It's Going to Take Longer than 12-24 Hours...

[TheBlaskar]

Before I start...I used the PSNP guide religiously in this playthrough so I'm not saying it's at all useless, but it's at the very least severely misleading in its opening and I just wanted to talk a bit to people thinking about jumping into this game.

 

It took me 80 hours to get the platinum on my NA copy; admittedly I was in no hurry and spent a lot of time simply admiring everything...and getting my ass handed to me hour after hour. I didn't use a guide for the first playthrough but I did use the full map on Steam to guide my paths (which I highly recommend). My friend got this game last year but was just recently trying to decide what game to play next. Of course, I recommended this masterpiece but the reason he said yes originally was because the only guide on PSNP says "12+ hours" to plat. 

 

I didn't sleep last night, I played for a day and a half straight. I wanted to see how quickly a pretty decent HK player could get the plat legitimately, and my final time in-game for this new playthrough was 28 hours. Keep in mind, that's with me having done it all once before AND having the guide open to help remind me of the best paths to take. I only "died" twice (couldn't get back to my shadow and lost my geo but I don't think that slowed me down too much, I never ran out of geo to buy the necessities) and almost all of the bosses I beat on the first try (except the Trials and Pantheons, which took some restarts). There are three things that I could have done faster: complete the hunter's journal as I went/talk to Mr. Mushroom Man when close, save trips to the abyss since I backtracked three separate times for different reasons, and I didn't figure out the "quit to menu and reload save" method until about 7 hours in so earlier knowledge of that may have helped quite a bit more but that's even technically an exploit so a new player may not be familiar with. All of those things probably would have saved me a good 2-3 hours at the absolute most...let's say my best possible time would personally be like 26 hours of nonstop gameplay-- a fair handful of hours spent on the Trials and Pantheons included. The 112% record on YouTube is just a bit under 4 hours but that's by a guy who makes HK videos religiously.

 

Unless you're a professional speedrunner who has trained diligently for this particular game and had many practice runs, there's no way you're going to get it down to 12 hours, or even 20 without an unreasonable amount of preparation beforehand. In other words, a first-time player is looking at something much (much) closer to 50-70 hours than 12-36 hours. My buddy is now about 25 hours in and hasn't gotten to the double-jump ability yet; he says he's bored of the game since he expected something along the lines of 12 hours. Please don't think this is an easy paid plat, it's going to take all of your energy and a lot of your time to get through but it's one of the most beautiful and rewarding games I've ever played (twice). Half of your playtime will most likely be failing encounters but the challenge is what makes it fun. I could say that you can plat Monster Hunter World in "20+ hours," but you won't complete it anywhere near 20, or even 120 by the sound of it.

 

Comment below what your fastest time was and I'd like to see how many can do it around 12 hours. I know that the creator of the guide has defended this choice a lot but even after using it to play as fast as possible, I can't see it as anything but misleading. Maybe somebody from the EU can try the NA version and see how fast they can do it, or another NA player can try the EU version to beat my time and defend the guide but as of now, I can't see 12 hours being feasible even by somebody who knows the game as well as I do, unless you're using something else besides the "save and continue" method to get out of dangerous situations but at that point you're not really playing "Hollow Knight" as it's meant to be played. I would make another one but everything aside from the playtime on the guide is stellar so there's not really any point besides bringing up this part.

 

Anyways, that's about it. Just wanted to tell anybody who's interested that it's going to take longer than 50 hours most likely so don't hope to get this in a day or even weekend.

 

Best of luck and happy hunting!

[DaivRules]

Fastest achiever list here lines up with what you’re saying. 24 hours is about the fastest people here have earned the platinum, and that’s not including any time before the first trophy pops. Having 12+ hours in the guide with no one even close to that here doesn’t seem like that estimation is even close to reality. 

[Phantochi]

This one is in my backlog, so thanks for the heads up.

 

That's a problem with lots of guides here, it would help a ton if anyone who got a plat could place how much time it took them so we could see an average of said platinum

[det_gittes]

16 minutes ago, BCarsonElite said:

Anyways, that's about it. Just wanted to tell anybody who's interested that it's going to take longer than 50 hours most likely so don't hope to get this in a day or even weekend.

Howlongtobeat dot com is also a useful site to check average completion times, it has a lot of statistics and 100% for PS4 stands at 65 hours, which is not too far from what you're saying. 

[Baker]

I got my first trophy after 12 hours.

 

[Akrioz]

I have completed everything except all the Pantheons legitimately twice. Took me 38 hours on my first playthrought and 24 hours on second playthrought, an year later. Being experienced with a game helps A LOT, but you shouldn't be able to do it really faster on your first ever playthrough; unless you playing with invincibility glitch all the time.

 

I would say it is a 40 hours average if you use glitch for the pantheons. If you don't use it - God bless you.

[Arcesius]

Yeah I've argued with the Guide-writer, pretty much along the lines you make. If you know the game by heart, maybe you can plat it in 12 hours. But in that case you don't need the walkthrough. Any newcomer that does the game legit will at least spend 50 hours on this game. Personally, it took me 80 hours to complete. 

 

Oh, and the estimate was already 12 hours even before the invincibility glitch was shared on this page! So it assumes you do everything legit. No, just no. 

 

In my opinion, if you publish a guide here, you should put an estimate on the time it will take an average reader to complete the game, not a speedrunner. These guys won't read your guide. 

[Savyna]

I have over 100 hours on my clock. 20 to 30 hours for the pantheons (It's a pain if you do it legit), and 70 to 80 hours for the story and other DLC stuff. I used the steam map as well. I am not a fast player, by any means so having times around 40 to 60 hours seems fitting. But 12 hours is a joke for someone who playes it the first time, even a skilled one.

 

If you have already argued with the guide writer, whats his argument to set time this low?

[Optinooby]

Im here guys, just give me a shout out if you wanna discuss ;). 

 

I'll change it guys from 12-50hrs+ if everyone is happy with that, but will explain that the 12hrs is unreachable and only possible with a clean run with few mistakes.

 

12hrs isnt a speedrun, as Bcarsonelite mentioned above, 4hrs is the record time, im way off. The 12hrs, is just the most OPTIMAL route while playing normally, that is all. It allows the player to know the actual optimal length of the route.

 

Im not very keen on howlongtobeat.com that det_gittes brought up. There times are  most the time, way off, not just for general play, but even general 100%, speedrun 100% etc. If its a game which is only really ran casually, because its to big or whatever, there timings are not accurate. Of course thats a matter of opinion, this is just mine.

 

The reason I havent gone for 'average player', is because even average player times can vary a lot. One average player may mess around more, one may die more, one may keep coming back to the game after time away and have to learn everything again etc etc.

 

The reason I always like to strife for optimal time, and I know not many share this view, is because it is 'consistent' to everyone. Its not targeted at any skill level, play style etc but everyone will know that the path to platinum will take 12 hours error free.

 

Of course, HK, although the route to plat is 12hrs long, its highly likely going to take much longer as you guys mention. Its a difficult game and all the problem you make encounter along the way will add up and can reach over 50hrs as you say.

 

I will increase the time guys from 12-50hrs+ and explain why, hope you are happy with that??

 

Just ask guys, I discussed with some the time before and changed it. If others think I should change it even more, thats fine guys, just give me a knock and we can discuss

 

Thanks guys for mentioning it all, hopefully the new timings will give players a better perspectives

 

EDIT:

Just changed from 12-36 to 12-50hrs+ and I explained that the pathing is 12hrs long and that it will take you much longer due to deaths etc which is where the 50+ comes in.

 

Hope that reasonable? Just pm me next time guys or get me on youtube for any off my guides, everyone's view is important and matters so I will always be happy to discuss.

 

Roll on Silksong, 

Peace

Edited May 14, 2020 by Optinooby

[Snaki-0]

First time took me also 80h to beat (~60% pantheons), second region few months after took me sth like 30. I continued playng cuz i really like this game and when decided to go for all steam achievements, it took me less than 8 hours but thats including hard speedruning strats, perfect bosses with weak nail and charms and pantheons first try and poh 2nd. So yup, its impossible 

[Arcesius]

11 minutes ago, Optinooby said:

The 12hrs, is just the most OPTIMAL route while playing normally, that is all. It allows the player to know the actual optimal length of the route.

 

Yes, and if you are experienced you can plat this game in 12 hours. But then you don't need a guide. The problem I have with your 12 hour estimate is that I have meanwhile read about a lot of people that gave this game a go after having read your 12 hour estimate only to find out that it's pretty much impossible to be below 50 hours if you are playing for the first time. It's misleading, is all, and unfair to new players. 

 

 

15 minutes ago, Optinooby said:

I will increase the time guys from 12-50hrs+ and explain why, hope you are happy with that??

 

Just ask guys, I discussed with some the time before and changed it. If others think I should change it even more, thats fine guys, just give me a knock and we can discuss

 

Well, there was already quite the discussion going on in the comment section of the guide, but you stated multiple times that you want to stick to the 12 hours ? I would be happy to see the estimate change to 50+ hours and make a remark that your optimal route allows an experienced player to do the thing in 12. The other way around puts too much emphasis on the 12 hours, which again, is not realistic for 99% of players. 

[Optinooby]

23 minutes ago, Snaki-0 said:

First time took me also 80h to beat (~60% pantheons), second region few months after took me sth like 30. I continued playng cuz i really like this game and when decided to go for all steam achievements, it took me less than 8 hours but thats including hard speedruning strats, perfect bosses with weak nail and charms and pantheons first try and poh 2nd. So yup, its impossible 

 

23 minutes ago, Snaki-0 said:

First time took me also 80h to beat (~60% pantheons), second region few months after took me sth like 30. I continued playng cuz i really like this game and when decided to go for all steam achievements, it took me less than 8 hours but thats including hard speedruning strats, perfect bosses with weak nail and charms and pantheons first try and poh 2nd. So yup, its impossible 

 

I'll change it to 50hrs+ and leave it there.

 

Some have told me 50, 60, 70 and upwards, generally between 50 and 100 usually 

 

Going for all steam achievements is hardcore, I once though about that on switch, but then thought I like my life how it is

 

Yea, I can see the attraction for more reason to play, its a great game

18 minutes ago, Arcesius said:

 

Yes, and if you are experienced you can plat this game in 12 hours. But then you don't need a guide. The problem I have with your 12 hour estimate is that I have meanwhile read about a lot of people that gave this game a go after having read your 12 hour estimate only to find out that it's pretty much impossible to be below 50 hours if you are playing for the first time. It's misleading, is all, and unfair to new players. 

 

 

 

Well, there was already quite the discussion going on in the comment section of the guide, but you stated multiple times that you want to stick to the 12 hours ? I would be happy to see the estimate change to 50+ hours and make a remark that your optimal route allows an experienced player to do the thing in 12. The other way around puts too much emphasis on the 12 hours, which again, is not realistic for 99% of players. 

 

We had and I had changed the estimate, I thought I remembered you or the players in mention being happy with that. Apologies if I missed anything there, i've been busy lately and haven't had chance to go over all the comment sections for my guides.

 

I'll make a strong point that the 12hr iss unreachable, but the route is 12hrs long.

 

I know you believe I should remove the mention of the 12hrs, but from my opinion, I like people to know the optimal length of the route. If not, although your happy, I may players in the future say 'I know you state 60hrs+, but how long if I just go for it, how long if I have played before, how long if I use the glitch" etc etc, you see my conundrum here

 

I can never please everyone, but I can show the most optimal path and gives a consistent basis for everyone to go off. And of course myself mentioning that the 12hrs is highly impossible for a newcomer and will likely take 50hrs+ hopefully makes up for it.

 

I'm with you that I perhaps should have mentioned all this at the start, so probably dropped the ball there.

 

And hopefully what I change it to now will be reasonable??

 

Edited May 14, 2020 by Optinooby

[XXIIlII]

Took me 40.