Ender Magnolia: Bloom in the Mist

98%
Game Brain Score Based on 1,322 reviews
  • music
  • gameplay
  • story
Ender Magnolia: Bloom in the Mist Game Cover
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"Ender Magnolia: Bloom in the Mist" is a dark fantasy 2D side-scrolling action RPG set in the post-apocalyptic Land of Fumes. Play as Lilac, an "Attuner" with the power to save feral Homunculi, once artificial life forms turned monsters due to toxic fumes. Embark on a journey to retrieve lost memories and precious friends, accompanied by Homunculi, as you explore the desolate world.

  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

98%
Audience ScoreBased on 1,322 reviews
music264 positive mentions
grinding12 negative mentions
  • The game improves on almost every aspect of Ender Lilies, including combat fluidity and character interactions.
  • The art and music are stunning, with Mili returning to create a captivating soundtrack.
  • The new mechanics, such as the homunculi system and detailed map, enhance gameplay and exploration.
  • The early access content is relatively short, taking only 2-4 hours to complete.
  • The game feels easier than its predecessor, with some bosses lacking challenge.
  • Some cutscenes and dialogues move too quickly, making it hard to absorb the story.
  • music430 mentions

    The music in "Ender Magnolia" has received widespread acclaim, with many praising the return of composer Mili, whose haunting and atmospheric tracks enhance the game's emotional depth. While the overall soundtrack maintains the beautiful and melancholic style of its predecessor, some players noted that certain boss themes could be improved. Overall, the music is described as captivating, immersive, and a significant highlight of the game, making it a must-listen for fans of the genre.

    • “The music, composed by Mili, is exceptional.”
    • “The music captures the overall vibe very well and is amazing, would've expected nothing less from Mili!”
    • “I'm completely in love with the music in 'Ender Magnolia.' Its compositions create an immersive experience that perfectly complements the game's atmosphere.”
    • “The one issue I have is that the music, which was a very big part of why I liked Ender Lilies so much, seems not as good.”
    • “Maybe the mixing needs to be worked on, or rerecorded or something, but something about the music in Magnolia seems a little unfinished.”
    • “If nothing is changed, that leaves me a little worried, as it is somewhat tiring to listen to whatever it is that is bugging me about the music.”
  • gameplay302 mentions

    The gameplay in "Ender Magnolia: Bloom in the Mist" has been praised for its fluid animations, engaging mechanics, and improved combat system compared to its predecessor, "Ender Lilies." While it retains a similar core gameplay style, the removal of contact damage and the introduction of new mechanics enhance the overall experience, although some players noted a lack of exploration and linearity in the early access version. Overall, the game offers a solid and enjoyable experience, appealing to both veterans of the series and newcomers alike.

    • “The gameplay feels somewhat snappier, the animations are more fluid, the weapons are more fun to use, contact damage is gone and the enemy variety is very good.”
    • “The beautifully crafted world, combined with deep, engaging mechanics, offers a truly immersive experience.”
    • “The gameplay is slower and more methodical, but still snappy and smooth, making combo attacks with your four chosen 'weapons' feel insanely gratifying.”
    • “This 3-4 hours of gameplay felt extremely linear, no real branching paths or sense of exploration.”
    • “3 hours of gameplay for this price is not justified if you're only in it for the gameplay alone.”
    • “My problem with the early access version is mainly that many mechanics that are indeed useful, result in making the game way too easy to actually enjoy it in the long run, so this is what actually has me worried right now.”
  • story272 mentions

    The story in "Ender Magnolia" is shaping up to be an intriguing continuation of the lore established in the first game, with a blend of steampunk aesthetics and character-driven narratives. While some players feel the storytelling is less impactful than its predecessor, many appreciate the deeper character interactions and environmental storytelling that invites exploration. Overall, the early access content hints at a promising narrative that fans are eager to see develop further.

    • “The story seems intriguing so far and like it'll be an interesting continuation of the world/lore from the first game, especially with references to priestesses and blight already sneaking into the first few hours.”
    • “The story is shaping up to be very intriguing and I am very interested in seeing how it connects to the first game.”
    • “The characters, story, music, visuals, and gameplay are all fantastic, and I am so excited for what comes next.”
    • “Story: what little bits of story we get after fighting a boss feels more like an afterthought than an actual component meant to be engaging.”
    • “Since this game only has 2 hours of content, I can't really say much for the story, as there's really not a lot.”
    • “Finally (and this is a story criticism so I won't dive too much into it as a: we haven't gotten too far into the game yet and b: I might have missed it) I'm very confused as to why the blight is back when Lily already sealed it; it kind of invalidates the efforts we went through in the first game and all of the hardship Lily went through, so I do hope to see an explanation in the future for why this is.”
  • graphics152 mentions

    The graphics in the game have received widespread acclaim for their stunning visuals and improved animations, showcasing a beautiful, painterly art style that enhances the steampunk aesthetic. Players appreciate the vibrant environments and character designs, noting that the graphics are a significant upgrade from the previous title, "Ender Lilies." Overall, the combination of breathtaking visuals, polished UI, and atmospheric music contributes to an immersive gaming experience.

    • “The visuals are breathtaking, with a world that's meticulously crafted and visually stunning.”
    • “This game is graphically stunning, and the environments pop even more so than in Ender Lilies.”
    • “The artwork, the music, and the overall setting is simply immaculate.”
    • “The aesthetic is not quite there this time.”
    • “I don't know if that's the style that the developers wanted to achieve, but in both Ender Lilies and Ender Magnolia, all the walking, jumping, attacking, etc. just makes the game feel like all of the budget went into graphics and none into the real gameplay.”
    • “The movement of Lilac feels a bit sluggish at times and that is the only aspect of those 4 hours that left me a little bit unsatisfied.”
  • atmosphere78 mentions

    The atmosphere in both "Ender Lillies" and its sequel "Ender Magnolia" is widely praised for its immersive quality, with stunning visuals and a captivating soundtrack that enhance the overall experience. While "Ender Lillies" is noted for its darker, melancholic tone, "Ender Magnolia" introduces a more vibrant world filled with characters and interactions, though some fans feel it lacks the same depth. Overall, both games deliver exceptional atmospheres, but players may find the shift in tone and character presence in "Ender Magnolia" a departure from the original's haunting beauty.

    • “Ender Lilies already was an atmospheric masterpiece.”
    • “The music is just as beautiful as Ender Lilies, has an ambiguous but interesting plot from all the lore snippets and characters so far, the combat is far improved with more fluidity and combo potential, and the atmosphere is different but still wonderfully crafted.”
    • “I'm completely in love with the music in 'Ender Magnolia.' Its compositions create an immersive experience that perfectly complements the game's atmosphere.”
    • “So far, it's not the atmosphere I fell in love with in Ender Lilies, but it's addictive enough for me to marathon the content that's here.”
    • “Since the world is still alive here and everything is more colorful, you don't get the same atmosphere from Ender Lilies, and that's fine.”
    • “This was fine in Ender Lilies since having a silent protagonist lent itself to the bleak atmosphere where everyone but her had already perished or succumbed to the blight, but Ender Magnolia attempts a more character-driven plot which is evident in not only the dialogue but with the presence of communicative NPCs populating the world as well.”
  • character development16 mentions

    Character development in the game is praised for its impactful writing and creative storytelling, which enhances player attachment to the characters. While some reviews note that character designs are similar to the previous installment, others highlight the striking visuals and unique designs, particularly for key characters like Lilac. Overall, the character development is seen as a strong aspect, contributing to the game's emotional depth and aesthetic appeal.

    • “I think it's simple yet impactful writing and character designs that make me so fond of these games.”
    • “Honestly, that added a creative layer of character development I'd seen before or since, and I'm in love with that style of storytelling now.”
    • “I feel the character designs are very similar to that of the first game.”
    • “The character designs, areas, and even the map have been refurbished.”
  • grinding14 mentions

    Players express mixed feelings about grinding in the game, noting that while the new upgrade system enhances exploration and reduces the need for currency farming, it also leads to excessive grinding that can result in overleveling and an imbalanced gameplay experience. Many find themselves farming weak enemies for experience and resources, which can diminish the challenge and enjoyment of later game content. Overall, while grinding can be rewarding, it risks making the game feel less engaging over time.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “You end up being overleveled beyond reason by farming enemies that give good XP for how weak and squishy they are.”
    • “That is also something that not only encourages farming, but ends up having a character with far too many stats, thus manipulating the later game experience.”
  • optimization10 mentions

    Overall, the game's optimization is generally praised, with some users reporting smooth performance and stability on their machines. However, there are notable concerns regarding irregular load times and lag, which were not present in the previous title, "Ender Lilies." As the game is still in early access, players anticipate improvements in optimization and performance in future updates.

    • “Stability: runs fantastic on my machine and never saw any kind of performance issue.”
    • “Great job on optimization.”
    • “Heck, there are small flaws in the animation, when you move with Lilac and the worldbuilding of Ender Magnolia isn't as sublime as it was in Ender Lilies, but at the end of the day, you have to remind yourself that this is only early access, meaning that the game will still get more content, will become better balanced, and will become even better optimized.”
    • “I've noticed frequent performance issues that were totally absent from Ender Lilies, such as longer and highly irregular load times and lag.”
    • “I imagine the game's performance might see a tune-up in the coming weeks or months, but it's unlikely there will be any massive changes to existing systems.”
    • “Heck, there are small flaws in the animation when you move with Lilac, and the worldbuilding of Ender Magnolia isn't as sublime as it was in Ender Lilies. But at the end of the day, you have to remind yourself that this is only early access, meaning that the game will still get more content, will become better balanced, and will become even better optimized.”
  • emotional10 mentions

    Overall, players find that while the game offers emotional cutscenes that surpass those of "Ender Lilies," it ultimately falls short of achieving the same emotional depth and impact. The combination of stunning graphics, engaging combat, and a compelling story contributes to a strong emotional experience, but it is noted that certain gameplay changes, like the removal of contact damage, may detract from the overall intensity.

    • “Nothing I had ever played in the genre came close to how EL made me feel with its gorgeous graphics, smooth combat, and a story that had me hooked!”
    • “The cutscenes feel much better and are more emotional than Ender Lilies.”
    • “It's still going to be a game worth playing, but it's not going to reach the emotional heights that Ender Lilies did.”
  • humor8 mentions

    The humor in the game is highlighted through its quirky character interactions and unexpected moments, such as the incongruity of certain music choices that add a comedic touch. Players appreciate the game's ability to blend humor with lore, particularly through the presence of living characters that enhance the narrative. Overall, the humor is seen as a charming aspect that contributes to the game's unique atmosphere.

    • “Funny thing is that this game actually has an advantage over Ender Lilies in the lore explanations because there are people other than the main character who are still alive.”
    • “My only hiccup was that the music for the guy at the bottom right of the map (near the red forest area) didn't fit to the point it was funny.”
    • “I forgot to mention another thing, the music. When I tell you they were straight up cooking for this funny little girl stand user Metroid.”
  • stability2 mentions

    The game is reported to be fairly playable despite still experiencing some bugs, indicating that while stability issues exist, they do not significantly hinder the overall gameplay experience.

    • “It's still buggy but is fairly playable otherwise.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

3hMedian play time
3hAverage play time
3-5hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 44 analyzed playthroughs

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