Bo: Path of the Teal Lotus

Cause: Path of the Teal Lotus is an action adventure game with metroidvania elements. It was crowdfunded on Kickstarter and developed by indie team Squid Shock Studios. The creators were inspired by Japanese folklore, games such as Hollow Knight and Okami, and Studio Ghibli animated movies (such as Spirited Away and Princess Mononoke).

Plot

The main protagonist of Bo: Path of the Teal Lotus is a tentaihana - a mythical fox-like creature born from lotus seeds. Sent down from the heavens, it is to play a key role in an ancient ritual.

Mechanics

The game is a dynamic side-scroller. Throughout the game, the protagonist visits many different locations inspired by Japanese culture, such as haunted castles, metropolises and caves.

We'll also encounter yokai, legendary creatures from Japanese mythology. Some of them are hostile and have to be fought off using the protagonist's bo staff. This universal tool can change forms (these include a wooden mallet or a grappling hook), making it useful both in combat and during exploration. We'll also make use of Daruma dolls - traditional Japanese figurines who'll gladly support us with their powers when summoned. They're especially useful during multi-stage boss fights against gigantic enemies with unique abilities.

Bo: Path of the Teal Lotus requires good sense of timing and dexterity. To succeed, we must efficiently use the protagonist's abilities, including dodges and aerial attacks to stay in the air longer. Over time we'll also unlock new abilities to open up previously inaccessible paths.

Technical aspects

Bo: Path of the Teal Lotus features 2.5D graphics with hand-drawn backgrounds and character animations. The soundtrack was composed by Moisés Camargo, who has combined traditional Japanese instruments with modern orchestral music.