I don't normally write reviews for games as I prefer to let the quality of the game speak for itself. However, for Ender Lilies, I couldn't help but have to put something out there. If you want a TL;DR of it, here it is: Ender Lilies is an amazing game and is well worth every cent and more. If you enjoy Metroidvanias then Ender Lilies is a game that you are more likely to adore than not.

For the more in-depth review, I must say that most everything from the game caught me by surprise in a good way. The quality of the gameplay, the visuals, the story, and the music. I will delve into each one one by one so please bear with me.

Gameplay:
There is no getting around poor gameplay but thankfully Ender Lilies does not disappoint. Though it doesn't take many liberties or innovations with its gameplay, its an wonderful execution on what has already come before it. It draws more from games like Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia as well as Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night but does just enough to not be mirrors of the two games. The player has access to numerous spirits which will be the method that players will attack with in the place of weapons, some of which will have a limited number of uses that can be replenished with numerous means. The player will also have access to a pool of up to 34 relics which will be found or unlocked throughout the game. Starting with just 2 slots, the player will find several items which will increase this pool up to 20 and the player will then be able to mix and match what relics they want to equip based on their play style. Overall the gameplay is fun, not overly difficult but neither is it challanging. Going for a complete playthrough with all endings took me about 17 or so hours but for a title like this, it was time well spent.

The Visuals:
The visuals of the game were amazing to look at; not once have I not stopped to admire every new area I was in and how it lent to the games unique visual take. Areas were a joy to explore and, along with the music, set the atmosphere for the game well. While not not-gen, a title like this never really needed to be and its unique art style and its depictions with the graphics suit the title perfectly. Every area had its own unique theme, atmosphere and lighting, and through my time exploring all of these areas and backtracking, it was always a joy.

The Story:
The story of the game is not an amazing epic like that of Castlevania or that of the Witcher, but it isn't trying to be. Instead, we have a much more grounded story within the game's world where a majority of it is told through the small scraps of paper that we find as we explore the world. The story is also told mostly through the characters' perspective of those who wrote them. This isn't a story of an adventure, but a story of discovery, to let us learn of the world the game is set in and the different characters that had once inhabited Land's End. We would learn of the story of the Witch of the Coven, a sorcerer and sorceress who were in love. We learn the story of the Man Knight who could not speak well and the woman he loved. Of the king, the land and his son. We learn of the stories behind the White Priestesses and the Priestess of the Fount. This is a story that isn't brought directly to the surface but instead takes patience and time to appreciate, as well as attention. If you can bring yourself to read through it, to search it out, it is a wonderful tale to behold.

The Music:
While I have praises for the above three, I must say that the sound track of the game is the true star. The ambient music always took center stage for me and I always found myself just stopped for a few moments in different areas to listen to it all and take it in. The music fits the world wonderfully, a wonderful piano accompanied by almost childlike humming or vocals which fits as if it were Lily herself singing along. Though the sound of the attacks and monsters may be a little bit more generic, the actual music of the game as well as the lack thereof in certain areas has given a much richer atmosphere to the already wonderful visuals. And when diving into the deeper areas of the game, how the music turns more twisted or even disturbing sets the atmosphere well; no matter where and when, it has always felt like this, even if all others weren't the best that they could be, the music had always been great.

In summary, the game is not perfect but its flaws are far far less compared to what the game has to offer. It is a wonderful experience and deserves to be played and be in the library of metroidvania fans and people who enjoy games like this in general. If i were to really give it a rating, I would rate it a 9/10. It is not a perfect game by any means and it does have its flaws, but the flaws are so few in my opinion that I find that I don't need to mention it in this review.