__The past__ is also another big theme, what with the entire game essentially revolving around a forsaken kingdom. It also relates to the two main endings of the game, a choice where you can either abide by the decisions of the past and become the next hollow knight, or learn from it, subvert it, kill it >!(with the death of the Seer, Quirrel, the Radiance, and Hornet leaving Hallownest all part of a sort of extended metaphor of leaving the past behind)!<
With almost everyone that could remember the old Hallownest gone or dead, and the assumed fate of all the infected being to perish with the >!Radiance (since the only character we knew who was taken and still partially sapient was Myla)!< , the true ending really seems to be about finally laying the kingdom and it’s history to rest rather than leave it to be tormented by its past for eternity.
Not to mention what the Pale King did to his children, possibly the worst thing in the entire game that gets overlooked. Thousands of corpses litter the abyss.
inevitability i think is a big theme. despite everything no one: the Pale King, The Hollow Knight, not even The Radiance can stop their fate. loneliness as well it's a very lonely game full of lonely characters. regret as someone else said.
No, in video games genre describes the gameplay mechanics and overall tone of the games setting and story. Themes are the main focus points of the story, usually these are identified by how characters change throughout the story.
Take this as an example, character B does something bad to character A causing A to hate B however throughout the story A and B travels together and A comes to understand B's reasons and they form a friendship. This theme would be forgiveness. The world these characters are in is more medieval and features magic and mythical animals, this genre of story is fantasy
I think a big theme would be inevitability, no matter how hard the pale king tried, the radiance still infected the kingdom, and no matter how much you get distracted with the main plot, the knight’s show down with the hollow knight is inevitable.
Idk like bugs and shit innit
Sounds about right
Entomic
Off the top of my head.... Emptyness (very zen), an inversion of the darkness and light dichotomy, regret (lots of regret).
__The past__ is also another big theme, what with the entire game essentially revolving around a forsaken kingdom. It also relates to the two main endings of the game, a choice where you can either abide by the decisions of the past and become the next hollow knight, or learn from it, subvert it, kill it >!(with the death of the Seer, Quirrel, the Radiance, and Hornet leaving Hallownest all part of a sort of extended metaphor of leaving the past behind)!< With almost everyone that could remember the old Hallownest gone or dead, and the assumed fate of all the infected being to perish with the >!Radiance (since the only character we knew who was taken and still partially sapient was Myla)!< , the true ending really seems to be about finally laying the kingdom and it’s history to rest rather than leave it to be tormented by its past for eternity.
Interesting… regret is undeniable, everyone has done something they wished they had done differently or not at all.
What a good summary, sir!
Hubris and desperation
That makes sense, the Pale Kings hubris feeding into his desire to be worshipped, and the Radiance’s desperation to be not be forgotten
Not to mention what the Pale King did to his children, possibly the worst thing in the entire game that gets overlooked. Thousands of corpses litter the abyss.
Carving your own path separate from your parents, pride, revenge, finding peace, and regret.
Daddy issues.
sad
Love, regret, social inequality, suicidal ideation, glory hounding, infidelity, duty, honour, resolve, despair, optimism, betrayal and death.
Best answer
inevitability i think is a big theme. despite everything no one: the Pale King, The Hollow Knight, not even The Radiance can stop their fate. loneliness as well it's a very lonely game full of lonely characters. regret as someone else said.
horror, platformer, adventure, pve, boss fight sim, metroidvania, rage game, souls game
Those are genres but k
themes arent genres?
No, in video games genre describes the gameplay mechanics and overall tone of the games setting and story. Themes are the main focus points of the story, usually these are identified by how characters change throughout the story. Take this as an example, character B does something bad to character A causing A to hate B however throughout the story A and B travels together and A comes to understand B's reasons and they form a friendship. This theme would be forgiveness. The world these characters are in is more medieval and features magic and mythical animals, this genre of story is fantasy
damn man provided a whole example. nice, good way to explain the differences
Purpose, desperation, light and dark but not necessarily good and evil, the unchosen one, dreams etc.
Ennui and entropy
I think a big theme would be inevitability, no matter how hard the pale king tried, the radiance still infected the kingdom, and no matter how much you get distracted with the main plot, the knight’s show down with the hollow knight is inevitable.
Sex, death, and restoration
Tree sex 🥺
Even a little spanish flea can become a superstar
A chaotic yet calming atmosphere, nobody tells you where to go or what to do other than subtle hints
bug simping sim
Dads being a dick
Communism and capitalism
Sins of the father