Certain games redefine their respective genres: for third-person action games, it was Dark Souls that was revolutionary, for first-person shooters, it was Halo. When it comes to indie metroidvanias, Hollow Knight was the title that set the modern gold standard, as evidenced by the sheer number of upcoming indie games like Constance that take more than a few cues from Team Cherry's 2017 hit. One look at Bo: Path of the Teal Lotus may prompt onlookers to paint it as something of a Hollow Knight clone, but that would be a grave injustice to Bo, which is a marvelous game.
Bo: Path of the Teal Lotus is the first full release from Squid Shock Studios, an indie outfit based in Thailand. Squid Shock's collective artistic talent and vision are on full display from the onset, as its striking art style is a mesmerizing blend of traditional, hand-drawn animation, quasi-anime character designs, and traditional Japanese papercraft. All of these distinct artistic elements, aided by some spectacular lighting and other visual effects, combine to create one of the most appealing and unique art styles of any recent game. But make no mistake, Bo: Path of the Teal Lotus is more than just a pretty face.
Bo: Path of the Teal Lotus Is Charming, Moving, and Endlessly Satisfying
Bo: Path of the Teal Lotus has all the hallmarks of the Metroidvania genre: its progression is gated by specific abilities, there's minimal hand-holding, and its map is interconnected and laden with secrets. At the same time, 2D platforming conventions are inextricably woven into the game's DNA, to a far greater degree than its genre contemporaries. Understanding this blend of genres is key to appreciating Bo's gameplay.
The Hollow Knight comparison is apt, at least for Bo's first hour or so. Players control a small, deceptively cute, cloaked figure wielding a basic, sword-like weapon. Hitting enemies with this weapon will result in a recoil effect that, when attacking from above, can be used to prolong airtime, which helps with traversal and repositioning. Bo's stroke of genius comes in the form of what Squid Shock calls its "move-and-reset system." In essence, this mechanic allows players to gain a midair jump upon hitting an enemy or other object. This will also reset Bo's dash ability. The mechanic is surprisingly forgiving, as the jump and dash reset will kick in whether the player hits the relevant object from above, below, or the side.
The impact that this has on Bo's moment-to-moment gameplay cannot be overstated. The system is immediately rewarding and easy to grasp, but is eventually further expanded with new tools, like a quick-firing grappling hook and a speedy wall climb. The result of all these synergistic mechanics is a traversal sandbox that is pliable, supple, and consistently satisfying until the end credits. Not since Metroid Dread has a Metroidvania felt this good to control.
This satisfying movement translates seamlessly to combat as well, which is often at its best during intense, complex boss battles that allow for numerous opportunities to exercise Bo's abilities. Players can fly around boss arenas with grace, using the boss itself as a tool to stay afloat and avoid projectile attacks. In Bo: Path of the Teal Lotus, combat is traversal, and traversal is combat—the line between the two is blurred, making it remarkably easy to slip into a trance-like flow state, whether you're taking on a platforming challenge or a tough boss battle.
Bo: Path of the Teal Lotus: It's a Wonderful World
The mystical world of Bo: Path of the Teal Lotus is formed around the spine of Japanese folklore. Bo himself is a tentaihana, a flower-animal hybrid yokai invented for the purposes of the game, and most of the enemies and NPCs players will encounter are yokai as well. These NPCs include a fourth-wall-breaking two-headed bird inspired by the Yogen no Tori, or "prophetic bird" of Japanese myth, and the Vermillion Stranger, a bizarrely beautiful woman drawn from a 19th century Japanese legend. Indeed, Bo's Japanese inspirations run deep, and the game is rich with subtle references waiting to be recognized.
Yokai is an umbrella term, encapsulating a broad variety of spirits in Japanese mythology.
But while other games centered on mythology tend toward the grandiose and dramatic, Bo: Path of the Teal Lotus is bravely quaint, calm, and wholesome. Yes, it contains a multitude of brutal challenges and no shortage of combat, but there's very little malice or evil in its world. Evil is presented as a dangerous, cosmic force rather than something inherent in intelligent beings, and by the end of the game, it's hard to fault the antagonists for the decisions they made, even if they did result in a good deal of destruction and suffering. In other words, the game will leave you with the feeling that, despite all the strife, everything will be okay. One of its greatest accomplishments is how it remains engaging in the face of this more subdued narrative tone.
Bo is broken up into four main regions, one of which is Sakura City, a beautiful hub world blessed with eternal sunshine. Sakura City is linked to southern, eastern, and western regions, which are each stunningly realized and visually distinct. They are also notably digestible, with recognizable environmental patterns that make it easy to find your way around. It also helps that they are rather trim, which contributes to Bo's surprisingly short runtime.
Bo: Path of the Teal Lotus' main campaign can be cleared in around ten hours. Completing all side content and nabbing all collectibles can net you a few more hours, but not many. In a way, this helps the game, allowing it to move along at a steady cadence, regularly offering new mechanics, environments, and characters to interact with; it has nothing that could be called 'filler.' At the same time, those looking for more bang for their buck might be understandably disappointed by the lack of content on offer. Bo also has a dearth of replay value, as there are no higher difficulties to select or challenges that could significantly distinguish a second playthrough from an initial one.
But for those exhausted by drawn-out AAA experiences, Bo's lean nature might just be a breath of fresh air. Ultimately, when the most significant criticism someone can make about a game is that there isn't enough of it, that ought to be taken as a fairly good sign. If you have even a passing interest in the metroidvania or platforming genres, Bo: Path of the Teal Lotus is not a game you can afford to miss.
Bō: Path of the Teal Lotus
- Released
- July 18, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
DRIFT DOWN FROM THE CELESTIAL REALM: Flow with acrobatic grace and agility through a mysterious world of myth and legend in Bō: Path of the Teal Lotus, a colorful hand-drawn adventure inspired by Japanese folklore.
Undertake a mystical journey as Bō, a celestial blossom (fox tentaihana) descended from the heavens to fulfill a mysterious ancient prophecy. Use your legendary bō staff to bounce and glide fluidly through an otherworldly realm of hand-drawn, dreamlike landscapes, strange and adorable yokai, and massive monsters summoned from ancient legends of Japan.
DISCOVER A MYSTERIOUS AND HAUNTED WORLD: Explore a diverse and interconnected world in a 2.5D side-scrolling action-platformer with Metroidvania elements. Journey to a haunted castle, a thriving Japanese-inspired metropolis, and many more strange and wondrous places—then find ways to travel back and fully explore newly unlocked paths and surprises.
FIND YOUR FLOW: Navigate the world’s platforming challenges with acrobatic precision, elegance, and finesse. Use Bō’s distinctive move-and-reset system to reach new areas efficiently or recover when your footing flounders.
- ESRB
- Everyone // Mild Fantasy Violence, Alcohol And Tobacco Reference, Mild Language
- Engine
- Unity
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Nintendo Switch, PC
- Developer
- Squid Shock Studios, Christopher Stair, Trevor Youngquist
- Genre(s)
- Adventure, Metroidvania
- How Long To Beat
- 10 hours
- Stunning art design
- Satisfying movement
- Captivating world and lore
- Short runtime
- Limited replay value
Bo: Path of the Teal Lotus releases on July 17, 2024, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC, and Switch. The Best War Games was provided a PC code for this review.