Ender Magnolia: Bloom in the Mist Early Access Impression

It is evident from the onset that Ender Magnolia picks up right where Ender Lilies left off.

Ender Lilies: Quietus of the Knights was a surprise hit in 2021, and developer AdGlobe followed up it’s success with the announcement of Ender Magnolia: Bloom in the Mist. The Early Access version of the game recently dropped, giving players access to the first few hours of the new game. It is evident from the onset that Ender Magnolia picks up right where Ender Lilies left off.

Ender Magnolia is a 2D side-scrolling action RPG where danger lurks around every corner. It uses the same structure and gameplay that was seen in its predecessor, with a few noticeable adjustments that should prove to make a more pleasant experience. The game takes place decades after the events of Ender Lilies, but still captures the look, battle system, and atmosphere from the original. In Ender Magnolia, players take control of a newly awakened Attuner named Lilac, who must find a way to regain her memories as she navigates through the dark underbelly of the Land of Fumes.

The world is bleak and yet also beautiful in a way.

At first Lilac has no means to defend herself and she attempts to makes sense of her surroundings. The game quickly provides her with Nola, a homunculi who acts as Lilac’s main weapon of choice during battles. New homunculi will join Lilac and provide new methods of combat. Boss battles are scattered and hidden throughout the map, and some lend their skills to Lilac after giving them a good drubbing. By the end of the initial Early Access content, Lilac acquires a decent amount of abilities that opened up new areas.

Combat is all about precision and timing. Enemies start off slow, but eventually players will need to perfect the dodging ability in order to survive. This game is very unforgiving when it comes to damage received, but there are ways to circumvent this, and the ability to change difficulty settings will be available when the full game is released. Lilac can equip a myriad of items and accessories that help mitigate damage, boost her power, or offer other properties that can help her on her journey. Some homunculi even have the ability to change their attack patterns which opens up different methods to tackle the many foes in Lilac’s way. Many of these skills and items are hidden throughout the map, and the map interface itself is visually upgraded from its Ender Lilies counterpart.

The menu shows off artwork, Lilac’s stats, and currency, among other information.

Ender Magnolia feels like it’s heading into a more story-focused approach than its predecessor. The homunculi can chat with Lilac about their backstories and there are way more NPCs for her to chat with than those seen in Ender Lilies. Another thing that adds to the atmosphere is the music. Japanese indie group Mili once again provides the music to this series after bringing Ender Liles to life with its sweet and somber tracks. Each melody that plays in the background features a haunting tune that captures the delicate beauty and dangers that lurk in this world.

Completing the initial Early Access release only takes a few hours, and ends just as it feels the game is starting to open up. Ender Magnolia is a perfect example of the creators finding an idea that worked, and feeling there was more story and more gameplay to get out of it. Fans of Ender Lilies should feel right at home with this new entry. Ender Magnolia feels like it will be a strong follow-up, and fans that want to enjoy challenging battles with tons of variety, along with fun rewards for exploration, should definitely mark this game on their wishlists.

 Disclosure: This article is based on an Early Access copy of the game provided by the publisher.