Late game is expected to be difficult. Nine Sols kind of sets you up to either get good at that parry mechanic or rage quit and the rest of the move set is kind of built around it. Hollow Knight teaches you to pogo and juggle in kind of round about ways, and it doesn't force you to use those mechanics in battle despite the fact that when you do things get a lot easier. That's part of the reason that the late stages of the game are so brutal. You spend so much time learning to evade and then strike, the pogo, to juggle. And then a lot of that moveset is just not applicable (to the colosseum, or the final boss fight (final ending) etc. The mechanics you get in late game you have the least amount of playtime with and they're crucial to learn for the final boss.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

For sure. I struggled so much in the Colosseum I did not finish the last stage (Aspids can go fuck themselves), and didn't even bother with the Pantheon. Wasn't story required anyway so I'm fine with it.

[–] atrielienz 2 points 3 weeks ago

Agreed. I managed the first two stages of the Colosseum. Then I died there repeatedly so I got tired and went to explore other parts of the game. I am replaying the game now on steam (I previously completed the first ending on Switch), and so I may decide to try again. But I'm just not that bothered. The pantheon seems interesting to me but not enough to really go there and die repeatedly doing it. Maybe one or two of the boss fights I would play again but I don't view most of them as extremely enjoyable so probably not.