Hollow Knight on Switch

mrcheez

Got this yesterday, played a few hours and then closed it by hitting HOME button and selected Close App. None of my discovered maps or progress was saved... is there a proper way to quit??

Mr E

To save, you need to sit on a bench. That's all. They can be quite spaced apart, so backtrack to one you've already found (use fast travel) instead of pushing forward if you're in a hurry.

mrcheez

Mr E wrote: »

To save, you need to sit on a bench. That's all. They can be quite spaced apart, so backtrack to one you've already found (use fast travel) instead of pushing forward if you're in a hurry.

Ah probably explains why I ended up at this one when I restarted...

https://steamuserimages-a.akamaihd.net/ugc/862864563535938328/F351223488E626F24904317B13080D87AAF783C6/?imw=637&imh=358&ima=fit&impolicy=Letterbox&imcolor=%23000000&letterbox=true


Is there a general rule on where to find the benches? Also what is the aim of the game?

I just seem to be wandering around getting lost.

RobertFoster

There's no rule on where they are, but there's often in world signs pointing to them a few screens away:



The aim of the game is like most other Metroidvanias, explore the world to fill in your map and collect new powers/abilities. When you reach a dead end (like a high jump or spikes), explore another path until you unlock the ability to get by.

Three things that'll help your exploration are the map, the quill, and the Wayward Compass charm. The quill and the compass are available from the map shop in the starting town. You get the map(s) from Cornifer the map maker who's somewhere in each new area, you'll hear him humming and there'll be discarded sheets of paper near him.

When you get the quill, your map updates every time you sit on a bench (your game saves too). The compass will show your location on the map making exploring a lot easier.

Focus on exploring the first area and collecting money to buy things in the shop. You'll eventually encounter a boss battle, and beating it will give you an ability to move on to another area.

mrcheez

Yeah I beat a boss in my first session, but assumed it autosaved...doh

Just so I know, is the "official" way to quit a game on Switch just to tap home button or should I select it via in-game menu?

RobertFoster

It does autosave at various points (when you die, for example), but it'll respawn you at the last bench you sat on rather than where you were.

If you Quit to Menu from the Start menu it'll save your progress too (restarting you back at a bench). I played on PC, but I assume it's the same on Switch.

mrcheez

ok but is it bad to quit via pressing Switch Home button? As in are you "supposed" to quit via an in-game menu for most games?

Also for some reason I didn't have my map when I restarted, even though I had the map before deleting the end of level boss.

Odd. I would have thought it would have saved after beating a big boss.

mrcheez

Last question... is Celeste a save-per-screen game, or again one that you have to search for save points?

Just might be handy as well to play for short bursts at lunchtime if I can play a single screen or so then pack up the Switch.

nedd

mrcheez wrote: »

Last question... is Celeste a save-per-screen game, or again one that you have to search for save points?

Just might be handy as well to play for short bursts at lunchtime if I can play a single screen or so then pack up the Switch.

Celeste saves per screen. I played that straight after Hollow Knight and loved that fact.


Hollow Knight is designed to make you go back and save before turning it off.

Banjo

Turning it off?????
Do you even Switch, bro?

mrcheez

Banjo wrote: »

Turning it off?????
Do you even Switch, bro?

I can only "half-Switch" with a Lite pal

RobertFoster

mrcheez wrote: »

I can only "half-Switch" with a Lite pal

There's still the suspend function, you don't have to fully quit a game unless you want to play another.

mrcheez

RobertFoster wrote: »

There's still the suspend function, you don't have to fully quit a game unless you want to play another.

Ah right, does that still work if I turn off the machine to conserve battery?

RobertFoster

mrcheez wrote: »

Ah right, does that still work if I turn off the machine to conserve battery?

No, but Nintendo themselves recommend sleep mode over powering off completely.

I have the same urge to power off to save battery, but I've found the battery still runs down even when fully off.

mrcheez

RobertFoster wrote: »

No, but Nintendo themselves recommend sleep mode over powering off completely.

I have the same urge to power off to save battery, but I've found the battery still runs down even when fully off.

Ah so reading that it turns out i've been putting it into sleep mode all along anyway... Thought quick-pressing power turns it off.

Handy I'll stick to using suspend rather than trying to constantly find save points if I'm playing in short bursts at lunchtime.

TitianGerm

mrcheez wrote: »

ok but is it bad to quit via pressing Switch Home button? As in are you "supposed" to quit via an in-game menu for most games?

Also for some reason I didn't have my map when I restarted, even though I had the map before deleting the end of level boss.

Odd. I would have thought it would have saved after beating a big boss.

If you close the game by using the Home button the game is only suspended and will resume once you reopen it.

You lost your progress because you quit the game after you went to the home menu.

mrcheez

Yep I figured that much out

Gotta say, loving this Switch Lite... it's something else