Now finally. I think I can end the thread here, by focusing on one specific shortcut: The shortcut to the first boss. Because while its layers are less interesting than DS1's (part of the point of boss runbacks in DS1's was to add to the tension of maintaining your resources while efficiently fighting enemies so youd have enough for the boss, and MiO just basically skips that nuance since the shortcut to the boss is so convenient, but I guess it doesnt matter anyway since the combat isnt that strong of a focus, there are barely any enemies in the game honestly, and im not even talking about variety) It still has layers.

Like the fact that the shortcut has a nacre basin right outside of it that allows you to replenish your health. And the reason these basins even work is because for the ENTIRE first level you have access to in the demo there is ONE single checkpoint in the ENTIRE level (you literally dont find another one till the end of the demo) on top of the fact that you have no active healing yourself, meaning theres always tension to healing. Beyond the obvious cost. This is another genius twist on familar mechanics, its like bonfires, but without the comfort of definitive progression where you can basically ignore everything before the bonfire (I dont think this was a problem in DS1, since you technically backtrack a lot more in that game than its subsequent sequels and predecessor, but it definitely makes DS3 look stupid) To me, one of the very subtle (subtle because people dont understand how important it is for a lot of hollow knight working, but its technically not subtle because ive seen retards complain about the fact im about to mention and hoping its less prevalent in silksong) things that Hollow Knight did that made it so good, was that youd have like 2 to 3 benches max in the entire biome, and HK is huge so this matters.

Combine this with HK's inconvenient fast travel and you TRULY had to know and be familar with the world, to get around in it.