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Metroidvania fans seem to be living through a golden age. Hollow Knight and the Ori series, indie hits of the last decade, have established themselves as all-time classics, spurring on a horde of imitators, tributes, and new ideas. Even just 2024’s entries range from the imaginative, lo-fi hit Animal Well to the lavishly presented Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown. Bo: Path of the Teal Lotus may be yet another Metroidvania, but, remarkably, it’s yet another one worth your time.
The story opens with an atmospheric animated cutscene, in which a “Tentaihana” celestial blossom crashes down from the heavens into a lotus flower. This introduces Bo, a little fox-like creature draped in petals. Although the narrative doesn’t go very far, the tone of the world is developed effectively, with a cheery cast of characters ranging from a two-headed clairvoyant toucan to a fishcake–headed ramen chef. Dialogue never takes itself too seriously, whether it’s referencing classic memes, breaking the fourth wall, or going very tongue-in-cheek.
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Described by publisher Humble Games as an “action platformer with Metroidvania elements,” there is a case to be made that developer Squid Shock Studios has delivered a Metroidvania-lite. The relatively linear progress and quickly graspable map make it less of a slog if that’s more your thing, and the major challenge of the gameplay is in coordinating your array of moves to navigate deviously tricky platforming sections and bosses.
The core element of that traversal is a mechanic where striking an enemy or object resets Bo’s jump. By stringing together successive strikes and jumps, it’s possible to stay clear of the ground for long stretches and build huge attack combos. Add in a dash, a drift, and the other unlockable manoeuvres and you have a set of controls that can be a real handful but which opens up the skill ceiling. We got stuck far more often on challenges of dexterity than we did on exploration or environmental puzzles.
In fact, it hits that level of difficulty where you start trying to do things that you think are probably not what you’re supposed to do – like you’re one step ahead of the game. Turns out it’s the other way round and, yes, you were supposed to do something that difficult. (One particular escapade with an egg will haunt us forever.)
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If you’re concerned about being blocked by ramped-up difficulty, there is some reassurance provided by a slow-motion mode among the accessibility options. We tested this out (in the interest of a thorough review, not because we couldn’t hack it… honest), and apart from making things more doable, it actually trained us to perform better with the speed cranked back up to full. The rhythm of jump, hit, jump, dash, hit, jump, hit, hit, jump… is a satisfying one to get your fingers and thumbs around, and a bit of help just brought that fun more within reach.
All those convoluted button sequences call for precision timing. For the most part, Path of the Teal Lotus keeps up its end of the deal by running smoothly. We did feel like our Switch was having a hard time with some of the more spectacular scenery and things felt sluggish here and there. However, as much as we would love an excuse for failure in the tougher sequences, we couldn’t honestly say the frame rate held us back in practice. If you want silky smooth, maybe look elsewhere, but especially on the small screen, performance isn’t an issue.
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And the visuals this game throws around are really gorgeous. The hand-drawn cartoon style, accentuated by dramatic parallax, shafts of light, and moving environments is executed beautifully. Bosses are a treat, with a bridge-troll princess standing out as a real screen-filler, drawing on classic Japanese woodblock prints – notably Hokusai’s views of Mount Fuji. Elsewhere, stone foxes turn their heads as you pass through a rich green forest with a rainbow pouring overhead, or sunbeams blast through scattering cherry blossoms between gnarled tree trunks. It’s a style that’s had the video game treatment before, notably in Okami, but Bo’s realisation of it feels fresh.
Bringing the world further to life is the music, which sets the atmosphere as much by its well-timed absence as by its blend of traditional Japanese instruments and more modern sounds. Plenty of moments leave the sound effects to do the talking, in the form of knocking bamboo, faintly crackling embers, the booming footsteps of a huge spirit lurking through the distant backdrop, and wind hushing through leaves.
Apart from the art direction, Path of the Teal Lotus is steeped in Japanese culture and language. 'Steeped' is the operative word here, as there’s a big focus on tea. Bo carries a kettle that fills with tea as you land blows on enemies. If you have a few seconds to sit still safely then you can drink it to recharge your health. The kettle itself can be upgraded alongside Bo, too. A quick cuppa also accompanies each save, at miniature shrines dotted around the map. Collectible omamori charms and daruma figures also serve as buffs and special attacks respectively, while many characters and locations are named with Japanese words. It can sometimes feel like a whistle-stop tour of Japanese cliches – torii gates, chouchin lanterns, cherry blossoms, temples, shrines, and ramen are in abundance – but it’s clearly a passionate representation of folklore and culture.
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If there’s a criticism to be levelled at Bo: Path of the Teal Lotus, it’s that it’s far from revolutionary. Everything here, even to an extent including the stylish presentation, is a gathering together of things that have come before. While it has a play experience of its own, it is distinguished from other juggernauts in the genre quite subtly. If this is going to click with you, a lot rests on those combat-meets-platforming mechanics and an appetite for a Metroidvania that leans into skill more than discovery.
Conclusion
Bo: Path of the Teal Lotus is a game where charm meets challenge and a passion for Japanese culture is expressed with artistic flair. Its emphasis on platforming skill over exploration gives it a distinctive profile in the Metroidvania crowd and, while that might not be everyone’s cup of tea, for many, the appeal will blossom like the trees in Sakura City.
Comments 52
I assume that spider boss is based on the mythical creature or it probably is that creature called the Jorogumo. I could be wrong though.
And yes, there is an actual creature in real life called the Joro spider. Big and scary but not really too dangerous
So regarding performance, is it pretty stable for the most part apart from some minor dips here and there?
Every "metroidvania" game is saddled with the debt of not being Super Metroid or Symphony. This must be the genre that I am disappointed by the very most often.
thanks for the review! I'll probably buy it on sale and play it for a couple hours in a year or so 😆
So glad to hear there are accessibility options as the difficulty is the only thing that could deter me from this game (will give it a try without using them, but happy to hear they're there if some challenges become more frustrating than rewarding for me) as of course I absolutely love everything else about it, thanks for the review!
Wow, I'm so happy with this review. I haven't received my copy of the game yet, and it will inevitably sit in my backlog before I get to it, but this sounds like a really nice and tight gameplay. Like a 2D Bayonetta kind of tight gameplay. I am in love already 🤩
Yay, I've been waiting for this review. This game sounds fun and the controls seem great - I love games where you can chain a zillion jumps together. Thank you for the review; I will be getting this one.
As a side comment, it always amuses me when some of the complaints against a game are 'not enough of a metroidvania'. Clearly we just need more words for game genres to avoid unnecessary misleading expectations.
Was just waiting for a reliable review of the Switch version before grabbing this, so now I guess it'll be my next purchase. I love metroidvanias and aesthetically this really couldn't be more up my sleeve, looking forward to giving it a shot.
It’s not mentioned in the review or in and of the 6 comments but didn’t this company just fire everyone and shut down? So if we buy the game who gets the money, the 1 guy left who fired everyone else who actually worked to make the game?
That reeks of sarcasm but I am genuinely curious. I suppose it could be going towards paying them their severance but I didn’t see any mention of that in the article.🤷🏻♂️
https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2024/07/all-humble-games-staff-reportedly-laid-off-as-publisher-announces-restructuring
They should have called this game “Where’s Bo?” b/c I’m looking at the screenshots and I can’t even find the character in some of them. Though I did start at the bottom and went up not knowing what the character looked like, after I got to the top and saw it I could find it in most of them, but not all.
@rjejr Hello! I'm the producer for Bo: Path of the Teal Lotus. The developer who I represent, Squid Shock Studios, is still around and kicking. We're actually putting out a statement soon about this ordeal. However, the publisher for Bo: Path of the Teal Lotus, Humble Games, shut down. We have a few issues to sort out right now, as we'll reveal soon, but our development team and the publisher are totally separate. Happy to answer any questions though, but only as the producer for Bo: Path of the Teal Lotus, as I have no relation to Humble Games and cannot speak on "their" behalf.
I'm surprised this review didn't mention the involvement of AM2R alumni as NintendoLife's initial coverage of the game did. I feel like that alone would serve as an endorsement for a lot of people here.
Squid Shock has stated that they'll be working to add QOL features and improve performance post-launch (and that they'll keep working on the game despite the Humble Games situation), so hopefully the Switch version's framerate drops can be ironed out even if they're not terribly intrusive
@rjejr The publisher shut down, not the developer. The other article very clearly said Humble Games is an indie games publisher.
@anoyonmus I bought and started it yesterday, I've not played too much so I can't talk for later parts of the game, but so far it's really stable and I've had zero troubles with the game. Maybe really minor drops on frame rate in certain points (let's say, from 30 to 26 for a second), but runs great overall.
@-wc-
Or Hollow Knight
I'm really not a big Metroidvania guy, but the art style in this game is just so gorgeous. I'm very tempted to pick this one up.
I like the look of the game and the theme, and it’s been a long time since i played a metroidvania, so i might grab this.
@Olrun
This really needs to be a 60fps game so hoping you mean from 60 to 56!
@-wc- Same. I find myself disappointed with a lot of well-regarded games in this genre, the most recent being Prince of Persia. I can't help but feel like the genre has lost its way, honestly. Modern Metroidvanias remind me a lot of bad open world games, where the large interconnected map does little to enhance the gameplay, and instead just makes getting from place to place a chore.
@SBandy1 I think one of the developers on Reddit stated it is 60 fps on Switch. I could be wrong though
I wish I had more money, time, & patience to play more indie Metroidvanias. So many great games in this genre alone in the past year.
Glad to hear it turned out well. Will pick up in a few months.
Definitely waiting on a physical for this one.
Completely obsessed with Metroidvanias at the moment, especially with the switch because I can just pick it up and play it for an hour and come back to it later
@Bunkerneath
With the Humble Games situation, it looks like the best option will be to import.
Nintendo Life happens to have an affiliate link with discount code to the Play-Asia listing handy.
I'd pre-ordered this physical weeks ago because I thought this looked promised, and it just shipped today. This is gonna be one to look forward to playing.
@anoyonmus
Cheers
@Sephazon Thanks for taking the time to fill in some information. Hope it all works out as well as possible under the circumstances. Really looking forward to trying this game!
@CadErik The publisher has shut down not the developer…
@SBandy1 I hope so! For years I've been used to play on PCs under 15 fps so anything that goes smooth feels good for me. But the game goes pretty fluid so surely it's working on 60fps. Anyway all the platforming feels good with the fps it has!
@Olrun
Happy Days, cheers!
Normally I wait for reviews, but got bored and bought it on launch (only $20, so figured why not). I'd been waiting for this game, as it looked like a perfect cross-section of what I usually like. I wasn't wrong!
I don't know if it's just me but the game feels pretty sluggish when there's a lot on the screen in docked mode, but it hasn't really affected my enjoyment or made the game more difficult. Difficulty-wise, some platforming sections and boss battles remind me of Hollow Knight; they can be a challenge, but they're manageable with some practice. I don't consider myself a super-skilled gamer and I'm coming along just fine.
Overall, 8/10 feels really solid to me. It's a great game!
It looks really nice but I just wish the protagonist wasn’t so similar to Hollow Knight’s. It’s too close and make the whole thing feel derivative to me.
This one has been on my radar for some time, which is perhaps misguided. I’m one of the few for whom Hollow Knight didn’t quite land, I also don’t like Okami (which I understand to have been an influence, though maybe only in the art direction?)
But still there is something undeniably attractive about this title!
The next time I am grabbing something from Playasia I’ll throw it in the cart most likely.
Thanks for the update @sephazon!
@RupeeClock where did you find the affiliate link? I want a physical copy too
Bought this on Steam it reminds me of a 2D Okami somewhat. I found the frog boss in Ori and the Will of the Wisps (Kwolok) really difficult the first time to the point I was ripping my hair out so I'm ready for that &@#!%$! spider boss lol.
Amazon JP advertised Bo at me and I liked the looks of it so I went ahead and preordered, with some other goodies from Japan that should arrive in a few weeks.
I'm glad to hear the game holds up and has substance to back up that pretty, colorful art!
Thanks to the team for a great game @sephazon! And also curse you all for the fragile egg
@Sephazon Thanks for taking the time to reply, I’m sure you must have better things to be doing right now.😱
This is the first I’m reading of a Squid Shock Studios, unless it’s in that other article and I somehow missed a cool name like that, wishing you devs all the best. (My kid graduated with a BS in game design a year ago and still no job, don’t have to tell you what it’s been like.😩)
@BTB20 “ The other article very clearly said Humble Games is an indie games publisher. “
Well it wasn’t too clear if I read the entire article but didn’t know that now was it? 🤷🏻♂️
This one is tough as nails in parts. I love the art work and music, but man the floaty platforming can be a real sweat. I think this an 8/10 for sure. I really recommend it for anyone that wants a challenging Metroidvania. It’s not quite on Prince of Persia or Animal Well’s level, but, in a year of exquisite Metroidvanias, I’d put it in third place so far.
@CadErik
It should be visible immediately under the review, but maybe it gets hidden if you're running an adblocker?
Just in case, any link I'd post in a comment gets converted into an affiliate link anyway: https://www.play-asia.com/bo-path-of-the-teal-lotus-multi-language/13/70h5ar
And Nintendo Life's current discount code is Hookshot24
@rjejr The first sentence is:
"The entire staff of Humble Games, the publisher behind such games as..."
Pretty clear to me.
@BTB20 While true that was in the first sentence, the rest of the article contained things like:
their time with the studio
at the studio
However, artist Chris Radley posted that all current projects will be completed by a third party
So I suppose my question to you is, why is a "publisher", a company that does nothing but sell games made by other companies, referred to as a "studio"? Studios are where they make things, records, plays, games, a publishing house is a guy making phone calls. Doesn't sound very "studio" to me, so that's why I read it wrong. And I will continue to read "studio" as a place where things are created, not just licensed or sold. 🤷♂️
Looks sweet. Hope it gets a physical release.
@rjejr Humble Games is a development company as well, they developed several games in-house, believe they did Slay the Spire. For this one they are only a publisher so it makes all the press releases very confusing
Hollow Knight is a bad game imo.
@Bunkerneath If you don't mind importing, Play-Asia seems to have a physical version of the game with English as an option. It was only like 20 bucks when I saw it the other day.
@CadErik Slay the Spire was developed by Mega Crit.
@Ace-Lucario the new prince of Persia from early this year had a lot of difficulty sliders and it is a very solid game. Might be too hard as your first one in a long time. This is my favorite genre of games so the difficulty isn't off putting for me, some parts of hollow knight are rather difficult, especially the optional bosses and some of the later areas.
Metroidvania yep I'll be getting this or at least watching a YouTube demo to see how it plays.
@Sephazon omg I have to tell you I love this game so much! I hope it's been a success for you, but if you don't do something about that unexplained ending I won't be happy! 😜
If anyone's curious about the egg, imagine Hollow Knight's delicate flower quest mixed with the path of pain... thankfully it's mercifully short and totally optional but was absolutely one of the times I turned the game speed all the way down to slowest 😆
@-wc- This!
I am not saying that Hollow Knight nor Ori could be good but why always making something that will never reach the perfection that SotN and Super were?
@silver-crescent Switch Up reviewed it and said its a beautiful game that runs really well docked/undocked. Almost always 60fps, they said.
@CadErik "so it makes all the press releases very confusing"
So the studio MADE Slay the Spire themselves but they're also a publishing company for other dev companies? Well that would explain at least some of my confusion. Thanks for the explanation. 👍
I'll have to refrain from buying this one. Tried some over at my friends and I can barely just beat the first boss. Funnily I was able to go a lot farther in Hollow Knight. Guess I'm getting even worse with age and the constant fear of failure
OK, only issue with the game is that it is way too easy, especially some boss patterns are kinda boring. I think I am about half way through based on the upgrades I have. Overall lovely game and I hope for a hard mode once I best normal.
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