Squid Shock Studios hails from Thailand, bringing their first full game release in Bō: Path of the Teal Lotus. And what a debut it is. Bō takes the metroidvania genre by storm with its gorgeous hand-drawn visuals, engaging combat, and world just begging to be explored.
Set in a land steeped in Japanese folklore, you play as Bō, a celestial blossom who finds themselves embarking on a mysterious journey. Right away, Bō draws you into its visually stunning world. Ink brush strokes and watercolor hues come to life, depicting a cast of characters plucked from legend. Fox spirits, ghosts, and demons seem ready to leap off the page and tell their tales. It’s easy to get distracted, stopping just to appreciate the scenery of cherry blossom forests or seaside villages awash in color.
Beyond his fair looks, Bō proves to have formidable fighting skills and platforming prowess. You’ll bounce between foes like a martial artist, using each hit to propel you ever higher in intricate dance-like battles. Agile maneuvers let you soar and smash enemies with an almost balletic grace. Tougher scraps like towering Oni demand split-second timing to dodge fiery attacks while searching for an opening.
These abilities also let you truly explore Bō’s expansive and interwoven world. New areas seem forever out of reach, until a handy power-up lets you scale sheer cliffs or glide over gaps. Revisiting older locations rewards your curiosity, revealing upgrades tucked away high atop perilous perches. There’s a real sense of accomplishment in seeking every nook and cranny, taking in gorgeous vistas previously hidden from view.
With Bō, Squid Shock Studios has delivered something truly special. Not only does this metroidvania look and play beautifully, it succeeds in drawing players into a vivid world just waiting to be uncovered. Bō is a must-play for any fan of the genre or those seeking an exquisite hand-drawn adventure full of challenges to overcome.
Tales from Sakura City
The mystical land of Bo comes alive through the charming inhabitants of Sakura City. Players guide Bo, a celestial blossom spirit, on a journey through Japanese folklore to help the people they encounter. Strange events are unfolding across the region, and Bo must unravel the mysteries around the ominous leader threatening the city. Their quest will reveal the prophesied role Bo is destined to play in protecting this magical place.
Sakura City is the vibrant hub where Bo interacts with a diverse cast of non-playable characters. Each one is inspired by myths and legends, from fox spirits to demons. But rather than feel two-dimensional, these yokai have rich identities and purposeful paths that emerge through side quests. A kitsune’s missing groom, a clan seeking to rebuild—their personal struggles flesh out life in the city. Players come to care about restoring harmony in these lively communities.
While danger looms, Sakura City is also portrayed as a place of warmth and culture. NPCs exhibit humor and heart, whether a beetle boasting of strength or a bird whose advice skewers the fourth wall. Dialog reflects daily routines and traditions tracing back centuries. Throughout Bo’s adventure, these characters become as much a reason to return to the city as unlocking new areas. Their stories encapsulate what makes G/T’s world compelling to explore and experience piece by piece.
Bo’s journey is ultimately one of bringing light back to these people and places. Though threads of a larger cosmic narrative are woven through side activities, the true heart of the tale lies in helping the people of Sakura City, with whom players become so well acquainted.
A Visual Journey Through Japanese Mythology
Bō transports players to a vividly realized world inspired by Japanese culture. The developers crafted each backdrop and character by hand, bringing locales to life with stunning watercolor landscapes. Forests glisten with dewdrops, and cherry blossom petals drift on subtle breezes. Traditional art influences like ukiyo-e woodcuts also shine through, giving environments a lively texture. Players can gaze upon each frame, soaking in authentic details that celebrate Japan’s cultural heritage.
Character designs similarly depict legendary yōkai with care and creativity. Bō exhibits charming expressiveness, whether somersaulting through the air or tilting their head curiously. Opponents take on nightmarish and comical forms, staying true to folklore roots. Subtle squash-and-stretch animation further enhances these figures. The visuals boast a vibrant yet soothing palette, from azure skies and emerald foliage to fiery sunrises.
Suiting this handcrafted world, an original score sets the tone with elegance. Traditional Japanese instruments like shamisen and shakuhachi weave soothing melodies that uplift exploration. Tracks shift effortlessly between pensive ambience outdoors and rousing motifs for boss battles. Music fosters a sense of serenity, even during tense moments. At times, nature sounds like birdsong supplement the soundtrack for full immersion.
This stunning presentation transports players to a realm of myth and nature. By drawing from real sources while adding modern touches, developers fully realized a setting that entertains and educates on Japanese culture in harmony. Both visuals and audio pave the way for memorable adventures through Bō’s magical world of legend.
Intertwining Skills and Discovery
Movement drives the adventure in Bō as flexibility fuels each encounter. Our nimble hero bounds from foe to foe, chaining aerial assaults to soar above peril. Early on, a simple staff aids combat while enemies offer launch points. But techniques evolve: walls fling Bō skyward, grappling anchors zip to points, boosting momentum.
Options broaden through exploring Sakura City and lands beyond. Sidequests incentivize thorough searches, rewarding curiosity with charms and crafting goods. These fortify stats or imbue blessings, preparing Bō for tougher trails. Shrewd item management proves pivotal against hulking hazards.
Combat marries motion and magic. Staff strikes charge mystical Daruma, unleashed with a thought. Basic bursts morph surprisingly—some shield, others shower seekers. Timing differentiated gifts grants the edge in boss battles demanding dynamic dancing. Meanwhile, fallen enemies fill Bō’s tea pot, supplying vitality via a calming drink.
Abilities mesh mobility with offense. A hammer-fist pulverizes and penetrates, toppling barriers. Wings grant airborne extension, gliding to otherwise inaccessible areas. Grappling grips swiftly shuttle between locales, saving travel time. Each tool expands horizons, letting our hero retool older zones with a new perspective.
Mastery evolves through weaving capacities. Skirmishes call for stringing Daruma devastation between dashes and leaps. Platforming puzzle piece techniques together cleverly encourages innovative solutions. Progression intertwines muscle and mind, engaging the player in rhythmic resourcefulness that remains rewarding from start to finish.
Mastering the Realm
Bō: Path of the Teal Lotus presents players with four unique regions to explore and master. Each landscape offers its own visual splendors and obstacles to overcome, from dense bamboo forests to snow-capped mountains and seaside villages. Linked together is the vibrant hub city of Sakura, an eternal bastion of sunshine serving as the spiritual heart of the world. Here, players can reconnect with characters, upgrade their abilities, and plan new excursions into surrounding territories.
Progression through each domain relies on the skills Bō collects. Early areas introduce basic movement, while later stages reward players for honing techniques to access unfamiliar heights and depths. Reaching a blocked passage is no frustration; it is merely an invitation to refine one’s talents elsewhere before returning with fresh perspective. This clever structure creates a continuous feedback loop, motivating exploration while respecting the time commitment. Players are reassured that another path awaits discovery with patience.
While challenges abound, checkpoints thoughtfully ease tension. Shrines allow rest and recuperation following arduous platforming or combat, preventing loss of progress. Bō also sips restorative tea between battles. Filling this magical kettle with fallen enemies teaches tactical resource management during tense boss showdowns. Though peril lies around each corner, respite ensures the journey remains inviting rather than daunting.
In this harmonious realm, difficulty follows a steady incline perfectly balanced by opportunity. Through persistence and experimentation, players dynamically outpace obstacles. Each small victory amplifies confidence for the next, as Bō and player alike cultivate mastery region by region. Sakura City’s people provide narrative guidance on the road ahead, but players determine their destination and destiny alone.
Journey through the Realm
The boss battles in Bō: Path of the Teal Lotus truly shine as highlights of the experience. Requiring mastery of both movement and combat, these encounters push the player’s skills to their limit in memorable spectacles. Flying between platforms to dodge attacks, the player sees opportunities to ricochet between enemies, gaining height for powerful aerial strikes. Through these epic clashes, gentle Bō grows in bravery and ability—a tale of an unlikely hero emerging through perseverance.
Particularly impressive is a battle high amidst the clouds, where the player faces off against a flock of armored birds. Projectiles fill the screen as graceful maneuvers allow close combat. With a well-timed spin and launch, one bird after another succumbs to the player’s rising proficiency. Another gripping fight takes place at sea, with waves crashing in response to every strike against a ferocious merrow. But even the mightiest foes cannot withstand Bō’s growing resolve and newly learned techniques.
Throughout, the side challenges invite experimentation without burdening progress. Voluntary combat rooms provide experience outside the critical path, and curious players exploring the fringes of maps will find additional charms and recipes with gameplay benefits but no penalties. While some sequences feature frustratingly placed enemies more than puzzles, the forgiving auto-saving ensures the player’s passion for discovery stays ignited. With a few more fast-travel locations to lessen backtracks, these side areas could reach their full potential for supplementary fun.
Overall, the boss encounters motivation through cinematic flair and smartly integrated mechanics testing. Paired with a world encouraging curiosity without stringent roadblocks, Bō: Path of the Teal Lotus brings a welcoming atmosphere to its challenges.
The Flower and Forest Path
Bō: Path of the Teal Lotus is a special game. You play as Bō, a small spirit who comes from a lotus flower. Using magical powers through their earrings, Bō explores villages and forests based on Japanese folklore.
The world feels so alive and gorgeous. Everything is hand-drawn in a lovely watercolor style, with fine details in every scene. You see farms, shrines, and beaches filled with birds, foxes, and mystical creatures. And the music fits it perfectly—tranquil in soft moments or energetic in battles.
As you help villagers, your abilities grow. You can bounce from enemies to reach new heights or use a grappling hook to swing through trees. Some puzzles have you pushing boxes or hitting mushrooms just right. It’s very satisfying to figure out where your new skills are needed.
The best of all is moving through this world. Bō slides and leaps so gracefully. Combat lets you bounce between foes, building combos in the air. Boss fights put these skills to the test as giant creatures try to knock you from the skies. Every area holds secrets, so exploring every inch is rewarding.
While the story stays modestly in the background, each new area brings new characters who feel real. I especially liked helping the eccentric bird twins or a mysterious lost traveler. The world draws you in with its warmth and charm.
My only criticisms are a lack of fast travel at first and sometimes not knowing where newly learned skills could be used. But these grew smaller as I discovered hidden paths and shortcuts.
Overall, Bō: Path of the Teal Lotus is an exquisite metroidvania that surprised me with its quality. It sets a high bar for spectacle, motion, and the fun of exploration. I hope the developer’s next game expands on this gorgeous foundation on an even grander scale. But for now, I’m happy spending more time wandering the beautiful world of Bō.
The Review
Bo: Path of the Teal Lotus
In summary, Bō: Path of the Teal Lotus is a true delight for fans of exploration and action. It presents a lovingly crafted world that draws you in with its beauty, charm, and fun surprises around every corner. While its story stays light, Bō tells a heartwarming tale through the people and places encountered. Above all else, its movement and level designs make searching every inch of the forest and villages an absolutely joyful experience.
PROS
- Gorgeous hand-drawn art style and animation
- A rich world inspired by Japanese folklore
- Smooth, satisfying movement and combat mechanics
- Challenging but fair gameplay and boss fights
- Great soundtrack that fits the atmosphere
CONS
- The story could be more developed
- Lack of fast travel points at the start
- It is not always clear where new skills can be used
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