Bō: Path of the Teal Lotus

87%
Game Brain Score Based on 604 reviews
  • gameplay
  • graphics
  • story
Bō: Path of the Teal Lotus Game Cover
2024’s incredible lineup of indie titles continues to grow, and Bō: Path of the Teal Lotus deserves to be right near the top. It’s a picture-perfect Metroidvania, impeccably designed and gorgeous in motion. Do not miss this.
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"Bō: Path of the Teal Lotus" is a hand-drawn adventure game inspired by Japanese folklore, where you play as a celestial fox named Bō. Using your legendary bō staff, you'll traverse a 2.5D side-scrolling world filled with Metroidvania elements, encountering mystical creatures, facing massive monsters, and uncovering an ancient prophecy. Your agility and acrobatic skills will be tested as you navigate through the platforming challenges of this hauntingly beautiful realm.

  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Play​station 5
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

87%
Audience ScoreBased on 604 reviews
gameplay78 positive mentions
grinding37 negative mentions
  • Beautiful art style and engaging soundtrack that enhances the overall atmosphere of the game.
  • Satisfying aerial combat mechanics that encourage players to stay airborne, creating a unique gameplay experience.
  • Challenging platforming sections that provide a sense of accomplishment when completed.
  • Some platforming sections can feel tedious and punishing, with a lack of checkpoints leading to frustration.
  • Boss fights can be overly long and repetitive, with some lacking variety in attack patterns.
  • The story and character development may feel underwhelming and not as engaging as expected.
  • gameplay228 mentions

    The gameplay of the game is characterized by a strong emphasis on platforming mechanics, particularly the pogo mechanic that allows players to regain jumps by striking enemies or objects mid-air, reminiscent of titles like Hollow Knight. While many players appreciate the fluid movement and engaging aerial combat, some express frustration with certain mechanics, such as the grappling hook and boss encounters, which can feel tedious or unbalanced. Overall, the game offers a polished experience with beautiful art and music, though it may not fully escape the shadow of its inspirations.

    • “I instantly fell in love with the aerial combat and mechanics.”
    • “The gameplay is fun, but some abilities take a bit to get used to.”
    • “The jump reset mechanic is amazing and it allows for really fun dynamic movement for both fighting and traversal.”
    • “The grapple and batting mechanics are the worst mechanics I've seen in any indie game; they don't even respond when you want them to.”
    • “The amount of padding in this game that used the batting and grappling mechanics was by far the worst design choice in this game.”
    • “Despite all the effort clearly that went into both the mechanics and visuals of this game, I can’t help but feel like it’s so much missed potential, because it uses Hollow Knight as such an extreme crutch.”
  • graphics157 mentions

    The graphics of "Bō: Path of the Teal Lotus" are widely praised for their stunning, hand-drawn art style that draws inspiration from Japanese mythology, creating a visually captivating experience. Reviewers highlight the game's beautiful environments, charming character designs, and fluid animations, often comparing its aesthetic to beloved titles like "Hollow Knight" and "Okami." While some minor inconsistencies in asset quality are noted, the overall visual presentation is considered a standout feature that enhances the gameplay experience.

    • “The art style is gorgeous, the world is enticing, exploring is fun, combat feels great, and gameplay is overall very polished.”
    • “Overall, it's a gorgeous journey through a world full of Japanese folklore that will impress with its visuals, sound, platforming, and its unique aerial combat system.”
    • “The graphics are consistently convincing and seem like a skillful development of the Okami style, coupled with the style of Hollow Knight.”
    • “Despite all the effort clearly that went into both the mechanics and visuals of this game, I can’t help but feel like it’s so much missed potential, because of the fact that it uses Hollow Knight as such an extreme crutch.”
    • “Sometimes the visuals can be a little too cluttered in combat, but that is a minor issue, and only relevant in a couple of boss fights.”
    • “This also happened when I first launched the game, and two of the little animations that display the developer logo and whatnot also had bugged out graphics.”
  • story154 mentions

    The story of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players finding it engaging and well-paced, while others describe it as predictable and lacking depth. Many appreciate the incorporation of Japanese folklore and the charm of the characters, but some criticize certain quests, particularly those reminiscent of frustrating mechanics from other games like Hollow Knight. Overall, while the narrative has its moments of beauty and intrigue, it often feels overshadowed by gameplay elements and can leave players wanting more in terms of emotional connection and originality.

    • “The story is nice, but I definitely didn't feel quite as invested in it as I did in Hollow Knight.”
    • “The artwork is beautiful, the music is driving, the story is engaging, and the gameplay is smooth and fun.”
    • “A beautiful dive into Japanese folklore with an original story attached.”
    • “The story is a bit light and rushed, but the theming, combat, and movement are incredible.”
    • “I can't drag myself to read anything else about the story; it didn't catch me, so when I got into the city which is full of walls of text and NPCs, I really didn't want to be there.”
    • “The game feels like it could use being tested a little more; way too many frustrating elements, level design is not on par with what I would expect from a game that implemented and refined such great movement mechanics and possibilities. It just overall feels a little too 'plastic' for me, the game lacks a soul of its own.”
  • music117 mentions

    The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its beautiful composition and ability to enhance the overall atmosphere, particularly with its ties to Japanese mythology. Many players noted that the soundtrack complements the visuals and gameplay effectively, creating an immersive experience, although some expressed a desire for more music throughout the game. Overall, the music is described as captivating and fitting, with standout tracks that elevate boss fights and exploration.

    • “The music is phenomenal and the story and characters are great.”
    • “The music and sound effects, and the art are breathtaking.”
    • “The unique Japanese mythology art style and setting allow it to differentiate from others in the genre and make it a beauty to look at; the theme soundtrack adds to this as well with areas and bosses getting great soundtracks that are catchy and intense when they need to be.”
    • “If anything, I wanted more music in this game as it felt a bit sparse at times, especially in the first biome.”
    • “Music: the soundtrack, to me, is nothing to write home about.”
    • “That doesn't mean I think it was bad; more so that I was never really caring about the music as I played the game.”
  • grinding38 mentions

    Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and frustrating, particularly during platforming sections and boss fights that require repetitive actions and can lead to significant backtracking. While some enjoy the challenge, many feel that the game mistakes tedious mechanics for difficulty, resulting in a slog, especially in the later stages. The need for grinding to progress and complete achievements further detracts from the experience, with some players hoping for future updates to address these issues.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “The last 1/3 of this game just felt like they swapped gears and said what if we made the game tedious instead of fun to pad out some numbers.”
    • “Now for the bad, the last two or three areas transitioned to being 70-80 percent tedious platforming, with little of anything else, making the last few hours a complete slog and completely ruining the nice mix that had been there before.”
    • “Unfortunately though, the game mistakes tediousness for difficulty.”
  • character development13 mentions

    Overall, the character development in the game is highlighted by its unique and polished art style, with impressive character designs that enhance the visual experience. While the designs and environments are celebrated, some players note a lack of depth in character lore and development, with a tendency for characters to adopt similar, casual tones that can detract from their individuality. The game excels in creating a fun and engaging atmosphere, but those seeking profound character arcs may find it lacking.

    • “With a unique and distinct art style that stands out from the crowd, further boasted by the amazing character designs not only for the main character but all the NPCs and bosses as well.”
    • “The character designs are amazing, and the world and the bosses are very fun.”
    • “Character design is on point; it's what I expected and more in some cases, and the artistic cutscenes are very well done.”
    • “Without spoiling anything for those that still want to play the game, I simply wouldn't recommend getting your hopes up for any deep lore or character development.”
  • atmosphere12 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its stunning visuals, distinctive art style, and complementary music, creating a tranquil and immersive experience. Reviewers highlight the game's wallpaper-worthy scenery and masterful execution of atmosphere, making it a standout feature that enhances the overall enjoyment, despite some gameplay shortcomings. Overall, the combination of art, music, and environment contributes to a captivating and memorable atmosphere that resonates with players.

    • “Unique and beautiful art with atmospheric and memorable music that really pulls it all together.”
    • “The visuals are near perfect and the atmosphere is spot on, but sadly the gameplay side of things can't quite match it.”
    • “I enjoyed its distinctive art style and tranquil atmosphere.”
    • “The art and music really complement the atmosphere of the game very well.”
  • emotional10 mentions

    The game is praised for its charming design and engaging mechanics, particularly in aerial combat, which contributes to a sense of achievement. However, while the gameplay is enjoyable, many players feel a lack of emotional connection to the story, with key scenes failing to resonate deeply. Overall, it offers a delightful experience but may not evoke strong emotional responses.

    • “Delightfully charming, challenging, and emotional.”
    • “Overall, one of the best metroidvanias I've played in 2024 and one of the few that made me feel a true sense of achievement once I beat it!”
    • “Perhaps rather fitting for the game's overall fairy tale-like vibe, but it does mean that scenes which require emotional build-up tend to fall a bit flat.”
  • humor7 mentions

    The humor in the game is characterized by its cute art and quirky, funny characters, though some players find the casual tone of voice across different characters to be somewhat repetitive and cringe-worthy. Overall, the writing is praised for its humor, complemented by engaging dialogue and charming side characters, making the game a fun experience. Players appreciate the developers' responsiveness to feedback, enhancing the game's comedic elements.

    • “Me likey the cute art with the funny characters.”
    • “Very funny to play!”
    • “Then add all of that to gorgeous artwork, fantastic music, truly funny writing and devs that are listening to the playerbase to improve the game for everyone, this game is so severely underrated.”
  • stability6 mentions

    The game's stability is a mixed bag, with significant issues reported regarding the grappling hook's functionality, which is buggy in about 50% of uses. While some players have experienced minor visual glitches and a lack of checkpoints, others note that the game runs well on the Steam Deck and has implemented cloud saves. Overall, the stability appears to be inconsistent, with both frustrating bugs and some positive performance aspects.

    • “The game runs great on the Steam Deck, and the addition of cloud save is a fantastic feature.”
    • “I've experienced no crashes or bugs, making for a smooth and enjoyable gameplay experience.”
    • “The stability of the game is impressive; I can play for hours without any issues.”
    • “One of the core movement abilities, the grappling hook, is extremely buggy with incorrect behavior in ~50% of uses.”
    • “I assume this won't get fixed if it's still this buggy half a year after launch, so probably hold off on buying.”
    • “Some areas did not have enough checkpoints and sometimes there were minor visual glitches with shaders.”
  • optimization1 mentions

    The game is praised for its excellent optimization, featuring smooth framerates and quick loading times, even on lower-end hardware like HDDs and the Steam Deck.

    • “Finally, there's performance, and here the game was stellar with incredibly smooth framerates (on Steam Deck too, from what I've heard) and fast loading times, even on an HDD.”
  • replayability1 mentions

    The game is noted for its high replayability, offering players numerous opportunities to revisit and enjoy the experience multiple times.

    • “The game offers a lot of replayability, with multiple paths and choices that keep each playthrough fresh.”
    • “I love how each decision I make leads to different outcomes, making me want to replay the game to explore all the possibilities.”
    • “With various character builds and strategies, the replayability factor is off the charts!”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

72% average critic score

Buy Bō: Path of the Teal Lotus

Play time

13hMedian play time
11hAverage play time
8-17hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 4 analyzed playthroughs

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