it.
The part about the leitmotif around 21:00 is accurate. Pretty much the entire 2nd and 3rd parts of the song are based on leitmotifs from the main theme, 'Hollow Knight'. There are a few other places where the main theme shows up (Broken Vessel, Soul Sanctum pt2, and White Palace just to name 3), but Sealed Vessel really amplifies it.
The thing I really loved about the Mantis Lords fight music is the way the combat sounds add a punchy, percussive element to the elegance of the strings. Every time a Mantis Lord "thwickshed" across the arena it had a softened sort of snare drum quality to it that just seemed to fit. And also, it was unique to that track for me, but it felt like every time I swung my weapon I was subtly participating in the music. I never had that experience in a video game before and it just felt super cool and unique.
There is actually some really nice remixes of these tracks that where addet in the Bossrush that only madman and completionists (i am both) subject themselves to. These remixes are called "Sisters of Battle" and "Pure Vessel".
In sealed vessel there are a few cool leitmotifs, the bass plays the hollow knight main theme, that descending part that you commented on similar to a significant location, and that sad part is kind of like a theme used to show the sadness of the plot, while also being the main theme cut off, its all really powerful and awesome, Christopher Larkin did a wonderful job.
When looking up just random videos about the game, there seems to be like one meme in the community how the compass charm which shows you on the map is the best one in the game. That is definitely true, because my first playthrough was spending like half the time being lost and/or not knowing where to go, but I still enjoyed it to a certain extent. A year later, I played it again because my sister picked up the game, and it was so much smoother that time around and I didn't even die until very late. Pretty good game, great soundtrack and visuals, and Primal Aspids are absolutely the worst enemy in that game...
It is a metroidvania, and inspired by castlevania and a few other older games ^^ I hope you enjoy it when you play Hollow Knight or Silksong! It controls a lot like megaman, since the team based the movement system on that. Some people don't like it simply because of the difficulty curve.
The doubling effect on The Mantis Lords makes a lot of sense given how the fight itself goes. (Spoilers for the game, specifically this boss fight, so don't read further if you plan to play it.) The fight itself is against the three matriarchs of the mantis tribe. When you reach the heart of their village, you can challenge them (unlike most other bosses that will just attack when you enter their arena). The first phase of the fight is against one mantis lord, but the second phase is against the other two at the same time. The fight itself has a sort of rhythm to it of dodge and attack, dodge and attack, almost like DDR in some ways as you have to watch for where a mantis lord will appear and dodge the right way. When you fight two at once, the second one's attacks come in at a specific rhythm that echoes the attacks of the first, changing the rhythm to dodge, dodge, attack, but in the same period of time as the first phase's dodge and attack. The attacks from the mantises themselves are mostly slices. They'll appear to your right or left & launch forward to the other side of you with their spear and then vanish, or appear from above for a downward strike. After a few "beats" like that, they'll appear on one of the arena's walls and throw a returning projectile at an arc to avoid. If there are two mantises, they mirror one another for the projectile attack. Once defeated, the mantises bow to your character, and all of the mantises from then on will bow instead of attacking. You've earned their respect. (Most other bosses in the game are dead when you've won their combat.) The fight is pretty easy once you've learned it, but can be a roadblock for a while to new players. Defeating them opens a door to a much more hostile area, so they serve as a way to check that you've learned this game's combat well enough to proceed in that direction. If you haven't, there are plenty of other places to explore and get stronger in first. There's a more intense version of their fight called Sisters of Battle that has all three fighting in the second phase, but most players won't even unlock the ability to try it. It's exclusive to the final part of a boss rush DLC.
I know this was four months ago, but you should listen to the LYRIC video that “Man on the Internet” (Moti for short) did for Sealed Vessel. He just took Sealed Vessel, wrote lyrics, and gave it a talented singer. It’s amazing and all I can hear when I listen to this song. I think Moti also did a Mantis Lords video but with lyrics.
Yes but also no there can be another reason too. I had a few people that didn't like it, because they didn't like the exploration aspect with the "weak enemies" it felt an empty world for them with very weak enemies far and apart from each other, which detracted from the challenge for them so they dropped the game early in forgotten crossroads because of it. But I think these people would probably not like any metroidvania for the most part to be fair.
@@kobarsos82 The normal enemies are one of the weakest aspect of Hollow Knight. They're a bit repetitive both in terms of looks and of gameplay mechanics. This, area designs and the lack of movement options puts most people who don't like it off imo. They seem to have addresed all of those issues in Silksong though, based on the trailer.
I don't recall that Austin Wintory has worked with Christopher Larkin, but he does work with some other Australian Musicians in Tripod (Stray Gods being the latest interaction), so it's not out of the question that they'll cross paths (hopefully).
Yay more hollow knight ! You have no idea how amazing this ost is ! In fact I'd go so far to say that its as masterful as Hades ost is ! yup ! Definitely a must to do the whole ost eventually, there are a lot of leitmotifs too that interconnect the songs with overarching themes! Its an insanely good game in general, the amount of detail and care into Team Cherry's game is absolutely ridiculous, its beyond perfection! So I recommend it for you as well! Its a different experience sure, but why not? The only reason someone might not like it is honestly mostly these two reasons : 1) they don't like metroidvanias in general/have issues with the genre 2) its too hard for them. Some of the bosses are reminiscent of dark souls style you might say. Pretty much this.
I’ve played through HK a bunch of times and it might be a controversial opinion, but HKs biggest musical strength is in its general background music and not it’s boss music. I say that because out of the plethora of bosses, only 4 or 5 of them have boss themes that stand out among the rest.
I wish I could share this opinion. During my fairly recent playthrough I found myself disappointed by how forgettable 95% of the background music was for me. It's just not for me I suppose. Hopefully Silksong (if it ever releases) tickles my fancy better.
100% agree. Green Path is, in my opinion, the best track in the game. Then you have City of Tears, Kingdom's Edge, Resting Grounds, White Palace, Dirt Mouth, and so much more. Then combine those tunes with the sounds of water drops, various bugs chirping, boiling acid, and many various other background sound effects, and you have a recipe for constant eargasm
100% agree but the boss music is also very good in my opinion and I remember every single track in this game in fact. Every single one. Its just THAT good. But you are right, the true standouts are some of the atmospherical area pieces. Beyond perfection.
@@WaitWwhaaat Definitely a hot take for most, but I can see where you're coming from. I think the HK OST is really solid, but the bar for metroidvanias OSTs for me is so incredibly high that it feels a bit forgetable for me too. SOTN, Aeterna Noctis, ROTN, Aria, Circle and even Afterimage to some extent have such amazing and memorable OSTs that HK's kinda gets eclipsed in my mind.
@@samuelconnel2166 Side-scrolling metroidvanias are a bit of a hard sell for me though I can appreciate a good one. There are two that I have played before Hollow Knight and in my mind both have incredible soundtracks so Hollow Knight just didn't measure up. Those two being Aquaria and Ori and the Blind Forest.
I *hate* bugs. Almost to the point of a phobia. Every character in Hollow Knight is a bug or bug-adjacent, and nearly every environment has some kind of insectoid design elements. Hollow Knight is one of my favourite games of all time. I hope you play it, it's not all that long, and it's an amazing experience. Unrelated suggestion/request: I'd be shocked if these weren't already on your list, but you should check out "Imperial Will" and "Wrath of the Eikons" from FFXIV -together-.
I think this game is better than any castlevania and that includes SOTN. One reason for that is that the world feels like a place while SOTN's feels more like a game.
I wanted to like this game, but Metroidvania side-scrollers are not my thing. I managed to play through it because my friend who is a big fan was by my side pushing me on. I don't hate it, but I feel like it's a little overrated and it's far from the top of my list even though I can appreciate what it does. It is very difficult. Funnily enough it's not the bosses that I find unpleasant (mostly), but the world traversal and platforming that ruin my experience. Most of the boss fights are fun and rewarding to complete. Mantis Lords in particular is one of my favorite bosses in the game. It's the first boss I feel like I really got stuck on, but boy did it feel good once I figured out the timing and won. The OST also didn't really appeal to me very much, but there are a few tracks in the game that did stand out for me and amusingly I think you've reacted to all of them.
You asked if there are people that dislike the game and why. Well, cant say for sure since i freaking love it but i assume so. There are some themes that have multiple ways to experience and 'absorb', and some of them are kind of heavy? Like some people said in other comments, and kind of like how you guessed it, the atmosphere of the game is sad, melancholic, bleak. Its a beautiful game tho, i would recommend it to everyone at least give it a try. 7 months later but oh well
I like Hollow Knight... but not as much as I feel like I should. My problem with Hollow Knight is that it's contemporary to Ori and the Blind Forest. And that... that is a _very_ difficult arena to stand in. Basically impossible, I think. Ori's gameplay is sharper, its story is at least as emotional and impactful while not leaning so hard on darkness and melancholy, and the music, by Gareth Coker, is absolutely spectacular as well. So for me, Hollow Knight will forever lie in the deepest, darkest, grimmest shadows of Ori's glory... and that is just about its _only_ flaw. Hollow Knight is like a passion project of a very particular kind. Ori is an absolute triumph, a grand-masterpiece, absolute perfection.
If there's a word to describe the atmosphere in Hollow Knight, it's 'melancholy'.
this and tragedy
don't forget about "hiraeth"
Why do I feel so melancholy
The second half of sealed vessel instantly traumatizes any Hollow Knight player.
Not "any". Only the insane half that endured the hardest punishment.
And witnessed secrets sealed. Man, all these buzzsaws sure are inconvenient :/
does it? I love the music so much, I go through PoP just to listen to it for longer than it lasts if I were to listen to the track on its own.
sure, I cursed more than once my first time through, but I actually love PoP.
The second half of Sealed Vessel isn't a boss theme, it's a funeral procession.
The ending of the song is a leit motif for the character you play as. It crops up time to time, notably in the title song, yet the melody never resolves in any instance of it except the ending of this very track.
A few things to note about Sealed Vessel: the track is actually a medley of sorts! It contains the follow songs/sections (in order): The area right before the final boss, the intro to the boss fight, phase 1 of the fight, phase 2 of the fight, the ending cutscene for the “bad” ending, and the ending cutscene for the true ending. The true ending cutscene is where you noticed the “lightening” of the music, so to speak, so that’s the reason for it ingame. Also, the part that corresponds to the second phase of the fight (the melancholic string section after the intense portion) also plays in a couple other points throughout the game on its own, without the rest of the track, due to plot/lore reasons. The song also intensifies as you progress through both those sections and phase two of the fight, which is why more instruments were layered on as that section of the track progressed. It just does so a little differently ingame versus the soundtrack version here.
Ah the sealed vessel second phase music progressing as you progress through the path of pain is beautiful.
"it sounds like a play" - yes, absolutely yes. God, when this song plays, let me tell you, it HITS. I won't say any more, because to explain why the song is like it is would give too much away. What I will say is that there are some more vibrant, chill tracks during exploration that you'll love, it's just we all love to request the darkness 😅
Sealed vessel is my favorite song from hollow knight! It is incrdibly emotional because of the context, but is a standalone beautiful piece.
me too it is unmatched!
100% my favorite song, and maybe even with my favorite boss.
You're pretty spot on with the Mantis Lords part. It's actually a boss fight where in phase 2 you have to fight two enemies at once, staggering their attacks to keep you always moving. So the instruments answering each other actually fits very well
Love Hollow Knight, thanks for the reaction!
Sealed Vessel may be the most heartbreaking track in the game.
No cost too great...
edit: the comment about "seeing sunlight for the first time in a long time" is very fitting given the context of that part of the song
No mind to think
@@DragonLord555No will to break
@@mrcsee6936 No voice to cry suffering
@@legitimatemedicine Born of God and Void
It does make sense that you are hearing more than one instrument playing notes because about halfway through the fight you are fighting 2 separate people
On the subject of the mantis lords- I never thought about how the melody is always played with two instruments at once, but it makes a ton of sense! The Mantis Lords are 3 sisters, and phase 1 of the bossfight has you fighting one of the sisters, and the second phase has you fighting the remaining sisters simultaneously, as they fight you in tandem.
Their movements and fighting styles are very deliberate and elegant, showing that unlike most of the things you fight, these sisters have their wits about them, and are engaged in honorable combat with you, and even when you defeat them, they are not killed, but they admit defeat and honor you with a cordial bow from each sister, and their tribe stops being aggressive towards the player character, instead bowing respectfully whenever you encounter them
Thanks for the video!
Mantis Lords was the first boss that I got super stuck on so both the song and the fight itself are super memorable to me. And the final fight... man that song is making me emotional just hearing it. I am very much looking forward to your playthrough of Hollow Knight.
You are correct that some people may not like the game but still respect it. I can't say I dislike the game, but it's not my favorite genre so it won't be in my top games list. With that said, I can confidently say that this game is a freaking masterpiece, and the soundtrack is just one part of the reason.
Hollow Knight is the sort of game where, even though it's too tough for me to finish on my own, I still keep coming back to the game for more. My top keywords to describe the game would be melancholy and wonder. The story, world and music is so connected. When I listen to Sealed Vessel, I feel the emotions of the final part of the story, and the story is elevated by the music. It's 100% worth playing, and playing attentively and patiently. The story isn't spoonfed to you, but it's SO worth gradually piercing it together. No one gets every nuance to the story on the first playthrough, which adss to the replayability of the game - or you can find a lore video.
It's funny that you say "this may have a leitmotif in it" because Sealed Vessel very much is built on leitmotifs from throughout the game. One that represents the player (and really the game as a whole) basically acts as the foundation for the whole piece, which has meaningful lore connections all on its own. And another character's motif is featured in a section of the ending as well. I'm sure there's more, but yeah leitmotifs are this soundtrack's bread and butter.
Mario is kind of the golden child for platform games, maybe a game will be better at parts but Mario tends to have the better overall package. That's HK for metroidvanias now.
Mantis lords is played at the 2nd boss fight people tend to have trouble with and man it's one of those fights where it seems SO FAST and you're so relieved when you make it through. Probably my favorite fight even through it's wicked easy on repeat playthroughs
That's a really good, like, analogy, with Mario and Hollow Knight! ^^ And I kinda agree! I love Hollow Knight
And also, yesss XD This fight is so fun, it's so fun and feels so satisfying to get into the rhythm of dodging, weaving and getting hits in
I'm pretty sure everyone who likes Metroidvanias likes this game.
I didn't like metroidvanias that much, but I loved that game! They totally nailed it.
Just like Hades with roguelikes. I never could play a roguelike game before Hades.
These 2 games did something different to draw people in and hook them. The lore in both games is great, the gameplay is tight, the music is awesome, the progression is well done.
I know people who like Metroidvanias but don't like this one. They still respect it like Jesse said though.
Alot of Dark Souls fans like this game a whole bunch.
@@someonefromcanada2668i dont like rougelikes so i tried playing hades but i still got bored after a while and never finished it :(
@@drewblock1365 dark souls 1 is essentially a metroidvania.
Mantis Lords: "This has a doubled melody." Oh, I never noticed that before. But that's so cool and appropriate for this boss music, since it's Mantis Lords, plural. Very cool!
Sealed Vessel: "This also has a doubled melody." Oh! Uh, oh. I never noticed that either. Oh. Uh, wow. Very thematically appropriate, but with WAY different implications.
Man, these two songs are both just so great on their own ways! Both fit their respective battles perfectly.
Mantis Lords was one of those bosses that made me think "wow, this battle is just like a dance!" for the first time when playing this game. It feels just like the song sounds.
And Sealed Vessel - i think you're right on the mark when you say it feels like a play. It's incredible how you can hear this Story through the music, even without context. The music perfectly captures different parts of the fight - the intense drama, the melancholic tragedy, and finally, the hope.
I recommend watching Davi Vasc's video on the "Mantis Lords" song just to have a second perspective to further enjoy music.
I'm so excited to hear what you think about Mantis Lords after you fight them in your playthrough. The fight honestly enhances the music because they mesh so well together
sealed vessel just rips my heart out, that second half hurts (in the best way)
6:00 only for those who upgraded their weapon before this bossfight 😂
Sealed Vessel never fails to give me a million chills. What an incredible piece of music
You were right about “toccata and fugue” being two separate parts! Fugue starts the counterpoint
Music elevates the experience of this game for sure
Sealed Vessel is such a tragic sounding OST. It sounds like something happens during the fight, who the boss is and then the consequence of defeating it. All of that is reflected in the OST.
God i love this game so freakin much
Can't get enough of it. Just one of the best things to be made.
17:50 The only people I've seen disliking the game, are the ones who can't play it because of difficulty. This game has no mercy, no easy mode. Just the tough experience it is.
I mean, the game isn't super hard, with trial and error you can get to work with it, but just saying there's no difficulty setting in the game and some suffer from it.
The part about the leitmotif around 21:00 is accurate. Pretty much the entire 2nd and 3rd parts of the song are based on leitmotifs from the main theme, 'Hollow Knight'. There are a few other places where the main theme shows up (Broken Vessel, Soul Sanctum pt2, and White Palace just to name 3), but Sealed Vessel really amplifies it.
This game is so goated Jessie, you should play it if you get the chance. Hundreds of hours into it this game does not disappoint
The thing I really loved about the Mantis Lords fight music is the way the combat sounds add a punchy, percussive element to the elegance of the strings. Every time a Mantis Lord "thwickshed" across the arena it had a softened sort of snare drum quality to it that just seemed to fit. And also, it was unique to that track for me, but it felt like every time I swung my weapon I was subtly participating in the music. I never had that experience in a video game before and it just felt super cool and unique.
Sealed vessel is my favorite track in any video game ever i think
Mantis Lords is actually a really fun fight and not by any means short.
There is actually some really nice remixes of these tracks that where addet in the Bossrush that only madman and completionists (i am both) subject themselves to. These remixes are called "Sisters of Battle" and "Pure Vessel".
I love how you keep using the word light for Sealed Vessel. I won't say why because you want to play the game but others in the comments will know 💚
hk is seriously one of the best games ever made
In sealed vessel there are a few cool leitmotifs, the bass plays the hollow knight main theme, that descending part that you commented on similar to a significant location, and that sad part is kind of like a theme used to show the sadness of the plot, while also being the main theme cut off, its all really powerful and awesome, Christopher Larkin did a wonderful job.
When looking up just random videos about the game, there seems to be like one meme in the community how the compass charm which shows you on the map is the best one in the game. That is definitely true, because my first playthrough was spending like half the time being lost and/or not knowing where to go, but I still enjoyed it to a certain extent. A year later, I played it again because my sister picked up the game, and it was so much smoother that time around and I didn't even die until very late. Pretty good game, great soundtrack and visuals, and Primal Aspids are absolutely the worst enemy in that game...
It is a metroidvania, and inspired by castlevania and a few other older games ^^ I hope you enjoy it when you play Hollow Knight or Silksong! It controls a lot like megaman, since the team based the movement system on that. Some people don't like it simply because of the difficulty curve.
The doubling effect on The Mantis Lords makes a lot of sense given how the fight itself goes. (Spoilers for the game, specifically this boss fight, so don't read further if you plan to play it.)
The fight itself is against the three matriarchs of the mantis tribe. When you reach the heart of their village, you can challenge them (unlike most other bosses that will just attack when you enter their arena). The first phase of the fight is against one mantis lord, but the second phase is against the other two at the same time. The fight itself has a sort of rhythm to it of dodge and attack, dodge and attack, almost like DDR in some ways as you have to watch for where a mantis lord will appear and dodge the right way. When you fight two at once, the second one's attacks come in at a specific rhythm that echoes the attacks of the first, changing the rhythm to dodge, dodge, attack, but in the same period of time as the first phase's dodge and attack.
The attacks from the mantises themselves are mostly slices. They'll appear to your right or left & launch forward to the other side of you with their spear and then vanish, or appear from above for a downward strike. After a few "beats" like that, they'll appear on one of the arena's walls and throw a returning projectile at an arc to avoid. If there are two mantises, they mirror one another for the projectile attack.
Once defeated, the mantises bow to your character, and all of the mantises from then on will bow instead of attacking. You've earned their respect. (Most other bosses in the game are dead when you've won their combat.)
The fight is pretty easy once you've learned it, but can be a roadblock for a while to new players. Defeating them opens a door to a much more hostile area, so they serve as a way to check that you've learned this game's combat well enough to proceed in that direction. If you haven't, there are plenty of other places to explore and get stronger in first.
There's a more intense version of their fight called Sisters of Battle that has all three fighting in the second phase, but most players won't even unlock the ability to try it. It's exclusive to the final part of a boss rush DLC.
I know this was four months ago, but you should listen to the LYRIC video that “Man on the Internet” (Moti for short) did for Sealed Vessel. He just took Sealed Vessel, wrote lyrics, and gave it a talented singer. It’s amazing and all I can hear when I listen to this song.
I think Moti also did a Mantis Lords video but with lyrics.
One of the best gaming experiences I've ever had, but don't let that fool you. It's a difficult game and not for the faint of heart.
I think if people do not like the game it will be mostly for the difficulty. Some of the fights can be somewhat rage inducing :3
Yes but also no there can be another reason too. I had a few people that didn't like it, because they didn't like the exploration aspect with the "weak enemies" it felt an empty world for them with very weak enemies far and apart from each other, which detracted from the challenge for them so they dropped the game early in forgotten crossroads because of it. But I think these people would probably not like any metroidvania for the most part to be fair.
@@kobarsos82 The normal enemies are one of the weakest aspect of Hollow Knight. They're a bit repetitive both in terms of looks and of gameplay mechanics. This, area designs and the lack of movement options puts most people who don't like it off imo.
They seem to have addresed all of those issues in Silksong though, based on the trailer.
Hollow knight is, to my knowledge, the best metroidvania ever made
I don't recall that Austin Wintory has worked with Christopher Larkin, but he does work with some other Australian Musicians in Tripod (Stray Gods being the latest interaction), so it's not out of the question that they'll cross paths (hopefully).
SCREAMS I LOVE HOLLOW KNGITH
Yay more hollow knight ! You have no idea how amazing this ost is ! In fact I'd go so far to say that its as masterful as Hades ost is ! yup ! Definitely a must to do the whole ost eventually, there are a lot of leitmotifs too that interconnect the songs with overarching themes! Its an insanely good game in general, the amount of detail and care into Team Cherry's game is absolutely ridiculous, its beyond perfection! So I recommend it for you as well! Its a different experience sure, but why not?
The only reason someone might not like it is honestly mostly these two reasons :
1) they don't like metroidvanias in general/have issues with the genre
2) its too hard for them. Some of the bosses are reminiscent of dark souls style you might say.
Pretty much this.
if i was given the chance to wipe my memory of any one thing in my life and experience it again, my choice would be Hollow Knight. without question
"Why do I feel so... melancholy?..."
- Megamind
Also, someone from Patreon should request some music from Ghost Trick. I'd love to see Ghost Trick get some love here.
I’ve played through HK a bunch of times and it might be a controversial opinion, but HKs biggest musical strength is in its general background music and not it’s boss music. I say that because out of the plethora of bosses, only 4 or 5 of them have boss themes that stand out among the rest.
I wish I could share this opinion. During my fairly recent playthrough I found myself disappointed by how forgettable 95% of the background music was for me. It's just not for me I suppose. Hopefully Silksong (if it ever releases) tickles my fancy better.
100% agree. Green Path is, in my opinion, the best track in the game. Then you have City of Tears, Kingdom's Edge, Resting Grounds, White Palace, Dirt Mouth, and so much more.
Then combine those tunes with the sounds of water drops, various bugs chirping, boiling acid, and many various other background sound effects, and you have a recipe for constant eargasm
100% agree but the boss music is also very good in my opinion and I remember every single track in this game in fact. Every single one. Its just THAT good. But you are right, the true standouts are some of the atmospherical area pieces. Beyond perfection.
@@WaitWwhaaat Definitely a hot take for most, but I can see where you're coming from. I think the HK OST is really solid, but the bar for metroidvanias OSTs for me is so incredibly high that it feels a bit forgetable for me too.
SOTN, Aeterna Noctis, ROTN, Aria, Circle and even Afterimage to some extent have such amazing and memorable OSTs that HK's kinda gets eclipsed in my mind.
@@samuelconnel2166 Side-scrolling metroidvanias are a bit of a hard sell for me though I can appreciate a good one. There are two that I have played before Hollow Knight and in my mind both have incredible soundtracks so Hollow Knight just didn't measure up. Those two being Aquaria and Ori and the Blind Forest.
If there is any game to play based on soundtrack, HK might be it
Jessie! Freedom & democracy requires your help! Super earth demands your patriotism in reviewing " a cup of liber-tea" from Helldivers 2!
I played Hollow Knight and it's hard. And when I reached a certain creepy place I called out "nope" and left the game for now. xD
I love Hollow Knight! SHAW!!
JESSE I CANT DONATE BUT IF YOU COME ACROSS TENEBRO ROSSO SANGUE FROM ULTRAKILL IT IS THE ROCKIEST SONG EVER!!!
I *hate* bugs. Almost to the point of a phobia.
Every character in Hollow Knight is a bug or bug-adjacent, and nearly every environment has some kind of insectoid design elements.
Hollow Knight is one of my favourite games of all time. I hope you play it, it's not all that long, and it's an amazing experience.
Unrelated suggestion/request: I'd be shocked if these weren't already on your list, but you should check out "Imperial Will" and "Wrath of the Eikons" from FFXIV -together-.
Gotta do or I will of whisp boss fights, like mora the spider
I think this game is better than any castlevania and that includes SOTN. One reason for that is that the world feels like a place while SOTN's feels more like a game.
You really should play it
How does one like a video twice?? :(
I wanted to like this game, but Metroidvania side-scrollers are not my thing. I managed to play through it because my friend who is a big fan was by my side pushing me on. I don't hate it, but I feel like it's a little overrated and it's far from the top of my list even though I can appreciate what it does. It is very difficult. Funnily enough it's not the bosses that I find unpleasant (mostly), but the world traversal and platforming that ruin my experience. Most of the boss fights are fun and rewarding to complete.
Mantis Lords in particular is one of my favorite bosses in the game. It's the first boss I feel like I really got stuck on, but boy did it feel good once I figured out the timing and won. The OST also didn't really appeal to me very much, but there are a few tracks in the game that did stand out for me and amusingly I think you've reacted to all of them.
If you do play it, please at least record it as a vod.
Ignore my comment about FFX and play this game instead!
Hello guys. Let him hear new Yakuza osts, like The Four or Impregnable Triangle
You asked if there are people that dislike the game and why. Well, cant say for sure since i freaking love it but i assume so.
There are some themes that have multiple ways to experience and 'absorb', and some of them are kind of heavy?
Like some people said in other comments, and kind of like how you guessed it, the atmosphere of the game is sad, melancholic, bleak. Its a beautiful game tho, i would recommend it to everyone at least give it a try.
7 months later but oh well
What is you process for picking what songs you react too?
I like Hollow Knight... but not as much as I feel like I should.
My problem with Hollow Knight is that it's contemporary to Ori and the Blind Forest. And that... that is a _very_ difficult arena to stand in. Basically impossible, I think.
Ori's gameplay is sharper, its story is at least as emotional and impactful while not leaning so hard on darkness and melancholy, and the music, by Gareth Coker, is absolutely spectacular as well.
So for me, Hollow Knight will forever lie in the deepest, darkest, grimmest shadows of Ori's glory... and that is just about its _only_ flaw.
Hollow Knight is like a passion project of a very particular kind. Ori is an absolute triumph, a grand-masterpiece, absolute perfection.
Best game Best Ost.
Radiance?