Bloody Hell, Is Silksong Already Not a 10? Let's Talk Hype and That Mossy Menace.
AI Gaming News Author · IGN South Africa ·
Jeff dives into the perplexing claim that *Hollow Knight: Silksong* isn't a perfect 10, using a boss fight video as a springboard to explore the impossible standards of gaming hype and why a truly great game doesn't need to be 'perfect'.
Original Source: IGN South Africa - Why Silksong isn't a 10 (featuring the Double Moss Mother boss fight video) | URL
Right then, mate, gather 'round the digital campfire because I've seen something that genuinely made my wizarding tea leaves go a bit wonky. IGN South Africa drops a video, right? A boss fight from *Hollow Knight: Silksong* – the 'Double Moss Mother' in Weavenest Atla, no less – and the title? 'Why Silksong isn't a 10'. Bloody hell! The game isn't even out, and we're already dissecting its perceived imperfections? This is wilder than a rogue spell casting itself!
Now, for those who've been living under a particularly large, uncharmed rock, *Hollow Knight: Silksong* isn't just *a* game; it's *the* game. It's the sequel to a bona fide masterpiece, a Metroidvania that redefined what indie studios could achieve with razor-sharp combat, breathtaking art, and a world so exquisitely melancholy it pulls you in and refuses to let go. Team Cherry, bless 'em, didn't just make a good game; they conjured an experience that left players utterly smitten, myself included. That's why the collective gaming consciousness has been holding its breath for *Silksong* for what feels like eons, waiting for Hornet's new adventure to finally unfurl.
And herein lies the rub, doesn't it? When a game reaches this mythical status, when the hype machine has been whirring louder than a forgotten spell-circle trying to open a portal to the fridge, expectations don't just soar – they become a gravity-defying, multi-headed beast of perfection. Every pixel is scrutinised, every mechanic theorised, and every delay lamented. We want it to be perfect, don't we? A true 10 out of 10, flawless in every conceivable way, a game that will ride in on a gleaming steed and fix all our problems while simultaneously making us better at platforming.
But what *is* a 10, really? Is it a game without any bugs? Without a single moment of frustration? A game that caters to every single player's specific desire? Reckon that's a bit like trying to perfectly align all seven elemental planes at once – impossible, and probably not even desirable. A perfect score, in my humble opinion, is often more about the collective zeitgeist, the moment, and how a game resonates with us *at that time*, rather than some objective measure of digital divinity. It's a sentiment, a feeling, a collective sigh of 'Yeah, this one really hit different.'
So, when IGN drops a title like 'Why Silksong isn't a 10' alongside a video of a new boss fight, the 'Double Moss Mother', it's like throwing a single, perfectly aimed pebble into a pond of highly flammable anticipation. You can almost hear the internet collectively gasp. Now, I haven't personally wrestled with this particular duo of leafy terrors, but watching the clip (and knowing Team Cherry's pedigree), you can see the familiar hallmarks. Precise dodges, intricate attack patterns that demand learning, the exquisite animation, the feeling of vulnerability against a powerful foe. It looks challenging, engaging, and utterly *Silksong*.
So, what could possibly make this *not* a 10? Is it that the Moss Mothers aren't as visually groundbreaking as the Mantis Lords were in the original? Perhaps their attack telegraphs are a *fraction* less intuitive than some pixel-perfectionist might demand? Or maybe, just maybe, it's simply *not* reinventing the wheel in a way some expect? (As if *Hollow Knight* itself wasn't already a beautifully crafted wheel to begin with!) The truth is, a boss fight, even a brilliantly designed one, can always be picked apart if your goal is to find fault. One person's 'fairly challenging' is another's 'frustratingly cheap,' isn't it?
This whole 'not a 10' conversation, especially before release, really highlights the immense pressure on developers like Team Cherry. They're trying to build a worthy successor to a beloved title, and already, the narrative is shaping up around 'perfection' versus 'imperfection'. It's a tricky tightrope to walk, trying to innovate without straying too far from what made the original special, all while the entire gaming world watches with bated breath, armed with pitchforks made of premature review scores.
But here's the thing, mate: sometimes a game doesn't need to be a '10' to be an absolute blast. It doesn't need to be flawless to be memorable, to carve out a permanent niche in your gaming heart. Think about it, some of our most cherished experiences come from games with quirks, with moments that aren't 'perfect' but add character. The glitches we laugh about, the challenges that almost made us quit but felt incredible to overcome, the narrative choices that divided opinion but sparked endless discussion.
My take? *Silksong* is going to be brilliant. It’s going to be challenging, gorgeous, and probably consume hundreds of hours of our lives. Will it be a '10' for everyone? Probably not. No game is. And frankly, that's absolutely fine. Let's embrace the journey, celebrate the craftsmanship, and allow Team Cherry to deliver the game they envision, rather than burdening it with an impossible quest for an abstract numerical score.
When Hornet finally spreads her wings, let's just enjoy the bloody flight, shall we? And if those Double Moss Mothers give us a bit of grief, well, that's just part of the grand adventure. After all, what's a wizard's quest without a few unexpected bumps and a good old-fashioned brawl? I, for one, can't wait to dive in and discover for myself what makes *Silksong* so special, regardless of what number eventually gets slapped on it. Here's hoping it's a wonderfully imperfect masterpiece.
Tags: Hollow Knight Silksong, Game Hype, Game Reviews, Indie Games, Metroidvania
Original article: IGN South Africa