Why You Need to Keep an Eye Out for Bō: Path of the Teal Lotus

Bō: Path of the Teal Lotus immediately captured my attention from the moment I watched its debut trailer. As a dedicated fan of 2.5D platformers (I play a ton of them), I anticipated the familiar gameplay of precise jumps and tight controls. However, this title seemingly offers something refreshingly different.

At its heart is Bō, a celestial blossom fox known as a Tentaihana. This mystical, sprite-like creature emerges from flowers blessed by Kami, armed with a legendary staff. Unlike typical platformers where jumping is your primary move, Bō can glide effortlessly through levels, engaging yokai and colossal ancient Japanese monsters in battle. The gameplay trailer showcases Bō's acrobatic combat abilities and shows a shapeshifting earring that unlocks mystical abilities as you progress. The fluidity and smoothness of these movements set it apart from other Metroidvania titles, making "graceful" a surprisingly fitting description for this title that I wouldn’t normally use.

The visual aesthetic of Bō: Path of the Teal Lotus is equally captivating. Its hand-painted watercolour style brings Japanese folklore to life, with animated foreground and background elements that create a sense of motion, bringing this world to life. This handmade feel makes Bō: Path of the Teal Lotus stand out in a sea of 2.5D platformers, promising a visually stunning experience that fits well with the game's rich folklore themes.
I am eagerly anticipating my journey as an adorable fox in the world of Bō: Path of the Teal Lotus, which seems to combine East Asian folklore with innovative gameplay mechanics. Developed by Squid Shock Studios and published by Humble Games, this title has piqued my curiosity and deserves a place on everyone's radar for its release on the 18th of July, 2024.