Video Game Review: ENDER LILIES: Quietus of the Knights (PlayStation 4)

Developer: Live Wire

Publisher: Binary Haze Interactive

Genre: Action Adventure

PlayStation 4

ENDER LILIES: Quietus of the Knights is a moody Metroidvania that doesn’t hold back how much inspiration it takes from its predecessors. The 2D game is full of hazards, enemies, labyrinths, and exciting upgrades. The neat experience by Live Wire and Binary Haze Interactive doesn’t make much of an effort to revolutionize the genre, but that doesn’t prevent it from being an exciting and compelling game.

Lily is a priestess who wakes up in a cursed world ruined by what is known as the Blight. The Blight is caused by a haunting rain that turned everyone in the Kingdom into awful monsters. Players will help Lilly to purify her Kingdom and save the day. Lilly is soon joined by the Umbral Knight, a constant shadow that allows Lilly to fight and defend herself.

Anyone who is familiar with Metroidvania’s will instantly be comfortable with ENDER LILLIES‘ gameplay. Players will slash through enemies with satisfying combos as they navigate the many rooms in the labyrinth. Many areas are locked away to players until they defeat bosses, which give players new spirits with helpful new abilities.

The game handles great with a Dualshock 4 controller. The character’s movement feels clean with precise inputs that are perfect for a game like this. Nothing is lost during the transition from PC, making ENDER LILIES a game that is just as comfortable on the couch as it is on PC.

As players gain access to new areas, they will also find tons of hidden items and tricky enemies. ENDER LILIES is a game that rewards exploration, giving players plenty of incentive to explore every corner of its fascinating map. Features like fast travel and some great mobility spirits make exploring as enjoyable as possible. Exploring in ENDER LILIES never feels like a chore, and it’s actually where the game shines the most. Clearing rooms is always satisfying, motivating players to constantly take detours.

If the exploration doesn’t sell ENDER LILIES, the art certainly will. The environments are moody but gorgeous. The enemies are grotesque and terrifying. Every bit of ENDER LILLIES is 2D, but that doesn’t hold the visuals back at all. ENDER LILIES is one of the most unique-looking games in the genre. Even if the gameplay mechanics aren’t too special, the visuals certainly are.

ENDER LILIES might not be innovative, but it is still one of the best Metroidvania games out there. At the very least it is the best Metroidvania of 2021 (So far). The gorgeous visuals and tight controls more than compensate for the lack of fresh gameplay ideas. Any fan of the genre owes it to themself to pick this one up.