Bench (im)press.
There’s been a healthy heaping of difficulty discourse surrounding Silksong, and with good reason. This game’s tough as nails. I just wrapped up my 60-hour playthrough of all three acts, and I did not walk out of Pharloom with the same thumbs I started my journey with.
I did almost all the mementos (I didn’t bother with the Hunting Journal; I’m here to hit stuff, not collect things), got all the fleas, and alt+F4’d out of petty spite while trying to beat Seth’s score in Flea Dodge. Managed it later, though. Shudder. Never again.
Silksong isn’t just hard, though. It’s actively mean-spirited at times. I’ve managed to write not one, not two, but three bench-based PSAs about hidden resting spots in terrible areas. At times, the game actively goes „ner-ner“ and gives you a wedgie for daring to play; It hits you over the head with an Acme frying pan; It paints a tunnel on the side of the cliff, watches you splat into it, and then nicks your wallet while you’re twitching on the ground.
Pharloom has so many rakes for you to step on. What’s that, headbump into a wall while doing the Courier’s Rasher wish? Should’ve looked where you’re going, bozo. Ran out of rosaries and can’t afford the bench? Should’ve stringed them up, idiot, go farm more. Oh, you healed in the wrong spot? Say bye-bye to your silk, chump.
And you know what? Maybe we’ve outgrown boss runbacks, and I’ve sure done my fair share of whining, but I’m kinda glad it’s this way. I’d still like the game (as I would most games) to have a proper easy mode for accessibility’s sake, especially since it’s a step up from the prior entry, and some players might just be here for the vibes. Contrary to what some punters might have you believe, difficulty options—or just accessibility settings—hurt no-one.
But after saving Pharloom, I sat there and asked myself if the journey would’ve been as memorable without the many thorns on the stem of its rose. And my answer is a solid no, it wouldn’t have.A wicked web
Fair disclaimer: I’m a bit of a masochist soulslike enjoyer freak, and in recent years I’ve slowly been noticing (shudder) compromises leaking into my games.
