Metroidvania is a classic genre that honestly needs a better name at times. Last year alone, we got games like Nine Sols and Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown, which couldn’t be from more different teams. Meanwhile, many fans are waiting for Hollow Knight: Silksong at basically every and any video game presentation. While I love the genre, I admit it can be hard to stick out. Fortunately, it’s a worry that’s alleviated in ENDER MAGNOLIA: Bloom in the Mist, the latest entry in this world from developer Binary Haze Interactive.
ENDER MAGNOLIA: Bloom in the Mist is a 2D action RPG Metroidvania sequel to Ender Lilies: Quietus of the Knights from 2021. Both start like others in the genre but quickly become something more. Get thrown into a dark fantasy world that feels like it was pulled out of a fairytale. Experience a variety of moves to traverse the world and fight enemies as you unravel the mystery of your past. Ender Magnolia can make a name for itself and prove it’s something special. Something I hope we get more of for years.
ENDER MAGNOLIA: Bloom in the Mist is Set in a Land of Fumes
In ENDER MAGNOLIA, you play as a girl named Lilac, who wakes up in a laboratory deep underground with no memory of your past. Lilac is an Attuner with the power to help and save Homunculi, the artificial life forms made to help the people of this world. Fumes from the underground have driven the homunculi mad, turning them into monsters. Lilac can stop them from attacking others and save them from themselves. She helps one named Nola, and the two set off to recover their lost memories and save this world.
The story is pretty straightforward, but it’s told in a way that captivated me. Essentially, you learn everything about the world as Lilac does. By exploring this world, talking to others, and saving the homunculi, you not only remember your past but also experience the memories of those you help. When you save a homunculi, you see their past, and they join your team. With each flashback, the mystery unravels, and its grip on me only tightened.
The longer you play, the more homunculi join your team. Each one has its backstory and reasons for helping you. Each feels fleshed out, and I wanted to help them and hear their stories. They can have conversations when you rest, and these all help expand the characters and the world you’re exploring. It’s a nice touch that helped me connect with the characters and the story.
Fight for Me
The story isn’t the only thing ENDER MAGNOLIA has going for it. It’s a Metroidvania, so exploration is key, but it’s also an action RPG. The homunculi that join you can help you in battle. Each has up to three unlockable moves, and four can be equipped. Lilac does not directly attack but summons whoever you assign to each button. The attacks are varied, and you are encouraged to try different layouts.
Experimentation is encouraged and fun. Take the time to see what moves work together. I had a few builds I would cycle through based on the situation. My preferred build focused on a heavy main attack with constant projectiles and a parry. This build got me through many enemy encounters, and it was a blast against the boss fights. Boss Fights feel fine-tuned and are a lot of fun to face. Even when they start to pose a challenge, part of the fun is to recoup and readjust your layout. This leads to some satisfying wins I would like to fight again.
You also unlock moves to help with exploration, just like any traditional Metroidvania. Exploration is also fun, and backtracking wasn’t too much of an issue with rest stop placement and custom markers. While it is optional, exploring the entire map feels very natural. The map makes complete rooms blue, making it easy to explore fully. Exploring the map entirely won’t take long, but it will be worth it.
A Beautiful Fairytale
ENDER MAGNOLIA has a striking world that feels like a dark fairytale come to life. The art style feels straight out of a storybook you read before bed as a child. Playing the game even feels like reading one. Exploring a new area feels like turning a page. I became fascinated with the world, and part of that is thanks to the look of it. The game even lets you unlock concept art and character models. As you play, you get a specific currency that can be used for art and cosmetics. This always felt like a reward for playing, and I got as much art as possible.
While I love the art, I wish the characters had more variety. Your party of Homunculi has pretty good designs, but only a couple stuck with me. There isn’t much in the enemy variety, and human characters also have this issue. The boss designs are all pretty good, and I enjoyed many. The later game especially has some great designs that stuck with me. There is also an area in the later game where even the basic enemies looked great. While I would like more variety, I didn’t dislike any designs. Some may have felt weaker than others, but that doesn’t deter me from continuing the game.
Closing the Book
ENDER MAGNOLIA is also a customizable experience for the player. It lets you adjust the difficulty on many levels. You can change enemy attacks, health, experience, and item drops. It even allows options like permadeath for those who want the extra challenge. I kept it at a base level for my playthrough, but I’m already contemplating a harder one. My playtime at the end was around 20 hours, with hitting 100%. While some might find this short, I still enjoyed my time, and the game is very replayable.
ENDER MAGNOLIA is a solid Metroidvania that isn’t hard to recommend, and I was enthralled by the game’s strong aesthetic. It is an intriguing story with characters I can’t help but root for. With fun exploration and strong combat that encourages you to experiment, a good time is here. It is a customizable experience with shortcomings, but not enough to stop me from playing. Any fan of the genre should try these games out. ENDER MAGNOLIA is an excellent time for all, and I look forward to what Binary Haze Interactive does next.
ENDER MAGNOLIA: Bloom in the Mist is available now for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam.
Disclaimer: Binary Haze Interactive sent Final Weapon a Steam key of ENDER MAGNOLIA: Bloom in the Mist for review purposes.
