Metroidvania Fans Have Been Gifted ENDER MAGNOLIA: Bloom in The Mist, and We Couldn’t Be Happier
February 14 was only a week ago, and Hollow Knight fans around the world united in disappointment when there was no news in sight of Silksong. When Nintendo announced their Nintendo Direct Partner Showcase, I had very little faith in even seeing the slightest news on our beloved game. However, while we didn’t receive any news of Silksong, don’t put on your clown noses just yet, Metroidvania fans were given a wonderful surprise, a long awaited sequel to the most beautiful beloved game Ender Lilies: Quietus of the Knights, only this time called Ender Magnolia, Bloom in The Mist.
Ender Magnolia, Bloom in The Mist is a hand-drawn, dark fantasy Metroidvania fairy tale. This time around, the blight has infected the minds of humans and artificial life forms in the Land of Fumes. The protagonist, Lilac, an “Attuner” with the abilities of purifying those around her, has been set on a quest to cleanse evil from those blighted.
In Ender Lilies, Lily utilizes her guardian spirits as her main attacks. With each spirit and upgrade, Lily grows stronger and gains new abilities. On Lilac’s journey, the system changes up. As Lilac exorcises evil from bosses she is able to convert them into allies, adding 30 abilities to Lilac’s disposal. This time, you can equip up to four different ally attacks at once, and as you explore a crumbling kingdom, search through the dungeon abyss, while surpassing towers, help Lilac on a journey in search of her lost memories.
I loved the graphics and music of the first game and I know the sequel will not disappoint. The trailer features some live footage of the game and already I am fascinated by the atmosphere, the color choices and beautiful hand-drawn characters that will create the lore and adventure of a truly inspiring fairy tale.
With 1.4 million copies sold from publisher Binary Haze Interactive as well as developers Adglobe and Live Wire, its no surprise that this is one of the most anticipated sequels in the gaming community. “We teased a sequel to Ender Lilies: Quietus of the Knights nearly two years ago, and we have received countless requests from our online community for a second adventure,” says Hiroyuki Kobayashi, CEO, Binary Haze Interactive.
The Story:
Decades after the Rain of Death, a new journey begins in the Land of Fumes, where mystical powers lie beneath the earth. The kingdom’s desire for conquest led to the creation of the Homunculi, machine-like artificial life forms prepared to execute the king’s will. A recent resource-harvesting mission gone awry caused toxic vapors to emerge from underground, driving both man and machine to feral madness.
As the Homonculi devolve into dangerous creatures, guide Lilac –- an “Attuner” with the power to purify those infected by the fumes — on a quest to save the kingdom. With the help of friendly machines and spirits who fight in Lilac’s stead, fend off mechanized legions of lunging carcasses, cannonball-firing corpses and chainsaw-wielding goblins terrorizing the land.
Gameplay:
Turn foes into friends by exorcizing corruption from enemy bosses. Wield their powers to add 30 different abilities to Lilac’s combat repertoire in an enhanced battle system where she can equip up to four special abilities at once. Improve Lilac’s odds of surviving this hunt for lost memories by leveling up attack strength, HP, and armor.
Explore the depths, heights and far corners of the kingdom for lore-filled relics. Collect and trade gold for upgraded items at the Blacksmith’s storefront. Combine story fragments from the kingdom’s fleeing inhabitants with Lilac’s forgotten memories. Seek the truth in an atmospheric hand-drawn setting set to the soothing serenades of returning musical group Mili (Ghost in the Shell, Goblin Slayer) with a brand new original soundtrack available for purchase at launch.
Ender Magnolia: Bloom in The Mist launches on PC via Steam Early Access on Monday, March 25th at 8AM PST / Tuesday, March 26th at 12AM JST, followed by PlayStation 5|4, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch versions in 2024. Available language options are Japanese, English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian, Chinese (simplified & traditional), and Korean-language support. As a Metroidvania content creator, I am extremely excited for the release of this game. I can’t wait to explore the Land of the Fumes and continue learning about the lore of the blighted and what happened in this delightfully, well thought-out world. Are you looking forward to this release as much as I am?
For more information, follow ENDER MAGNOLIA on Twitter / X, Facebook, and Instagram, as well as the Binary Haze Interactive’s official account on Twitter / X.