Summary
Fans of the 2016 original have been anxiously awaiting the release ofHollow Knight: Silksong, as the long-anticipated title has been subjected to numerous delays and has yet to be stamped with a firm release date. Luckily, the gaming market is awash with impressive games like therecentPrince of Persia: The Lost Crownthat can satisfy players' hunger for Metroidvanias. The charming, colorfulConstancefrom self-publisher btf could be the genre’s next indie darling.
Hollow Knight, inspired by iconic side-scrolling adventure games of the past, was part of a significant Metroidvania boom in the mid-2010s. While similar games of the time likeAxiom Verge,Dead Cells, andOri and the Blind Forestenjoyed a good deal of success, something aboutHollow Knightset it apart from the rest of the pack, making it the de facto modern Metroidvania, one which other games in the genre are inevitably measured against. During the long wait forHollow Knight: Silksong, a number of other Metroidvanias with a focus on hand-drawn art and snappy combat have come out of the woodwork, many of which draw clear inspiration from Team Cherry’s 2017 hit.
Constance Looks Like a Fluid, Stunning Game Reminiscent of Hollow Knight
Recapturing Hollow Knight’s Magic
ThoughHollow Knight: Silksongaims to expand uponthe foundations laid by its predecessor, the beauty of the firstHollow Knightlies in foundational elements, like its emotive hand-drawn art style, music, atmosphere, and hands-off exploration and progression systems. It may be remarkably different in terms of premise, design, and tone, butConstanceseems to share many of these same core strengths.
The art ofConstance, from its character models to its painstakingly detailed backgrounds, displays the same clear attention to detail asHollow Knight’s, each frame brimming with personality. This level of quality extends to the animations and music as well. On top of this,Constancefeatures smooth and inventive movement and combat mechanics, all based around the theme of painting. It’s these innovative and creative features that makeConstancedifferent fromHollow Knightand other seminal Metroidvanias, and these distinctions are ultimately what make it a game to follow.
Constance Features a Personal Narrative
Hollow Knightis rich in lore but rather lean when it comes to its plot, especially with regard to the protagonist, who serves as more of a blank (or hollow) canvas for the player to project themselves onto.Constancetakes a decidedly different approach to storytelling, with the narrative delving into the main character’s struggles with mental health and how her relationship with art and creation relates to her challenges. This approach to story setsConstanceapart from the more epic Metroidvania games, whose narratives have a tendency towards large-scale, potentially world-threatening conflicts.
The intimate nature ofConstance’s story is one of the most interesting and endearing aspects of the game. The theme of art, specifically the medium of painting, bleeds through the greater narrative and seemingly into every aspect of the gameplay,fillingConstancewith unique potential with respect to elements such as level design, combat, and traversal. Ideally, these aspects of the narrative theme and gameplay will come together in a satisfying and emotionally rewarding way in the final product.
Constancemay be a good choice for those looking to whet their appetite for Metroidvaniaswhile waiting forSilksongto release, but it also promises to be so much more. The hand-drawn animation, level design, and combat fundamentals are certainly reminiscent ofHollow Knight, butConstance’s distinct approach to combat, movement, tone, and story make it a must-watch for any fan of the Metroidvania genre, not just those champing at the bit forHollow Knight: Silksong.
