Ender Magnolia: Bloom in the Mist
- March 25, 2024
- Adglobe
- 3h median play time
Get on Steam"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.
PC
Steam Deck
Windows
Reviews
- A huge improvement from Ender Lilies with enhanced combat mechanics and fluid animations.
- Fantastic soundtrack by Mili that complements the game's atmosphere beautifully.
- Engaging story with more character interactions and lore elements compared to the first game.
- Currently too short, with only about 2-3 hours of content available in Early Access.
- Difficulty feels reduced compared to Ender Lilies, making the game easier than expected.
- Some cutscenes and dialogues are too fast, making it hard to read and follow the story.
- music215 mentions
- 61 % positive mentions
- 37 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The music in "Ender Magnolia," composed by Mili, has received widespread acclaim for its haunting beauty and emotional depth, continuing the high standards set by its predecessor, "Ender Lilies." Reviewers praise the soundtrack for enhancing the game's atmosphere, with many expressing a desire to purchase it upon release. While some critiques mention a few boss themes lacking variety, the overall consensus is that the music is a standout feature, perfectly complementing the game's stunning visuals and engaging gameplay.
“The music, composed by Mili, is exceptional.”
“The music captures the overall vibe very well and is amazing; I would've expected nothing less from Mili!”
“The soundtrack tugs at the strings of one's soul.”
“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.”
“It's not hit the point of Ender Lilies' soundtrack so far for me, but with what we've got so far I've no doubt the areas of the full release will at least match up.”
- gameplay151 mentions
- 34 % positive mentions
- 64 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The gameplay in "Ender Magnolia: Bloom in the Mist" has been generally praised for its fluid animations, engaging mechanics, and improved combat systems compared to its predecessor, "Ender Lilies." While many players appreciate the new features and quality-of-life improvements, some note that the gameplay can feel linear and lacks significant exploration or difficulty options. Overall, it offers a satisfying experience for fans of the genre, though some players recommend waiting for further content updates due to the limited early access gameplay duration.
“The beautifully crafted world, combined with deep, engaging mechanics, offers a truly immersive experience.”
“The gameplay feels great, and I'm excited to see the rest of the game.”
“Gameplay is very smooth, the music is amazing, and the levels are beautifully designed.”
“This 3-4 hours of gameplay felt extremely linear, with 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.”
- story136 mentions
- 31 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The story in "Ender Magnolia" is shaping up to be an intriguing continuation of the lore established in the first game, blending elements of magic and steampunk with a more character-driven narrative. While some players appreciate the environmental storytelling and character interactions, others feel that the story lacks the depth and emotional weight of its predecessor. Overall, the early access content hints at a promising narrative that many are eager to see fully developed in the final release.
“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.”
- graphics76 mentions
- 49 % positive mentions
- 47 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game have received widespread acclaim for their stunning visuals and improved animations, showcasing a vibrant steampunk aesthetic that contrasts with the darker tones of its predecessor. Players appreciate the meticulous world design, beautiful art style, and polished user interface, which enhance the overall experience. While some minor animation issues were noted, the overall graphical presentation is considered a significant upgrade, contributing to a captivating atmosphere that complements the engaging gameplay and music.
“The visuals are breathtaking, with a world that's meticulously crafted and visually stunning.”
“The beautiful, painterly art style shines in the new environments, and the OST keeps to its enchanting themes while also implementing new, more modern themes to show the change in setting.”
“This game is graphically stunning, and the environments pop even more so than in Ender Lilies.”
“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.”
“Though the art styles are similar, they're very different in their own ways, which I have enjoyed massively.”
- atmosphere39 mentions
- 56 % positive mentions
- 36 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The atmosphere in both "Ender Lillies" and "Ender Magnolia" is widely praised for its beauty and depth, with many reviewers highlighting the stunning visuals, immersive music, and rich lore that enhance the gaming experience. While "Ender Lillies" is noted for its darker, melancholic tone, "Ender Magnolia" introduces a more vibrant world with interactive characters, though some feel it lacks the same atmospheric intensity. Overall, both games are celebrated for their atmospheric qualities, with "Ender Magnolia" showing promise for further development in this aspect.
“Ender Lilies already was an atmospheric masterpiece.”
“I can happily recommend the game to anyone who loves pretty games with amazing atmospheres.”
“The atmosphere of the game is excellent and the music by Milo once again elevates the game.”
“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 (and for those that know me, that's saying something!).”
“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.”
“The atmosphere in Lilies is much darker and more beautiful, while this one is so much more alive with more characters and interactions.”
- character development8 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
Overall, character development in the game is praised for its impactful writing and striking designs, which enhance the storytelling experience. While some reviewers find the character designs to be somewhat repetitive compared to the previous installment, others appreciate the creative depth and visual appeal, particularly for key characters like Lilac. The combination of strong visuals and thoughtful character development contributes to a compelling narrative.
“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.”
- grinding7 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 86 % negative mentions
Players have mixed feelings about grinding in the game; while some appreciate the new upgrade system that encourages exploration over currency farming, others find the need to grind for experience and resources excessive. Many report becoming overleveled quickly due to farming weak enemies, which can disrupt the balance of the later game experience. Overall, grinding is seen as a necessary but potentially unbalanced aspect of gameplay.
“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.”
- optimization5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- -20 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization is generally praised, with many users reporting smooth performance and stability on their machines. However, some players have experienced performance issues, including irregular load times and lag, which were not present in previous titles like Ender Lilies. As the game is still in early access, there is optimism that future updates will improve optimization and balance.
“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.”
“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 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.”
“I've noticed frequent performance issues that were totally absent from Ender Lilies, such as longer and highly irregular load times and lag.”
- emotional5 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Overall, while some players feel that the game does not reach the emotional heights of titles like "Ender Lilies," they appreciate the improved cutscenes that evoke stronger feelings. The combination of stunning graphics, engaging combat, and a compelling story contributes to a significant emotional impact, though opinions vary on its effectiveness compared to other games in the genre.
“Its still going to be a game worth playing but it's not going to reach the emotional heights that Ender Lilies did.”
“Cutscenes: the cutscenes feel much better and feel more emotional than Ender Lilies.”
“Nothing I had ever played in the genre came close to how EL made me feel with its gorgeous graphics, smooth combat, and story that had me hooked!”
- humor4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find the humor in the game to be a notable aspect, with amusing contrasts in character interactions and unexpected moments, such as the incongruity of music choices that enhance comedic elements. The presence of living characters adds depth to the lore, contributing to the overall lighthearted tone.
“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) was so mismatched that it became 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 in Metroid.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game is reported to have some bugs, but overall, it remains fairly playable, indicating a mixed stability experience.
“It's still buggy but is fairly playable otherwise.”
