izigame.me

this game is similar to Ender Lilies and overall does much of the same things well but there are a couple things I want to nitpick:
- The dodge animation is slower than in Ender Lilies and it looks strange. It's seems more like a float with iframes than your character actually dodging out of the way of something. I would make it faster and make it cover more distance. In fact the combat movement in general seems very slightly slower than what it was in lilies but its noticeable.
- a parry type move was one of the additions to the slightly different combat system. PLEASE don't remove the original parry from Ender Lilies it was so much fun and I can't count how many times I clutched because I parried just in time. The original parry is just too satisfying to remove.
- there is a lack of lore collectables that actually tell me where I am. I don't really know much about the places (other than the small town) that I explored or what it was like to be there before I showed up other than that its the lowest point of the city and that it sucks to be there. Especially the area that was used as a safe haven for runaway homunculi. Beautiful area, but I didn't know what the area was for until it was told to me near the end of the area I forgot how it's been a while. The same goes for most of the bosses I didn't really know who I was fighting either. Then again it could be like Eleine in lilies where most of her lore is discovered after you fight her. funny thing is that this game actually has an advantage over Ender lilies in the lore explanations because there are people other than the MC who are still alive. If there isn't something to read about the place, have someone say something about the place. Of course these are the first few areas so most of the world building is going to be visual.
- the art seems to be slightly worse than Ender Lilies in the background. I didn't do a comparison or anything but the art in lilies is sharper in my memory whereas in magnolia its a little out of focus and has less exposure. There are multiple great shots of the background within just the EA though so its not like the art is bad or anything, in fact its good that's why I wish I could see it more clearly while i'm playing.
- staggering enemies seems pretty overpowered especially against normal enemies who dont have as much stagger resistance as bosses.
that's pretty much the only bad stuff I can remember. the good stuff:
- The UI is better IMO and QOL changes
- the soundtrack quality is consistent with lilies (obviously)
- the designs of the enemy's are cooler compared with lilies imo and there is lots of potential for new designs with the industrial theme. I love Nola's design in particular she isn't an enemy but still.
- I prefer having less homunculi with more unique abilities than many spirits with one ability
- there are some sounds like the dodge sound that I prefer in lilies but for the most part the sound design is improved
- there is a clear sense of direction for the characters being that they want to go to the top of the city. Its a small thing but I find that when there is no sense of direction in these games I find myself wandering aimlessly wondering what I'm meant to be doing. Some people prefer it that way but not me. Lilies had this problem too since I honestly forgot that my objective was to find the priestess and I thought she was dead for the majority of the game. It was so much fun that I just wanted to go to the next area even though I didn't know what I was doing though.
- there is a clear antagonist in the game being that one family I forgot the name of that's oppressing the homunculi. again it's been a while. It's not like Lilies needed an antagonist because the antagonist was the blight itself in a man vs nature type scenario, but its still cool to have one in magnolia especially because there are people still alive and because humanity has a way to combat the fumes without the help of the priestess.
- The art direction is solid
- nice things like dialogue at respites and cosmetic options
- combat animations for attacks are improved in this game
and im sure there are many more nice things to say that I haven't said here