Metroidvania followers appear to be residing by a golden age. Hole Knight and the Ori sequence, indie hits of the final decade, have established themselves as all-time classics, spurring on a horde of imitators, tributes, and new concepts. Even simply 2024’s entries vary from the imaginative, lo-fi hit Animal Nicely to the lavishly introduced Prince of Persia: The Misplaced Crown. Bo: Path of the Teal Lotus could also be one more Metroidvania, however, remarkably, it’s one more one price your time.
The story opens with an atmospheric animated cutscene, during which a “Tentaihana” celestial blossom crashes down from the heavens right into a lotus flower. This introduces Bo, just a little fox-like creature draped in petals. Though the narrative doesn’t go very far, the tone of the world is developed successfully, with a cheery forged of characters starting from a two-headed clairvoyant toucan to a fishcake–headed ramen chef. Dialogue by no means takes itself too critically, whether or not it’s referencing basic memes, breaking the fourth wall, or going very tongue-in-cheek.
Described by writer Humble Video games as an “motion platformer with Metroidvania components,” there’s a case to be made that developer Squid Shock Studios has delivered a Metroidvania-lite. The comparatively linear progress and shortly graspable map make it much less of a slog if that’s extra your factor, and the foremost problem of the gameplay is in coordinating your array of strikes to navigate deviously difficult platforming sections and managers.
The core aspect of that traversal is a mechanic the place putting an enemy or object resets Bo’s leap. By stringing collectively successive strikes and jumps, it’s doable to remain away from the bottom for lengthy stretches and construct enormous assault combos. Add in a touch, a drift, and the opposite unlockable manoeuvres and you’ve got a set of controls that may be an actual handful however which opens up the ability ceiling. We bought caught much more typically on challenges of dexterity than we did on exploration or environmental puzzles.
In reality, it hits that stage of problem the place you begin attempting to do issues that you just assume are in all probability not what you’re alleged to do – such as you’re one step forward of the sport. Seems it’s the opposite means spherical and, sure, you had been alleged to do one thing that troublesome. (One explicit escapade with an egg will hang-out us perpetually.)
Should you’re involved about being blocked by ramped-up problem, there may be some reassurance offered by a slow-motion mode among the many accessibility choices. We examined this out (within the curiosity of an intensive assessment, not as a result of we couldn’t hack it… sincere), and aside from making issues extra doable, it truly educated us to carry out higher with the pace cranked again as much as full. The rhythm of leap, hit, leap, sprint, hit, leap, hit, hit, leap… is a satisfying one to get your fingers and thumbs round, and a little bit of assist simply introduced that enjoyable extra inside attain.
All these convoluted button sequences name for precision timing. For essentially the most half, Path of the Teal Lotus retains up its finish of the deal by working easily. We did really feel like our Change was having a tough time with among the extra spectacular surroundings and issues felt sluggish right here and there. Nevertheless, as a lot as we’d love an excuse for failure within the more durable sequences, we couldn’t truthfully say the body charge held us again in follow. In order for you silky easy, possibly look elsewhere, however particularly on the small display, efficiency isn’t a problem.
And the visuals this sport throws round are actually attractive. The hand-drawn cartoon type, accentuated by dramatic parallax, shafts of sunshine, and transferring environments is executed fantastically. Bosses are a deal with, with a bridge-troll princess standing out as an actual screen-filler, drawing on basic Japanese woodblock prints – notably Hokusai’s views of Mount Fuji. Elsewhere, stone foxes flip their heads as you cross by a wealthy inexperienced forest with a rainbow pouring overhead, or sunbeams blast by scattering cherry blossoms between gnarled tree trunks. It’s a mode that’s had the online game therapy earlier than, notably in Okami, however Bo’s realisation of it feels contemporary.
Bringing the world additional to life is the music, which units the ambiance as a lot by its well-timed absence as by its mix of conventional Japanese devices and extra trendy sounds. Loads of moments go away the sound results to do the speaking, within the type of knocking bamboo, faintly crackling embers, the booming footsteps of an enormous spirit lurking by the distant backdrop, and wind hushing by leaves.
Aside from the artwork course, Path of the Teal Lotus is steeped in Japanese tradition and language. ‘Steeped’ is the operative phrase right here, as there’s a giant concentrate on tea. Bo carries a kettle that fills with tea as you land blows on enemies. When you have a number of seconds to take a seat nonetheless safely then you’ll be able to drink it to recharge your well being. The kettle itself could be upgraded alongside Bo, too. A fast cuppa additionally accompanies every save, at miniature shrines dotted across the map. Collectible omamori charms and daruma figures additionally function buffs and particular assaults respectively, whereas many characters and places are named with Japanese phrases. It might typically really feel like a whistle-stop tour of Japanese cliches – torii gates, chouchin lanterns, cherry blossoms, temples, shrines, and ramen are in abundance – however it’s clearly a passionate illustration of folklore and tradition.
If there’s a criticism to be levelled at Bo: Path of the Teal Lotus, it’s that it’s removed from revolutionary. Every thing right here, even to an extent together with the fashionable presentation, is a gathering collectively of issues which have come earlier than. Whereas it has a play expertise of its personal, it’s distinguished from different juggernauts within the style fairly subtly. If that is going to click on with you, rather a lot rests on these combat-meets-platforming mechanics and an urge for food for a Metroidvania that leans into ability greater than discovery.
Conclusion
Bo: Path of the Teal Lotus is a sport the place allure meets problem and a ardour for Japanese tradition is expressed with creative aptitude. Its emphasis on platforming ability over exploration offers it a particular profile within the Metroidvania crowd and, whereas which may not be everybody’s cup of tea, for a lot of, the attraction will blossom just like the bushes in Sakura Metropolis.
