Ender Lilies: Quietus of the Knights was just the beginning.
Ender Lilies: Quietus of the Knights was an absolute gem. In our opinion, one of the most fascinating and underrated Metroidvanias in the indie gaming scene, which still remains an absolute must-play for genre enthusiasts, as demonstrated by its recent outstanding success, having now sold approximately 1.4 million copies. A remarkable accomplishment for the developers, who eagerly embraced the chance to provide players with another beautiful story and further expand Lily’s narrative universe.
During the Nintendo Direct, publisher Binary Haze Interactive and studios Adglobe and Live Wire, surprised fans with a dedicated trailer announcing Ender Magnolia: Bloom in the Mist, the sequel to Ender Lilies: Quietus of the Knights.
This decision is a response to the overwhelming love and numerous requests from thousands of players worldwide for a sequel to Ender Lilies, as revealed by Binary Haze Interactive CEO, Hiroyuki Kobayashi: “We teased a sequel to Ender Magnolia: Quietus of the Knights nearly two years ago, and we have received countless requests from our online community for a second adventure. It is an honor and a pleasure to announce our next title with the help of Nintendo during such a prestigious event. We have much more to share in the very near future, so stay tuned!”
Let’s briefly delve into the details of what we can expect from the game and what we know so far!
Lily’s Legacy
Ender Magnolia: Bloom in the Mist is set decades after the Rain of Death, in the Land of Fumes, where a once-flourishing country now sits atop a wealth of buried magic, inhabited by homunculi—artificial life forms created as the country flourished to pave the way for a brighter future.
As Lilac, you’ll have to reluctantly form bonds and journey side by side with an ancient homunculus, who will play a crucial role in the country’s demise. As the once-hidden magic beneath the surface becomes corrupted, citizens flee upwards to evade its grasp, leaving behind those lacking power and wealth.
The lore of Ender Magnolia: Bloom in the Mist maintains the dark and enigmatic atmosphere of its predecessor, in perfect gothic fantasy style. Just like in the prequel, at the beginning of the story, our protagonist will encounter a key character, a guardian spirit who takes on the task of guiding and shielding her from the corruption and horrors lurking within.
As you may have noticed, the gameplay mechanics showcased in Ender Magnolia bear a clear resemblance to those of its predecessor. And, in our opinion, this is a highly appropriate choice. While the artistic direction and level design were undoubtedly the standout features of Ender Lilies, the developers’ approach to the combat system, particularly the excellent companion summoning system, is equally noteworthy. We consider it a very intelligent, original, and fitting choice, given the protagonist’s characteristics.
So, we ask ourselves, why should the developers change a formula that is already effective and functional?
In addition to a new dark realm, brimming with deadly traps and entire legions of lost souls, Lilac’s objective will be to exorcise and purify the lost souls of the ancient homunculi. Once defeated, she can convert them into allies, adding a total of 30 abilities to her arsenal (4 of which can be equipped at a time). As mentioned earlier, combat will faithfully follow the mechanics of Ender Lilies. Therefore, it won’t be Lilac herself fighting, but rather the souls standing by her side.
The summonings showcased in the trailer appear to be even more diverse and dynamic compared to Ender Lilies. Our impression is that if the developers handle this aspect well, the summonings and how players use them could truly revolutionize and further enhance the gameplay.
As for the lore, there were few details we could glean from the trailer, except that, similar to Ender Lilies, players will be tasked with exploring ruins, defeating bosses, and progressing through the story to piece together the fragments of Lilac’s mind.
The OST, much like in Ender Lilies, will be crafted by the excellent Japanese musical group, Mili, known for their work in Cytus, Deemo, and Goblin Slayer. The group is composed of Cassie “Momocashew” Wei, Yamato “Hamo” Kasai, Yukihito Mitomo, Shoto Yoshida, and Ao Fujimori.
When will Ender Magnolia be available?
Ender Magnolia: Bloom has been announced for Nintendo Switch and is scheduled to release in 2024. However, as clarified by the publisher Binary Haze Interactive, we’ll need to wait a few more days for further details, including (we believe) information on other supported platforms and a likely release date.
Additionally, if you visit the game’s official website, you’ll notice a prominent countdown in the center of the page, indicating that in 4 days, there will be another reveal providing further information about the game.
For now, we’ll have to be patient and wait. If you’re looking to pass the time, we highly recommend playing Ender Lilies: Quietus of the Knight, especially if you plan to add Ender Magnolia: Bloom in the Mist to your wishlist soon!
That’s all for today. For more updates on Ender Magnolia, stay tuned!
Grown up with MediEvil and DOOM and fascinated by the video game world since 1998. This passion stems from a desire to discover and research the videogame at 360 degrees, with particular attention to the Indie scene.
