From 12 years old
Played on PC
For lovers of metroids, the beginning of 2025 was successful. No, Silksong has not yet come out (but Team Cherry assures that the development is going on!). But January first presented Blade Chimera, and at the end of the month Ender Magnolia reached the full version: Bloom in the Mist – the continuation of the wonderful Ender Lilies: Quietus of the Knights, which headed my personal top 2021. But her sequel risks getting lost among the releases of the year. Do not think, it is quite good, but about everything in order.
Fateful meeting
⇡#My friends are my weapon
Lylak comes to his senses in a strange abandoned laboratory. Like Lily at the beginning of the first part, the girl does not remember anything, but boldly walks towards the unknown world. Soon she stumbles upon a broken homunculus – an artificial creature, who is developing thanks to magic. It turns out that Lylak is not a simple girl at all. She is from the tuners – craftsmen who control the homunculi. So we get to the accompanying NOL, which also (surprise-surprise) can say little about his past. But together the heroes decide at all costs to understand what is happening.
Ender Magnolia takes place in a smoky country. As I wrote in a preliminary review of the early version of the game, at first there is no connection with the first part at all. But the further you go, the more threads arise between the sequel and the predecessor. Events take place several decades after the rain of death, which we observed in Ender Lilies. It was because of him that the homunculi were distraught. Once these creatures were the pride of a smoky country, the personification of the force of unification of technology and magic. Now, bloodthirsty dolls plunged the country into chaos.
In the sequel, more attention is paid directly to the narrative. The plot is revealed not through notes (although they remained), but with the mouth of the characters. Lylak herself turned out to be a much more talkative protagonist. However, she has someone to talk with-entire settlements appeared in the sequel, where you can spread a couple of phrases with local ones. And some heroes can even trace their own storylines.
Almost every boss arena with bosses is a work of art
People have learned to defend themselves from filth thanks to artifacts. But the surroundings are teeming with desecrated homunculi. They play the role of both the main danger and your main friends – instead of spirits from the first part. Most homunculins can no longer be saved, but some can still be cleaned of filth. By a strange coincidence – exclusively “bosses”, and only after an exhausting battle. In gratitude, they join the campaign of Lylak and provide their strength for both the fight and the study of the environment.
Usually in continuations do only more. But, oddly enough, in terms of associates, Ender Magnolia rests not on the amount, but on quality. Gomunkulov is much less than Lily had, but each of them now not only personifies some kind of skill, but is also a full-fledged person. Lylak builds friendly relations with them and is interested in opinion. At the recreation points, you can launch optional dialogs that reveal the character or background of homunculi.
But the possibilities in the sequel are really more. Combat associates can learn up to three skills, which in total develops in three dozen active skills. At the same time, you can choose four, and the scope for experiments is quite wide. Some techniques serve as the main attack, others powerfully beat, but recharge for a long time, others combine a blow with evasion, and so on. You can take a weak long -range attack and passive damage – so you will “pick” opponents for a long time, but safely. Or focus on powerful abilities of close combat and parrying.
In the workshop, you can buy equipment and resources for pumping. And to expand the assortment, you will have to look for the grimoirs hidden here and there
Active skills are complemented by equipment items. Lylak can try on two bracelets – they increase characteristics (like protection) or improve treatment from a local first -aid kit. A satellite flying nearby rewards with a useful passive bonus (for example, it will automatically make up for health when you find yourself at death). Finally, the sink allows you to block an enemy attack. But you can’t stand in defense – only to parry by raising the shield a moment before the blow. It is dangerous, but success is rewarded: you will give a return damage or make up for health.
Sometimes your assembly should be reviewed, because one or another homunculus is useful against certain enemies: some break through the shield well, others are easier to fight off flying adversaries, and others are effective in damage in area. It is especially important to select a “deck” under some bosses. In general, Ender Magnolia is far from the most difficult game in the genre. She does not fine for defeats, except that she throws it to the last bench for relaxation. Although in some places they are so inconveniently placed that, believe me, the re -road through the terrain full of enemies and traps seems to be a punishment.
Fortunately, there is always a control point in front of a room with a boss. Not every of them is a serious threat, but the Lylak itself is very fragile, and even with complete health, sometimes dies from two strokes. One mistake – please start the round at first. On the other hand, remembering the techniques of any rivals is easy, and the timings are quite sparing. Well, at least for veterans of the same Hollow Knight or some Blasphemous.
Where without sections with platforming. They are simple and contribute to the variety of gameplay
Of course, homunculi can and should be improved. To do this, you need to find special details – get as trophies for the boss or find the map hidden in the corner. Or beyond. As is appropriate for diligent metroid, it entertains not only by battles, but also by the study of the world. Some of the homunculi will not help in the battle, but will greatly expand your opportunities for movement. Of course, a double jump and jerk have long become the standard in the genre. It is much more interesting to acquire a personal wolf flying an iron shock and a jellyfish that will help conquer the earth, air and water.
The game gives out all new tools up to the final hours, which remains of interest. Frusted with a homelor homunculus-it’s time to master the techniques with the katana. Or met with a spider that allows you to cling to the web for active points – and you have already seen somewhat like that, then it’s time to return to the old locations and collect the remaining treasures. You enter the rhythm and it becomes difficult to break away. And then the card is incredibly convenient: shows cleaned levels, illuminates all types of obstacles and says which can already be overcome, and where you do not have the right ability yet.
Finally, in Ender Magnolia: Bloom in the Mist is simply nice to be. It has become even more colorful than Ender Lilies. The locations are painted with love and attention to details, with multi -level and dynamic backdrops. Biomas are sparkled with variety, but at the same time form in the whole world: from the poor streets and sewage of the lower sector to the technological upper – the center of the capital’s city. Technology and magic bizarrely merge not only in the surroundings, but also in the decoration. A cherry on the cake is a beautiful and melancholy soundtrack from the Mili group, which also worked on the first part.
The design of some monsters literally delights. Such deadly beauty and it is a pity to beat
It would seem a wonderful sequel to a great game. Yes, it is. But, as it seemed to me in the early version – and the feeling did not let go to the very end in the release – it was as if not so much a sequel as an addition to the original. Full -scale, but not giving really new experience. Most of the skills of homunculi were already in the arsenal of the Spirits of Lily. Monsters and bosses are recognized. Even some locations seem familiar. There was not enough some really fresh feature that would make Bloom in the Mist unique. And Ender Lilies managed to stand out at one time, even if there were more roughnesses in it.
* * *
However, do not pay attention to my grumbling. If you liked the first part or in general you are not indifferent to metro -vocation, then Ender Magnolia: Bloom in the Mist is required to pass.
Advantages:
- A picturesque two -dimensional picture pleases with landscapes and animation;
- Each munk associate is not only a new opportunity for a fight or study of the world, but also a full-fledged person;
- Variety of combat mechanics;
- Touching soundtrack.
Disadvantages:
- There are too few differences from the predecessor;
- Strange control points, coupled with leaps in complexity.
Graphic arts
A detailed two -dimensional drawing with smooth animation and saturated with multilayer backgrounds.
Sound
The lyrical soundtrack from MILI immerses in the melancholy atmosphere of the stitching world, but without a bright ray of hope it will not do.
Single player game
An exemplary representative of the genre: a variety of combat system with a spaciousness for experiments, a saturated world with many secrets and a constant expansion of opportunities for its study.
Estimated time of completion
Fifteen hours on the main story, ten more – to clean the entire card.
Collective game
Not foreseen.
General impression
A beautiful gloomy fairy tale that will give several dozen hours of fascinating adventures.
Rating: 8.0 / 10
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