Sientir's Blog

This weekend is one of conclusions, as it has had both the last episode of the Hollow Knight Epilogue as well as the final episode of the Dark Souls II retrospective. In the Hollow Knight episode, I give a try to beating The Radiance again, but I just do not enjoy the fight. I decide to go poking around at a few other odds and ends (such as the Coliseum of Fools), where I find some other stuff. But I think I've gotten out of this game all I care to, so it's time to go ahead and set it down. Speaking of odds and ends, that's mostly what the Dark Souls II retrospective episode covers. There's a bunch of smaller things I talk about in it. I end the episode with some of my final thoughts from the series. Direct video links: Hollow Knight Epilogue Ep. 11: Knowing When to Quit - https://youtu.be/dWzDZ-k__Ag Dark Souls 2: A Retrospective—Part 5: Odds, Ends, & My Final Thoughts - https://youtu.be/pdjJ0Jik3O0

A tragedy struck, and unfortunately a bunch of boss fights failed to get recorded. So this week's Hollow Knight episode is a search for all of the grubs. I find a lot of other stuff along the way, so it's got some nice exploration in it, too. The Dark Souls II retrospective episode (with a name change because a check on Google Trends has shone that "Dark Souls 2" gets searched for far more than "Dark Souls II" does) is about the world design and level design of the game, along with a bunch of adjacent concepts (like torches, enemy respawn limits, etcetera). Direct video links: Hollow Knight Epilogue Ep. 10: Hunting for Grub(s) - https://youtu.be/mSKVpdKKGDk Dark Souls 2: A Retrospective—Part 4: World & Level Design - https://youtu.be/OH_5Wbq3CJA

The Hollow Knight epilogue continues. Rather than continue to attempt to beat the final boss, I go after some of the DLC in the hopes of gaining additional tools to help me beat the final boss. The Dark Souls II retrospective also continues, this time with a discussion of game mechanics more closely associated with the player character. Direct video links: Hollow Knight Epilogue Ep. 9: A Grimm Quest - https://youtu.be/M6MQgBoWXAo Dark Souls II: A Retrospective—Part 3: Character Mechanics - https://youtu.be/HM64qg9l3og

In Hollow Knight this week, I challenge the final boss. Again and again and again. It really gives me a proper what's for! In the Dark Souls II Retrospective video, I gush over the level aesthetics. I generally avoid talking about the mechanical aspects of the level design, as well as the world design. Those are topics for future episodes. For now, join me in admiring the environment art of this game! Direct video links: Hollow Knight Epilogue Ep. 8: The RADIANCE! (kicks my butt) - https://youtu.be/rR05cYQtvlM Dark Souls II: A Retrospective—Part 2: Level Aesthetics - https://youtu.be/zGXJnJkum9M

There was enough variety in the content this week that it didn't make sense to me to try to make separate posts, so here's all of it! The first two videos are from a game called Airscape: The Fall of Gravity. It's a challenging platformer. I ended up deciding to not finish the game, as I wasn't interested in conquering the platforming challenge. I suspect part of the reason was lingering frustration with Hollow Knight's White Palace, even a week removed. Next comes a trio of Guild Wars 1 videos. To some extent, these are content fillers. That doesn't mean I think they're bad by any means, it simply means they aren't a proper Let's Play series. I'm still in a bit of a limbo, as many of the games I want to start are (as far as I can tell, anyway) longer RPGs, and I want to start playing Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night for the channel the week it comes out (it releases June 18). I also don't want to interrupt a series. This makes figuring out ...

I made a LOT more progress in this week's Hollow Knight episode than I was expecting! It starts with the Lost Kin fight, which was significantly easier for me than I expected. This meant I could make my way to the Super Meat Boy inspired White Palace! The second video is the Guild Wars: Factions mission of Unwaking Waters with the story quests surrounding it. It was a much needed bit of relaxing after the challenge of the Hollow Knight episode! Direct video links: Hollow Knight Epilogue Ep. 6: The White Palace - https://youtu.be/geARdXOTz8g Guild Wars 1: Unwaking Waters (Luxon) - https://youtu.be/YySjYO74uMg

I ended up recording another two episodes of Hollow Knight this week. Unfortunately, something was off with my microphone settings, which resulted in it being too quiet and cutting out in spots. This isn't helped by the fact that the game was way too loud. That's something I'll have to fix for the next time. Anyway, I went after the last two spirit warriors I'd previously missed, then took a stab at beating the White Defender. He proved...challenging. In the Sunday video, I return to Guild Wars 1 and doing stuff on my Ranger, this time the Gyala Hatchery mission, though the episode itself starts with the prerequisite quest wherein I retrieve a chest of turtle eggs. Direct video links: Hollow Knight Epilogue Ep. 4: Galien and Gorb - https://youtu.be/2EjIOA9LFf8 Hollow Knight Epilogue Ep. 5: The White Defender lives up to his name... - https://youtu.be/rwIIM_pEPjA Guild Wars 1: Gyala Hatchery - https://youtu.be/-7X96p5UcMs

I do a lot of exploration this week, including finding the final dreamer, The Beast. Most important of all, however, I beat the game! Yay! It was a lot of fun. I give my thoughts on the game's design and the like in the Finale episode. Direct video links: Let's Play Hollow Knight Ep. 46: The Hive - https://youtu.be/VlBKmw1Qlng Let's Play Hollow Knight Ep. 47: The Hive Knight - https://youtu.be/BxIQ1VZjrLA Let's Play Hollow Knight Ep. 48: The Royal Waterways - https://youtu.be/cbwROAw_bT0 Let's Play Hollow Knight Ep. 49: The Beast - https://youtu.be/ETn9NoNJGJI Let's Play Hollow Knight Ep. 50: FINALE! and Thoughts on the Game - https://youtu.be/2R-OHWZxxRQ

I made a lot of progress this week, finding key upgrades, such as the ability to swim in acid water. I also made a lot of lore progress, finding the King's Brand and the Teacher. I get the feeling I'm rapidly approaching the end of the game. Direct video links: Let's Play Hollow Knight Ep. 41: The Dung Defender - https://youtu.be/J09X0lfEjMI Let's Play Hollow Knight Ep. 42: Hornet & the King's Brand - https://youtu.be/icjSmrz2uUc Let's Play Hollow Knight Ep. 43: Lore Worm - https://youtu.be/YP80akwOF3E Let's Play Hollow Knight Ep. 44: The Teacher - https://youtu.be/1RMLYKitoBk Let's Play Hollow Knight Ep. 45: Finding the Queen's Garden - https://youtu.be/BmMI6fU9JQ8

I make significant progress this week, with a lot of exploration and finding a lot of things. Of particular note is the Wednesday video, where I take down a very challenging boss that leads to one of the beings I'm seeking. I definitely feel like I'm moving towards the end of the game, which, to be fair, I probably should be after 40 episodes! Direct video links: Let's Play Hollow Knight Ep. 36: Pleasure House - https://youtu.be/77aR0FH5maA Let's Play Hollow Knight Ep. 37: Adorable Womb Babies - https://youtu.be/_a6LV1aayyk Let's Play Hollow Knight Ep. 38: The Watcher Knights - https://youtu.be/JphQgDg-5es Let's Play Hollow Knight Ep. 39: The Watcher - https://youtu.be/dkDRTND9JQc Let's Play Hollow Knight Ep. 40: Let's Go EVERYWHERE! - https://youtu.be/aJ5yYP8gE1U

I made a lot of progress in Hollow Knight this week! The main reasons were finding the double jump upgrade and the tram pass, both of which opened up a lot of new ears for me to explore. Direct video links: Let's Play Hollow Knight Ep. 31: Midwife - https://youtu.be/pQCOufi0umc Let's Play Hollow Knight Ep. 32: A Functional Tram - https://youtu.be/fYCrOgy00v8 Let's Play Hollow Knight Ep. 33: The Fancy Sewers - https://youtu.be/A5G9EwsWslA Let's Play Hollow Knight Ep. 34: The King's Station - https://youtu.be/TsmkNJr2EcE Let's Play Hollow Knight Ep. 35: Hallownest's Crown - https://youtu.be/DvVm7rjQXww

This week saw me spend a lot of time exploring in an effort to find progress—and oh boy, do I! Well, narrative progress, at least. World progress mostly comes in small bits and pieces. Still I'm having fun and getting things set up for some much more significant progress next week! Direct video links: Let's Play Hollow Knight Ep. 26: Return to Crystal Peak - https://youtu.be/qPrIPsNjQh8 Let's Play Hollow Knight Ep. 27: The Dream Nail - https://youtu.be/x-z_mR73U2s Let's Play Hollow Knight Ep. 28: Xero - https://youtu.be/iWt5qlSnH2Y Let's Play Hollow Knight Ep. 29: Finding Dead Ends - https://youtu.be/T1r4kJ26uxs Let's Play Hollow Knight Ep. 30: Abducted by Spider Cultists - https://youtu.be/CKKmdUmX3uM

This week saw me finally making my way back to the Mantis Village, where I find the Mantis Lords, which is an excellent boss fight. This leads me into the Deepnest, a new area! I also return to old areas to find new things. Direct video links: Let's Play Hollow Knight Ep. 21: Return to Mantis Village - https://youtu.be/lmzB4-_gm38 Let's Play Hollow Knight Ep. 22: The Mantis Lords - https://youtu.be/oCSDfkXLPDc Let's Play Hollow Knight Ep. 23: Into the Deepnest - https://youtu.be/WyoWIr2Ew88 Let's Play Hollow Knight Ep. 24: Spiders! - https://youtu.be/De3zvU5RDOk Let's Play Hollow Knight Ep. 25: Glowing Womb - https://youtu.be/k-5UHrUpeVE

This week on Hollow Knight, I spent a lot of time exploring and finding lost little corners of the world. This results in me finding a bunch of upgrades! Direct video links: Let's Play Hollow Knight Ep. 16: Crystal Map - https://youtu.be/m2I_pKwUd9k Let's Play Hollow Knight Ep. 17: The Nailmaster - https://youtu.be/h3_wmHStYgE Let's Play Hollow Knight Ep. 18: Launching Puzzle - https://youtu.be/UL4owD_0yRg Let's Play Hollow Knight Ep. 19: The Mound - https://youtu.be/-yX4RBPHSrs Let's Play Hollow Knight Ep. 20: Upgrades! - https://youtu.be/TJZU0xyeehQ

This week started with a focus on exploration, which resulted in me finding several merchants. At least: A use for all of this geo! I then find the Soul Sanctum, where the Soul Master lurks. With his powers, I can finally enter the mines of Crystal Peak. Direct video links: Let's Play Hollow Knight Ep. 11: Up and Out - https://youtu.be/cBbl5kJQ7Ew Let's Play Hollow Knight Ep. 12: Travelling Relic Salesman - https://youtu.be/W907WCYEYK0 Let's Play Hollow Knight Ep. 13: The Soul Sanctum - https://youtu.be/DoScwBz64cs Let's Play Hollow Knight Ep. 14: The Soul Master - https://youtu.be/adPa4AQNnuA Let's Play Hollow Knight Ep. 15: Crystal Peak - https://youtu.be/1qrZ1Yj5F1k

This week I met a bunch of cool NPCs: Cloth, the Nailsmith, the weird fragile charms merchant, The Hunter. And I also found the very powerful navigational tool, the Mantis Claw. Good times! Direct video links: Let's Play Hollow Knight Ep. 6: The Hunter - https://youtu.be/0rAHW6nbBTA Let's Play Hollow Knight Ep. 7: Queen's Station - https://youtu.be/BuUGZWLIhyc Let's Play Hollow Knight Ep. 8: Fragile Charms - https://youtu.be/7kpGBvgwDQc Let's Play Hollow Knight Ep. 9: Mantis Claw - https://youtu.be/4omT6yoGxMY Let's Play Hollow Knight Ep. 10: The City of Tears - https://youtu.be/dI30yIyf80Y

Time to start a new game for the Let's Play series! I'm finally getting around to playing Hollow Knight, for my first time. I'm liking it so far! Direct video links: Let's Play Hollow Knight Ep. 1: It Begins - https://youtu.be/ZMi3UukotZE Let's Play Hollow Knight Ep. 2: False Knight - https://youtu.be/GkXiWDQ-TbY Let's Play Hollow Knight Ep. 3: False Knight Round 2 - https://youtu.be/EUyfPQRmJOA Let's Play Hollow Knight Ep. 4: Lost in the Garden - https://youtu.be/M-TU_VeBcZo Let's Play Hollow Knight Ep. 5: Hornet - https://youtu.be/5Ttp3mqQ3VE