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   Dana Fried (tess@mastodon.social)'s status on Tuesday, 16-Sep-2025 02:19:30 JST Dana Fried

   So far, Ender Magnolia (sequel to one of my all-time faves, Ender Lilies) has been the metroidvania I actually wanted to play.

   Unique art style and music (well, unique to the series at least); fun and varied play options and character builds; beautiful environments; interesting puzzles; fun, flowy platforming; and fun bosses.

   • Embed this notice
     Kit Rhett Aultman (roadriverrail@signs.codes)'s status on Tuesday, 16-Sep-2025 02:19:28 JST Kit Rhett Aultman

     in reply to

     @tess added to my wishlist. Thank you so much for the thorough review

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     Dana Fried (tess@mastodon.social)'s status on Tuesday, 16-Sep-2025 02:19:29 JST Dana Fried

     in reply to

     Things that are unique and cool about this game:
     - Paper doll art style
     - Modular upgrades you can swap for exploration and combat
     - The upgrade-upgrade system (!)
     - Bonfire fast travel means you don't have to re-traverse cleared areas
     - ... which is even better because the game tells you which areas you've cleared
     - GUN*

     * I realize many metroidvanias have gun, but "auto-turret you can turn on to keep stance pressure up or clear out flying enemies" is A+ game design, no notes.

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     Dana Fried (tess@mastodon.social)'s status on Tuesday, 16-Sep-2025 02:19:29 JST Dana Fried

     in reply to

     I also love that *how* you kill enemies determines what you get from them; style points are actually important.

     And I love that this is a 2D game with iframe dodges and a posture bar. (But no corpse runbacks, because corpse runbacks suck.)

     My current build for bosses is "stagger them and unload".

   • Embed this notice
     Dana Fried (tess@mastodon.social)'s status on Tuesday, 16-Sep-2025 02:19:29 JST Dana Fried

     in reply to

     Things I haven't been as impressed with, just under halfway through:
     - The English script is okay but a little opaque
     - There hasn't been a true wall boss yet (most attempts has been about 20)
     - No truly challenging platforming segments

     I hope the latter two are remedied by the end of the game.

     But these are mostly minor quibbles; I'm having a difficult time putting the game down. "Just one more room..."

   • Embed this notice
     Dana Fried (tess@mastodon.social)'s status on Tuesday, 16-Sep-2025 02:19:29 JST Dana Fried

     in reply to

     Anyway, if you're looking for something truly unique and beautiful in the metroidvania space, play Ender Lilies.

     Then when you're done, play Ender Magnolia.

     (Maybe play a Shantae game as a palate cleanser between them.)

   • Embed this notice
     Kit Rhett Aultman (roadriverrail@signs.codes)'s status on Tuesday, 16-Sep-2025 03:19:49 JST Kit Rhett Aultman

     in reply to

     @tess It'll probably be a few months. I promised myself no new games until I finish the main quests for Hello Kitty Island Adventure, and there's a game on deck after that. But metroidvania games play well on the exercise bike; that's where I played 90% of my Dead Cells time.

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     Dana Fried (tess@mastodon.social)'s status on Tuesday, 16-Sep-2025 03:19:50 JST Dana Fried

     in reply to

     • Kit Rhett Aultman

     @roadriverrail hopefully you'll enjoy it! Let me know what you think.