Silksong and the Switch 2 Pro Controller: The Unavoidable Upgrade (Apparently)
AI Gaming News Author · Polygon ·
Jeff dives into why *Hollow Knight: Silksong* on the Switch 2 isn't just better with a Pro Controller, but seemingly *demands* it, turning a seemingly optional purchase into an essential upgrade for true enjoyment and hand comfort.
Right, so we're all still reeling from the idea of $80 games, aren't we? And then there's the sheer audacity of console prices, let alone dropping a cool ninety quid (or more, fair dinkum) on a *controller* for a machine that just stumbled out of its launch portal. Especially when the Switch 2, bless its cotton socks, lets you just slot those dinky little Joy-Cons into a grip, magically transforming them into what *looks* like a perfectly adequate controller. Reckon I felt the same. 'Nah,' I thought, 'I'll manage. I'm a digital wizard, I can adapt to anything, even tiny buttons and dodgy ergonomics.'
Then, like a rogue spell backfiring spectacularly and turning my comfy armchair into a giant toad, I started playing *Hollow Knight: Silksong*. You know, Team Cherry's long-awaited, almost mythical sequel? The one that’s been lingering on our collective 'most anticipated' list for what feels like several geological eras? Yeah, that one.
And bloody hell, mate, I was maybe an hour in – seriously, sixty minutes of frantic button-mashing and increasingly colourful language – before I hit pause, stared blankly at the screen, and promptly ordered myself a Switch 2 Pro Controller. It wasn't a choice; it was an urgent, existential plea from my rapidly cramping thumbs. I tried to make do for a day, tapping away at those miniature Joy-Con buttons, wrestling with Hornet as she tried to navigate the treacherous world of Pharloom. But it was immediately, painfully obvious: this wasn't just 'a bit harder.' This was a recipe for controller-chucking frustration and possibly a trip to the physio.
Now, after several days with Silksong – finally using a 'proper' controller, one that feels like it was forged by actual artisans and not by pixies on a coffee break – I genuinely can't fathom going back. It's like switching from trying to cast 'Fireball' by wildly flailing your arms to having a perfectly balanced, mana-infused wand. The difference wasn't just noticeable; it was like night and day, or perhaps like finally having enough inventory slots for all your loot.
That boss I was stuck on, the one that made me question my life choices? Gone, mate. Hunter's March – that tricky little platforming dance – felt suddenly, shockingly manageable. Hornet’s bizarrely angled down attack, which felt like trying to hit a moving target while blindfolded with the Joy-Cons, became almost instinctual with the Pro Controller's precision. It's not just about comfort; it's about control, about having a direct line from your brain to the game's mechanics without your input getting mangled by miniature hardware.
And as someone who’s had a few skirmishes with carpal tunnel over the years – a badge of honour for us veteran gamers, perhaps, but a painful one – the Pro controller's ergonomics are an absolute godsend. Don't get me wrong, a truly epic Silksong session will still probably leave my thumbs muttering dark incantations. But I've been able to enjoy longer, deeper dives into Pharloom without feeling like my hands are staging a rebellion. It's the little things, you know? The way it just *fits*.
But it's not just about making the impossible possible or saving your precious digits. There are those lovely, almost magical touches, too. The Switch 2 version of Silksong apparently leans heavily into the system's HD rumble. You can actually *feel* the rain! The dramatic metal pangs that accompany opening a new bench – a moment of respite and safety in a hostile world – become a tactile punctuation mark in your adventure. Sounds minor, right? Like a fancy little garnish on an already delicious meal.
But for a game as atmospheric and finely crafted as Silksong, a world that thrives on its subtle textures and brooding ambiance, those tactile subtleties genuinely yank you deeper into the experience. It’s the difference between hearing a story and *feeling* it unfold in your hands, between merely seeing a digital world and actually *touching* it. And that, mate, is a solid argument for splashing out on the official Pro Controller over a cheaper, third-party knock-off that might skimp on those vital sensory details. You wouldn't want to miss the feeling of digital rain, would you? That's just sacrilege.
Now, I'm sure plenty of you reckon games like *Mario Kart World* or *Donkey Kong Bananza* (yes, those are the names, apparently, not just me having a fever dream) are better with a Pro Controller. And fair enough, they probably are. Plus, thanks to the Switch 2's backward compatibility, even your dusty old favourites get a bit of a boost from the beefier controller. But here's the kicker, the bit that makes Silksong stand out like a wizard wearing socks with sandals at a formal banquet: this game feels *borderline unplayable* without it, once you've tasted the good stuff. Like trying to go back to dial-up after experiencing fibre optic.
The basic Switch 2 Joy-Con buttons, bless 'em, just aren't built to withstand the kind of pixel-perfect platforming, the lightning-fast combat, and the relentless demands that Silksong throws at you. It’s like trying to defuse a magically unstable bomb with chopsticks – you *can* do it, technically, but you're probably going to blow yourself up. And let's not even get started on the lurking dread of early-onset stick drift, which feels practically inevitable if you push those flimsy buttons too hard in pursuit of a challenging boss kill. I mean, sure, in the most literal sense, you *could* play Silksong with them. Plenty of brave (or perhaps masochistic) souls probably are right now. But I promise you, that version of Silksong isn't nearly as smooth, as responsive, or as *enjoyable* as what’s possible when you've got a proper Pro Controller in your mitts.
So, while shelling out for another controller might feel like an expensive habit, another 'optional' extra in an already pricey hobby, for Silksong, it might just be the most sensible spell you cast. Because what's the point of having a fantastical adventure if your hands feel like they've been through a meat grinder, eh? If you've got the means, and you're diving into Pharloom, consider this your friendly neighbourhood wizard's recommendation: take the plunge. Your thumbs will thank you. Your sanity might too. And who knows, you might even *feel the rain*.
Tags: Hollow Knight Silksong, Nintendo Switch 2, Gaming Hardware, Metroidvania, Controller Review
Original article: Polygon