Bō: Path of the Teal Lotus on PS5
With so many Metroidvania-type games out there, how does one stand out beyond the standard tenets of exploration and power-ups? For Humble Games and Squid Shock Studios‘ Bō: Path of the Teal Lotus, the telling difference is building on its solid foundation with undeniably stunning visuals that help bring Japanese mythology to life and at the fingertips of the player.
Following the story of the titular Bō, players will play a vital role in saving the day when a terrifying gashadokuro threatens to plunge the land and the hub of Sakura City into chaos. With a hero needed, it is up to the young fox yōkai to explore, get stronger, and eventually be the key figure in the story.
What that means in terms of gameplay is getting to explore different biomes, defeating all sorts of mythical enemies, and gaining new powers to open up even more possibilities in combat and platforming. If you were thinking of an air dash or a ground pound, Bō: Path of the Teal Lotus has you covered, albeit in a coat of mythological paint. Those and other similar abilities help to expand the world, giving players more ways to navigate their surroundings and progress while also making it possible to backtrack and find more secrets.
One of the more interesting decisions made by the team is the omission of the double jump, instead, players will have to rely on environmental objects to bounce off of in order to get some height and stay in the air. This increases the intensity of platforming in an organic way, not just for exploration, but also in combat when enemies approach from all sorts of angles. The acrobatic nature of Bō: Path of the Teal Lotus means players in tune with its mechanics can produce sequences of buttery smooth platforming, but for others who can’t, it can be a struggle and, on occasion, frustrating.
This is evident against some of the huge bosses that stand in your way, as they often hit hard and can only be defeated in specific ways. Without decent control over your movement and offensive powers, such encounters can be a slog. The same goes for the challenge arenas that send wave after wave of enemies at Bō, which can be a great way to learn but are hardly the highlight of the adventure.
But once you are past some of the trickier parts of Bō: Path of the Teal Lotus, the majority of the game still feels manageable in every sense. Areas offer multiple paths forward, and if you fail at making a key jump, you can easily get back to where you are and try again. Even for combat, players can use a refillable tea kettle to recover health, and the fact that you can replenish it by going on the offensive is an engaging way to keep players moving all of the time. Just watch out for the time needed to actually drink the tea and heal.
Alongside the various abilities that get unlocked, there are also a ton of collectibles to pick up as well that can have a tangible impact. Darumas can be a great way to start combat on your own terms, omamori amulets have different passive buffs to aid your play style, and there are a bunch of materials to collect to exchange for permanent improvements to Bō’s stats. Naturally, many would want to get them all, and that means spending more time in the beautiful biomes put together by Squid Shock Studios.
Such gorgeous graphics definitely make up for the fact that the story in Bō: Path of the Teal Lotus is not always at the forefront. Rather, it is the cast of characters that players would meet that make all the difference. The colourful cast is full of intrigue and quirks, doling out useful information that helps fill in the blanks in the narrative, and each of them looks just as good as Bō when it comes to design. And while some provide truly memorable questlines, be prepared for more of the predictable setups if you want those sweet rewards.
At its core, Bō: Path of the Teal Lotus fulfils every condition a Metroidvania should have but never goes above and beyond to make an impression. There are smart design choices in place, but the game is equally held back in other areas, leading to an experience whose biggest draw would be its breathtaking visuals and pleasant soundtrack. Even if it doesn’t surpass expectations, this is still an excellent adventure for all who love the genre and even for those who are new to it; after all, everybody loves an underdog story, and that’s most certainly the tale of Bō.
Bō: Path of the Teal Lotus will launch on July 18 for PlayStation 5, PC, and Nintendo Switch.
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Summary
The Metroidvania that is Bō: Path of the Teal Lotus is a great way to enjoy the genre, helped by its beautiful graphics and pleasant soundtrack.
