The recently releasedBō: Path of the Teal Lotusis a Metroidvania that wears its various influences on its sleeve. From its gameplay to its visuals (which call to mind the hand-drawn style of PS2 classicOkami),Bō: Path of the Teal Lotuspulls from several disparate inspirations to create something unique in what’s becoming an increasingly crowded subgenre. The popularity ofHollow Knightand the continued wait for its highly anticipated sequel have paved the way for several other indie developers to step in and try their hand at the Metroidvania subgenre, andBō’s unique mix of influences goes a long way toward helping the game earn a place alongside its biggest inspirations.
Published by Humble Games,Bō: Path of the Teal Lotusis the debut game from Squid Shock Studios. Partway through the game’s development,Bō’s core team would be joined by associate designer Milton Guasti and producer Robert Maloney, both of whom would contribute greatly to the game’s development coming from their experience working on the unofficialfan-made remake ofMetroid 2: Samus Returns,AM2R. Game Rant recently had the chance to sit down and discussBōwith director Christopher Stair, as well as both Guasti and Maloney, to discuss howBō’s Metroidvania and non-Metroidvania influences come together to make it greater than the sum of its parts.
Bō: Path of the Teal Lotus Combines Influences Both Within and Outside the Metroidvania Genre
For a game to fit within the confines of the Metroidvania subgenre, certain non-negotiables must be present. Specifically, all games in theMetroidvania subgenre owe at least some debt of gratitude toSuper MetroidorCastlevania: Symphony of the Night, both of which continue to influence countless other titles both within their respective franchises and without.
Of course, there’s also a new wave of Metroidvania titles that owe just as much to Team Cherry’sHollow Knight, and it’s the intersection of influences both past and present that makesBōstand out among other contemporaries, as well as its non-Metroidvania influences.
WhileHollow Knightand theOrigames have a clear influence onBō: Path of the Teal Lotus, director Christopher Stair is quick to point out thatMaddy Makes Games’Celesteis also one of the title’s greatest inspirations. Speaking about the game’s “Soulslike” elements courtesy of its obviousHollow Knightinspiration, Stair points out thatBōshares more in common with the way that games likeCelesteapproach difficulty.
“Our team are big fans ofCelesteand I love that inCelesteif you fail, you get that instant ‘dust yourself off and try again’ type of gameplay. That’s how we approachedBōwhere we could.”
WhileHollow Knightwas home to its fair share of platforming challenges,Bō’s emphasis on mobility and fluid traversal see it occupy a niche middle ground between the likes ofOriandHollow Knight, incorporating its non-Metroidvania influences alongside its genre inspirations to deliver a unique experience.
Bō: Path of the Teal Lotus Has a Unique Emphasis on Aerial Combat
In addition to the aforementioned influences onBō’s combat and traversal, Stair also mentions Sabotage Studio’sThe Messengeras a primary inspiration for how the game balances combat, exploration, and platforming.
“We wanted combat and platforming to be intertwined with everything, centered around hitting things with your staff. You can hit almost everything in the game to receive a dash and jump reset, so there are always a ton of different approaches to combat.”
Like inThe Messenger, Bō can hit enemies or environmental assets in midair to gain a secondary jump, stringing these opportunities together to create aerial acrobatics in both combat and platforming that simply aren’t possible in many othercontemporary Metroidvania titles. Once players begin to wrap their heads around the various abilities that Bō gains through progression, Stair notes that skilled players “can quite literally fly across screens without touching the floor.”
Bō: Path of the Teal Lotus
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.
