ENDER LILIES: Quietus of the Knights
" Haunting 2D action RPG with strategic combat and beautiful art, but confusing navigation "
ENDER LILIES: Quietus of the Knights Review
ENDER LILIES: Quietus of the Knights is widely praised as a beautifully crafted Metroidvania with a haunting atmosphere and a melancholic yet captivating story. Players commend its stunning hand-drawn visuals and the exceptional soundtrack by Mili, which many describe as a spiritual and emotional experience that elevates the entire game.
Gameplay is noted for its solid combat mechanics centered around summoning spirits, offering strategic depth and flexibility through various abilities. Exploration is rewarding with secrets and upgrades, though some find the map design lacking and navigation occasionally frustrating. The difficulty is moderate, accessible to newcomers yet engaging enough for seasoned players, with some bosses providing a fair challenge. The narrative is delivered subtly through lore and memory cutscenes, enhancing immersion. While minor issues exist, such as occasional tedious backtracking and some underwhelming boss fights, the overall reception is overwhelmingly positive, making it a must-play for fans of the genre.
Highlights
Players consistently praise the game's art style and atmospheric visuals, describing them as beautiful and haunting.
The soundtrack by Mili is frequently highlighted as a masterpiece, deeply enhancing the game's emotional impact.
Combat mechanics involving spirit summons are well received for their strategic variety and fluidity.
The story and worldbuilding, conveyed through environmental storytelling and lore, are appreciated for their melancholy and depth.
Exploration is rewarding, with well-designed levels and meaningful secrets that encourage thorough investigation.
Criticisms
Common criticisms include the map's simplicity and lack of clarity, making navigation and item collection occasionally tedious.
Some players find mid to late-game progression unclear and backtracking frustrating, especially when required to collect specific items.
The combat, while solid, can feel slow or lack impact compared to other Metroidvanias.
Boss fights vary in quality, with a few feeling like endurance tests rather than skill challenges.
Late-game enemy damage scaling and invisible mobs can feel unfair or frustrating to some.
Movement mechanics, such as dashing and swimming, are sometimes described as clunky or less fluid than desired.
Pros
- • Beautiful hand-drawn visuals create a haunting and immersive atmosphere.
- • Exceptional soundtrack by Mili that deeply enhances emotional engagement.
- • Strategic combat system with diverse spirit summons and customizable builds.
- • Rewarding exploration with meaningful secrets and upgrades.
- • Well-crafted, melancholic story told through lore and memory cutscenes.
- • Accessible difficulty balanced for newcomers and experienced players alike.
- • Generous save points and no harsh penalties on death.
Cons
- • Map design is basic and can make navigation confusing and tedious.
- • Backtracking for collectibles can feel frustrating and time-consuming.
- • Some boss fights lack challenge and feel like endurance tests.
- • Combat impact and animation can feel a bit slow or clunky.
- • Enemy damage scaling late-game can be unbalanced and punishing.
- • Invisible enemies can cause unfair hits and frustration.
- • Movement mechanics such as dashing and swimming lack fluidity.
Rating Criteria
ENDER LILIES is a dark fantasy 2D action RPG about unraveling the mysteries of a destroyed kingdom. On this sorrowful journey, encounter horrific enemies against whom a moment of inattention could be fatal. Overcome these hardships and seek the truth with the help of fallen knights.
