Ender Magnolia: Bloom in the Mist review

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Instead of starting each year with a strong Metroidvania game, it seems like we’re embarking on an exciting trend where each year kicks off with a fantastic one, such as Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown last year and Ender Magnolia: Bloom in the Mist this time around. Here’s to hoping for more high-quality games in this genre!

Last year, I took a peek at Ender Magnolia when it debuted in early access. However, my playtime was limited to roughly 4 hours, so my review was based on that limited exposure. Regardless, I was taken aback by its quality. The follow-up to the 2021 release, Ender Lilies: Quietus of the Knights, this game revisits the same world, but set some years later. It maintains the theme of a child character liberating tormented spirits from servitude, allowing them to serve her instead (with perhaps slightly improved labor rights, one might say). Remarkably, it manages to surpass its predecessor without overshadowing it.

In this game, you take on the role of Lilac, a large-furred, wide-eyed protagonist wandering through a somewhat apocalyptic fantasy realm where souls are compelled to inhabit artificial bodies known as homunculi. These homunculi serve sinister purposes for various entities. Similar to Lily, Lilac possesses the power of an Attuner, enabling her to liberate these trapped souls and absorb them within herself. This isn’t done solely for their journey towards tranquility but also to provide a relatively secure haven – provided they agree to maintain that sanctuary as well. It’s essential to note that Lilac is not a combatant. On the contrary, she’s incredibly timid in this daunting setting. However, when called upon, the Homunculi engage in battles on her behalf.

Leading the pack is Nola, a formidable swordswoman whose fame often travels ahead of her. In combat, she serves as Lilac’s frontline attacker, wielding a longsword, scythe, or great axe to inflict damage. Nola is our primary source of damage, but she’s soon accompanied by others, both for fighting and navigation purposes. Lito is a fighter capable of delivering powerful stuns or even freezing foes, while Munnin, an owl companion, hovers nearby, occasionally firing at enemies. Lastly, there’s Yolvan, the winged, edgy character who functions as our main ranged weapon, pummeling adversaries with a flurry of attacks before we can exploit their vulnerable state.

In case you’ve experienced Ender Lilies or other contemporary Metroidvania games, you’ll recognize a similar pattern here. The enemies range from melee, ranged, flying, leaping; some are colossal mechs, others are mutated assassins wrapped in bandages. You possess an evade move that offers a good invincibility period, and you’ll strategically combine the attacks at your disposal to defeat your adversaries efficiently. The combat feels smooth, swift, and gratifying, which is true for most of the game mechanics overall.

As a gamer, I find platforming incredibly responsive and fluid, thanks to an initial double jump and air dash mechanic. Later on, I encounter Homunculi who offer diverse techniques for movement and advancement. Some choose not to accompany me or imbue powers, but instead provide materials for unlocking additional abilities for my fellow passengers. Additionally, I can amass materials in the hub town’s “craftory” to craft various upgrades.

In Ender Magnolia: Bloom in the Mist, rather than using riddles or puzzles, it offers intricately crafted regions that you’ll traverse frequently, particularly when acquiring a new ability or talent. Traveling quickly is straightforward and beneficial, enabling you to instantly move to any safe spot on the map without imposing penalties for doing so. This simplifies backtracking significantly and makes revisiting previous areas effortless.

Additionally, you’ll be motivated to explore, as there are concealed power-ups that boost your vitality, often referred to as Relics. Each of these unique items carries a numerical value based on the number of active Relic slots you have. For instance, if you have three active slots, some Relics may need all three to be activated. These can enhance your healing abilities or speed up your health regeneration when equipped.

I’ve found Ender Magnolia: Bloom in the Mist incredibly enjoyable because it’s user-friendly. Initially, most challenges aren’t overly demanding, with only a few boss battles posing any real difficulty for me. However, if you find yourself facing some struggles, the game offers an array of adjustable settings that allow you to tailor the challenge level according to your preference, making it easier or harder as needed.

Discovering different parts of the game world is delightful. Enemies reappear only after taking a break, preventing continuous attacks as you move through screens. The map also conveniently marks locations with valuable items. Moreover, rooms that have been thoroughly explored change from grey to blue on the map, ensuring efficient exploration and avoiding unnecessary time wastage. There are numerous features like this that enhance the overall experience. It’s challenging to find any significant flaws in the game, especially when you can adjust the difficulty level according to your preference – even if you find it too easy or straightforward.

In the breathtakingly beautiful world of Ender Magnolia, one finds themselves immersed in a grim yet enchanting landscape. From decaying old villages to luminous subterranean caves, ancient forests to desolate, pitch-black dungeons, this realm offers a striking contrast, maintaining its beauty regardless of the location. The aesthetic is reminiscent of the previous game, but boasts improved animations and character designs, along with an upgraded soundtrack. Ender Magnolia: Bloom in the Mist resonates with an atmospheric presence, as evidenced by its captivating visuals, ambient sounds, and background music. Engaging in dialogues with the Homunculi and various inhabitants will help paint a vivid picture of the world you’re striving to preserve from self-destruction.

Ender Magnolia: Bloom in the Mist might seem somewhat overly cautious for the player, but this minor criticism pales in comparison to all the aspects it gets right. This title offers a captivating, bold adventure with engaging boss battles, innovative mechanics, beautiful aesthetics, and exceptional music, making it one of the highly recommended games to play in 2025.

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2025-01-21 18:16