WHITE NIGHTS
BEFORE WE BEGIN:
Ender Lilies: Quietus of the Knight is a video game produced by Binary Haze Interactive and published onWHITE NIGHTS
BEFORE WE BEGIN:
Ender Lilies: Quietus of the Knight is a video game produced by Binary Haze Interactive and published on January 21, 2021. The game was completed 100% on Xbox Series X.
SOME RAIN MUST FALL:
Ender Lilies begins with a small visual introduction to the game world, introducing the player to the great evil afflicting the planet. Endless corrupted rain has turned all living creatures into impure and immortal beings. The only salvation from this fate lies in the young white maidens, girls who can deprive the creatures of their corruption. The player wakes up inside a broken capsule, assuming the role of one of these maidens, Lily, the last descendant of the white priestess. From there on, the goal is to purify the still sentient creatures in order to restore what this realm once was, bringing back serenity and stopping the endless rain.
WHITE ECLIPSES BLACK:
This title faithfully brings all the mechanics that characterize a pure Metroidvania: different abilities unlockable throughout the game that open up previously inaccessible paths, a currency to upgrade abilities, various secret and non-secret bosses to face, and multiple paths that can be taken simultaneously. Additionally, Ender Lilies takes a lot of inspiration from Hollow Knight, with explicit references like benches and relics, similar to the aforementioned game's charms. The game's unique selling point and distinguishing feature from the rest is the type of attack available to the player. Lily will use the souls of purified fighters to defeat enemies, and it's possible to use up to three simultaneously, and six thanks to the convenient set swapping.
PALE COLORS:
The game's graphics are well-crafted, with different parallax layers that change for each game area. The use of muted colors to enhance the mood and devastation of this land is fully exploited. Furthermore, the visual effects add an extra boost to the gameplay. One drawback of the game is the limited variety of enemies and the similarly lacking diversity of the bosses, which are not very powerful or distinct.
WINTER:
The audio component is what stands out prominently above everything else. Most of the game's soundtracks are original and elegant. The latter adjective is the one that resonates throughout the game, contrasting with the chaos generated by the rain. The sound effects complement the visuals and enhance the game's combat, making it very fluid and entertaining.
BUT WHY 8?
PROS:
The game, despite being a classic Metroidvania, adds a touch of novelty to the combat, supported by excellent audiovisual effects that keep the experience flowing towards the end without becoming boring or repetitive. Moreover, the challenge offered by the central bosses is balanced and entertaining, unlike the mini-bosses, which can be easily defeated with powerful abilities. The originality of the story context is well-structured and leaves room for curiosity. The exploration is also very interesting, and each map has multiple secrets, some of which are difficult to find. Additionally, it is highly appreciated that you can replay boss fights and engage in a boss rush, as well as the ability to modify all game parameters such as enemy and protagonist health and attack to create a greater personal challenge.
CONS:
The cons of this game are varied but highly subjective. Starting with the overly obvious inspiration from Hollow Knight and other Metroidvania games, such as Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia, from which it borrows the combat style.
RATINGS
Gameplay: 8
Music: 8.5
Story: 7
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