Japanese publisher Binary Haze Interactive has revealed plans to bring its upcoming Metroidvania Ender Lilies to Switch next year.
Currently being developed by Live Wire, Adglobe Tokyo, and Adglobe Montreal Studio, this "dark action RPG" is launching on Steam Early Access in January. Nintendo fans will have to wait a little longer to get their hands on it – the Switch release won't arrive until Q2 – but it certainly looks like it could well be worth the wait.
The Early Access version will feature three areas to explore in total, although Binary Haze promises that its full launch on both Steam and consoles will include "at least eight areas" in total. Here's a quick synopsis:
Guide the priestess Lily through winding caverns, underwater landscapes, forests of glowing trees and other areas devastated by a rain turning people undead. Each biome is gorgeously illustrated in a distinctly Japanese dark fantasy style. Purify challenging and ghastly bosses to recruit them as equippable companions. Mix and match the souls of the fallen to create an ethereal bodyguard squad, with attacks ranging from powerful axe blows to ranged bow strikes.
Upon exorcising foes, Lily will experience visions revealing glimpses of the past. Piece together the whole truth and solve the mystery behind the unholy rain before facing a choice that will decide the fate of a kingdom.
Binary Haze Interactive CEO, Hiroyuki Kobayashi, says, "Ender Lilies doesn’t give up its secrets easily, but we’ve balanced our fast-paced combat system to provide a challenge for players of all skill levels while nurturing the progress of those with less experience with action RPGs."
We'll keep an eye out for more news on this one as and when it drops, but feel free to share your early thoughts on it in the comments while we wait. One for your Switch wishlist?
Comments (39)
You can really tell a lot of work was done making it look amazing, hope it plays half as good as it looks.
It looks interesting but sadly rather generic at the same time. This specific blend of dark fantasy Metroidvania with RPG elements has been seen so many times even just on the Switch.
Like this a lot .. definitely have this on my short list radar
Is it wrong to fill HOLLOW WAIFU with Blasphemous powers?
It looks great but as @nessisonett, it's been done to death these days.
Looks like it has potential
looks pretty cool like Bloodstained or Child of Light
Look really good. Let's hope it performs well. Vigil: The Longest Night and Bloodstained both looked good prior to actually playing them on the Switch.
the jump looks a little odd but otherwise it looks pretty great!
As time goes on, I'm becoming less and less interested in metroidvanias. Instead, I'm gravitating more and more towards linear action games with challenging but fair stages.
This is why I'm so excited for Cyber Shadow.
This looks very well produced. Gameplay has me on the fence though.
I'm a sucker for using the powers of the enemies you have beaten and this does look pretty nice, so I might pick it up as long as I find time next year between major Switch releases.
@MisterMan that's my fear right there, that it'll look good but it won't play good.
Looks cool to me.
Pfft, another Metroidvania. Like we don't have enough of those on Switch.
Just kidding. I love Metroidvanias, the more the merrier!
My favorite band Mili is doing the soundtrack for this game, so I'm hyped to listen to that even if the game itself isn't good.
@nessisonett Funny cuz I prefer "generic" over "unique", the latter always feels silly to me.
@jodudeit A current game that seems to fit your description is Foregone. I recently took a chance on it when on sale, and have really enjoyed. I'm not interested in brutally difficult games, and have found Foregone occasionally challenging but fair. They recently released an update which I read does add extra difficulty for those so inclined.
@nessisonett give me more pls
@Ardisan Hollow Knight, Salt and Sanctuary, Bloodstained, Blasphemous, Chasm and to an extent Timespinner all fall within varying shades of ‘dark fantasy Metroidvania’ and those are only the very best of the genre. There are plenty coming out on the eShop that I just don’t have the time to play but Switch is very quickly becoming a bit of a saturated market when it comes to Metroidvanias.
@nessisonett It’s funny because this video made me think of all of those games at different moments. Plus a little bloodborne...
Loving the Aria of Sorrow mechanic of using your enemies powers against em. As well as the art and music. Day one purchase for me, as long as I don’t forget about it. Need to add to wishlist ASAP
Loooks great!
@nessisonett Now give me even more pls, I played those already. Didnt like Chasm all that much.
That looks great, I like the idea of playing with defeated bosses!
Also glad it is not rough lite
looks cool, into the summoning people thing
Looks really cool
@jodudeit I feel ya. And I'm waiting on Cyber Shadow too.
@nessisonett those are all on every system. There's plenty of room. People that don't want to play it don't have to...
@wollywoo the devs are creating it regardless if it's on switch or not, so u just think switch players don't deserve to play it? Or u just wanted to complain about something?
Sign me up!
😎
Looks very cool.
@twztid13 See #16 above
These are the types of games I want to be playing on switch. DAY ***** ONE!
Lily looks amazing. The art style reminds me of Vigil but I hope the loading Is a improvement. Same as I love Vigil the loading is game breaking.
There are tons of unique subtleties even among the "metroidvania" genre. Salt and Sanctuary plays way different from Guacamelee. And both of those play way different from Hollow Knight. And both of those play way different than Monster Sanctuary.
The fact that it's a metroidvania only really tells you that you'll be gaining some skills to access previously inaccessible areas. Combat, story, and how you progress may differ significantly from game to game.
@NotoriousWhiz exactly. No one has to play them, bur the devs are making them regardless, so not bringing them to switch would just screw switch owners.
@nessisonett so true. I almost didnt finish Hollow Knight because of it.
Really polished and beautiful presentation. Action gameplay looks tight with good visual clarity and feedback, too. The tricky bit with metroidvania games is the long-term progression, however.
For me, it will be Silksong, first, anyway. So, I can afford to wait for reviews and reactions.
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