Why Silksong’s Enemy Gauntlets Fix a Classic Souls
Hollow Knight: Silksong blends metroidvania exploration with soulslike combat, using inescapable enemy gauntlets to make every fight a lesson.
Like many players, I came to Hollow Knight: Silksong expecting a masterclass in metroidvania design. I got that, but I also got a game that understands something most soulslikes overlook. Silksong is defined by constant backtracking, powerful movement abilities, and steady, meaningful progression, putting it in conversation with Blasphemous, Ender Lilies, Metroid, and Castlevania. Yet it also owes a huge debt to Demon’s Souls and Dark Souls. The bonfire-like checkpoints, the corpse-running mechanic, the grimdark world full of characters slowly going insane, the brutal boss battles that reward pattern learning and i-frame dodging after upgrades—all of it is here. But there is one area where Silksong excels, not just against its predecessor but against some of the best soulslikes ever made.
The Soulslike Shortcut I Used to Take
A typical soulslike splits into two broad categories: boss battles and exploration sections filled with lower-level enemies. Those fodder foes can be tough, acting as mini challenges before the area boss. This structure has served the genre well, but it has one glaring shortcoming. Players can simply avoid these lower-level enemies en route to the boss, especially on subsequent attempts once they know the layout. Have you ever sprinted past a dozen hollows, dogs, or soldiers just to throw yourself at a boss again? I know I have. In Dark Souls, that is not the ideal way to play, but it is possible. In Hollow Knight: Silksong, it is virtually impossible.
Inescapable Gauntlets Change Everything
Silksong adopts a structure similar to classic FromSoftware games, but it punctuates many areas with inescapable enemy gauntlets. The fodder-type foes of the area converge on me in a coordinated attack. Often, defeating this onslaught is the only way to progress to the next area, and there is usually no option for escape either. If I repeatedly run past these same enemies during exploration sections, then I will be ill-equipped to face them in the gauntlet. I will not have learned their attack patterns or weaknesses. So why does this matter? Because it turns every enemy placement into a lesson.
I remember the first time I tried to rush through a later area. I had mastered Hornet’s movement, or so I thought. I dashed past a cluster of enemies, only to hit a locked arena. The gate slammed shut. Suddenly, I was surrounded. I panicked, wasted my silk, and died. On my next attempt, I slowed down. I studied each enemy type in the rooms before the gauntlet. I learned which ones lunge, which ones spit projectiles, and which ones punish greedy attacks. By the time I reached the arena again, I was ready. That is the genius of Silksong’s design.
Combat Design Makes It Work
On its face, the formula of exploration passages plus basic enemy gauntlets is simple. But it only works because of Silksong’s sterling combat design. To beat a series of enemies, I need a solid grasp on my movement and attack styles. I must identify openings, clock safe moments to heal, and get parry timing right. The only feasible way to do this without being immediately overwhelmed is to engage with these same enemy types before the gauntlet. That makes me better prepared. It also makes the world feel dangerous in a way that few soulslikes manage. I cannot treat enemies as scenery. They are part of the challenge, not just speed bumps on the way to a boss.
Here is a quick comparison of how Silksong handles common soulslike elements:
Soulslike Convention
Typical Implementation
Silksong’s Twist
Checkpoints
Bonfires reset enemies
Bench-like checkpoints, but gauntlets reset too
Corpse runs
Retrieve lost currency
Retrieve your cocoon and silk
Fodder enemies
Often skippable
Forced into arenas, cannot skip
Boss learning
Pattern recognition
Gauntlets teach patterns before boss
Difficulty
Brutal but fair
Brutal, fair, and relentlessly educational
Why This Respects My Time and Skill
Some players might argue that forcing enemy gauntlets is too punishing. I understand that. Silksong is not an easy game. But it is certainly conquerable, given the right level of attention and effort. This tough but rewarding design is par for the course for most soulslikes. The option to simply run past