Procrastinator's Guide out of Crossroads

4 out of 10 players have not (yet) left Forgotten Crossroads - this guide is for you!!! Just 3 tips and - BAM! - you'll have so much more fun! B'lieve me! ;)

Intro

Global Achievements show that only 59.7% have beaten the first big boss False Knight. Without that you can't get your first ability to shoot soul and without that you can't leave Crossroads. However, Crossroads is only the beginning of a long journey! It's a wonderful and exciting adventure and you ARE missing out on something here, man!

Well, right, there are a number of problems when you start. Mainly lack of explanation of the basic game elements. I feel you, man! Just watch my first 15 Let's Plays... or better don't, it was a total disaster...

I was constantly dying (easy to prevent!), I didn't know where I was (I'll show you maps!) or where to go (I'll tell you! There is only one right path to the city and the basic abilities like dash, wall-climb, and more). And the worst: I constantly lost money for no good reason - definitely a problem with the game - which can be solved! And here is how:

Well, all this may sound like snake oil but I won't charge you. ;) Just continue reading the following 3 Tips:

3 Tips

1. When you take damage (one of the 5 white masks is gone) you need to hold B immediately to recharge that life.

May sound simple but I didn't understand that at first and I didn't like it and I kept forgetting it. "Do I really have to do this? Isn't there some other magic?" No, this really is it. As soon as you have enough energy (this white liquid in this huge vessel goes white, instead of gray) recharge all your lives, and only those, stop holding B, otherwise the energy is wasted. Stupid, right? Well, I thought so, too, but that's the rule of the game. It's supposed to be "challenging". It challenges you to pay attention, to learn, and to do the right thing. BAM! Now you know. :)

So, what if you don't have energy ("soul") in the vessel? Get some! You take energy from those creepy bugs. Actually, that's the only reason for their existence. Surprisingly, looked at from this angle, it's *great* there are so many of them. :)

The smaller ones respawn immediately when you leave through a door (i.e. screen goes black), the larger ones respawn when you sit on a bench. Good to know, ay? Sure, the game could have told us in plain english but it doesn't. Challenging? I don't know. I thought it is frustrating. I wanted to stop playing but luckily I did not. I continued for more than 100 hours until I had discovered almost everything in this huge, colorful world, kept reading guides and the wiki (see links below), and eventually played through 5 times. *big shrug*

2. There are two modes of playing: discovering new areas, and getting somewhere. When discovering don't lose more than 3 masks. Ever. When you try to get somewhere don't lose more than 3 masks. Ever.

Sorry to sound like a mother of a 3-year-old. :) But really, you don't want to die. Ever. Period. So what do you do? Go back. Remember where you came from, remember where the smaller bugs were that you can harvest soul (energy) from so you can heal (get all 5 masks back).

Then go on.

Extension to the rule: If you ever - ever ;) - are down to one mask stop the game!

Whoo! Wait a moment, that sounds wrong, stop the game? That's cheating!? Yeah, I thought so at least when I discovered that in a gameplay video. But it totally makes sense. You will get back to the last bench you took. A save place. A known area. And with full lives!

The alternative is really stupid. You would die sooner or later. A black shadow (your pure soul? undead twin?) appears at that place and "keeps" some part of you. Mainly your money that you had gathered until then. And your intact vessel for some reason... Let's say, you're a "magic" vessel and when you die that magic is broken but can be repaired with the right ingredients. So you'd have to go back there (if you remember where it was AND you manage to get there unharmed...) and get repaired (by hitting that black shadow twice, er... don't ask... something with the undead and their wish to not be disturbed, whatever...) and you get your money back.

Now for the real bad news: if you die *again* (either on the way or if you decide to better not go there again and instead die somewhere else - haha, I know, stupid, been there, done that!) you'd not only run around with a broken vessel that holds less energy, you'd also LOSE ALL YOUR MONEY!!!

You don't want that. Much better to stop and wake up on the last bench with full lives.

I have thought that through thoroughly. I'm more the procrastination type. Before I do anything (that takes 5 minutes) I'd rather try (for hours) to come up with all kinds of easier solutions. But there isn't one. This is how it is in this world. Deal with it. *patting shoulder*

One more thing before I start talking to you like a grown-up again: There are areas where some iron bars close. BAM! Right, stupid! xD Sooner or later you'll have to find out how to beat the enemies in there. But maybe not right then. Rather, stop the game. Get back to the bench, have all lives back, don't have to bother with that black shadow, don't lose money. Remember where not to go (or later, and be prepared and with full soul and all lives).

Basically, the first district, called Forgotten Crossroads, isn't that big (compared with the rest of the game - that you DO want to see!). There is no way to leave unless you learn how to fight those closed-door enemies ("boss" or "mini-boss"). So what you want to find is the two (!) benches and the stag station. Start discovering from there in all directions. Take on the bosses one after the other (those won't reappear ever) and always stop before you die!

You have to admit that the benches are strategically placed to do just that. Learn to keep the right distance with the nail. Learn to hit upwards. Learn to jump and nail-down on top of bugs. With the huge fat guards ("Husks") learn how they "announce" their hit and their wave attack. This is what you are supposed to do here, in Crossroads, it's a tutorial level. Yes, you want to get out of there, that's the incentive, and yes, there are more exciting levels and more complicated bosses and faster dashing and wall-run and wonderful story elements. Go on, learn it, beat them. Thank me later. :)

I can now walk through Crossroads and do everything that needs to be done in 15 minutes at nearly no damage. It took me 15 hours, though, to learn that. That's what you hear from everyone who praises the game, it rewards practice and *you* control what happens and how good you are. There are very few random attacks even though it might seem so at the beginning.

3. Don't farm. This is neither the place nor the time.

You do not need to buy anything except maybe Gathering Swarm. I sure don't want to criticize the game, at least I'm in no position to, and after playing for so many hours I understand the decisions for placing benches and not providing better maps, but let me say that the compass really should not require a notch... Buying maps and pins and stuff is a nice idea but it's all a bit much at this early point. And seriously, if you really wanted to discover the game without any outside help you wouldn't be reading this. So, bite the bullet, get maps from other steam guides, consult the wiki, and be happy. Going by means of those in-game maps makes the game 10 times more difficult. You don't want that. I don't want that. I guess there are players who want it (6 out of 10?) but not those who got stuck in Crossroads. ;)

Remember those "doors" (screen goes black)? This is your best point of orientation. Except for watching video walkthroughs (and stop the video, go a few steps, continue the video, go a few steps - yeah! okay! I did that! it's ludicrous!!!) there don't exist more detailed maps. The compass only helps you to a point. Let's say, once you have been in the city and have the dash and the wall-run, sure, maybe you want to discover all maps and all areas, who knows. I hope so. I did.

Save your money, don't buy anything from the map people, don't bother about the other stuff (yet). Later in the game there are huge Geo cashes and relics worth hundreds. Easy money. That's how you are supposed to get it.

The Shortest Path

And here is - tada! - all the info and maps I could find. From there you'll find more links and more info. I shouldn't toot my own horn but since I've played this 5 times the path I came up with might be just the right one for you. It's described and illustrated in my 'Easy 5HR+ Speedrun Guide'. Don't let the word "speed" scare you, no need to rush anything! Just, I mean, if you want to get forward to a certain (upgrade) level and see as much as possible in a short time, this is the way to do it. I'd recommend to loosely follow that path until you have the 2nd nail upgrade (orange number 8 in LEG 4). This ***can*** be done in under 2 hours:

http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=969264684

If you ask me: "Should I start from the beginning?" I'd say yes. It all depends on how far you got and what you have gathered. If you have lost a whole lot of money you probably want to start over. If you are still in the "discovering" phase of Crossroads and already bought a lot of stuff you might as well continue, take on False Knight, get the soul shooting thing, and venture to Greenpath! It's great! It's worth it! Starting over is something you can do any time. Last time I played, it took me 30 minutes till I beat Hornet and got the dash.

Of course you are the curious type. You want to know everything. Here is a glance into your future:

http://images.akamai.steamusercontent.com/ugc/171541045361250277/1F10ACC1B04553AA91260C44009EC0AF4DFE593F/

This map has (almost) everything known to mankind about Hollownest. It's huge (told you!) and you don't understand a whole lot yet but it defines the scope. Again, this doesn't provide any directions where you are supposed to go but we had that covered with the above guide. This map is for later...

Questions? You must be full of questions. Visit the Hollow Knight Wiki and use the Search tool extensively:

http://hollowknight.wikia.com/wiki/Hollow_Knight_Wiki

You don't need to know any of the lore. Or read any of the dialog. Well, unless you want to. I did, I read everything, the story is emotional and full of insight into human nature and even has a political edge. Just that you don't *have* to read everything, not right away when you are not in the mood. Just skip the dialogs with A.

Well, you're prepared now. Motivated. Excited. Strong and calm. Happy I hope! :) Don't hesitate to ask anything below in the comments. If you find a way to draft your question I'll find a way to answer.

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More?

When I was about to give up I first followed the guide by Enrico Fairme[holdtoreset.com]. It lead me through all the nice and important places, it is well written and without glitches and very helpful. Maybe a bit longer than just the core game - which might be just what you are looking for.

I found all this through the familiar Steam discussions so that might be a good starting point for you, too. It also has a search box! Maybe you're stuck at just one specific thing/jump/fight/secret and find your answer there.

The original 3HR Speedrun Achievement Guide that my 5HR+ guide is based on is certainly worth a look if you want to get faster, or when you go for a second run, now with the latest patch (rescue Zote this time!), and has many additional tips.

I also watched this Boss Battles [No Damage] video a lot before going into a fight to understand the basic moves. However, you don't learn how to ride a bull just by watching. ;) But it gets you in the right mood.

Once you are a seasoned warrior and think you know almost everything, check the Maps of Hallownest on Steam for valuable relics along the way. The Interactive Map[rainingchain.com] has pretty much the same info but I think is more accurate, shows (breakable) shortcuts, and also provides useful links to video sequences showing you how to do it.

[Sydrotron]

i was able to ecape the false kight cuz you can make him break the left wall and the fihgt is so much easer

[spider4982]

I found that the False Knight jumps alot. If you go under him, you could probably sneak in a few blows to the armour while he slams his mace into where you were five seconds before.

[Justin]

I never had much trouble with Forgotten Crossroads but this definitely was an interesting read! It's really fascinating hearing about others experiences playing this game.

[C0ldava]

I love farming, theres something about spending 100 hours to get a nail

[Demiurge]

yea, definitely ocd here

[Enthusiast]

@Demiurge: you're absolutely right, as long as you have fun farm away. Just don't think you neccessarily need to buy everything before moving on. I tend to be a bit OCD and collect everything instead of enjoying the ride.

[Demiurge]

don't know what you have against farming, first thing i did was farm for and got all the map upgrades before starting my journey. Its not that hard and it doesn't take long at all. Plus, you get a nice working automap

[Enthusiast]

@khalilak: she has maybe 5 basic attacs. They are announced or "telegraphed" shortly before (like all bosses, btw). So you need to learn to recognize them. This takes some practice and a sharp eye. Eventually, you need to find a balance between shooting at her more often, and healing less often (shooting equals about 3 hits, iirc).

[thwokuna]

Just wondering, do you have any tips on how to dodge Hornet?
I'm stuck on her and I need some help.

[Enthusiast]

@Barvaz: well done!