Where there is tea, there is hope. I have always appreciated this sentiment. Often when things are feeling overwhelming and I can’t quite get my thoughts in line, I will put the kettle on. It’s a simple ritual, but there is something incredibly soothing about the whole process. The selection of which leaf – something that changes depending on the time of day – and finding the perfect mug to go with it. Then, pouring the boiling water into a pot, watching as the tea leaves slowly start to stain it with swirls of brown, and, ah! That restorative first sip. As the warm liquid slips down, I take a deep breath. Yes, where there is tea, there is hope.
Bō: Path of the Teal Lotus
Publisher: Humble GamesDeveloper: Squid Shock Studios, Christopher Stair, Trevor YoungquistAvailability: Out 17th July, 2024Download the demo on: Steam
I thought of this again when I played the Steam Next Fest demo for Bō: Path of the Teal Lotus. In this game, you are Bō, a small celestial blossom creature known as a Tentaihana, who falls from the heavens. Originally, it was Bō: Path of the Teal Lotus’ beautiful hand-drawn art style that grabbed my attention. From a purely visual point of view, it reminded me of a sidescrolling, 2D Okami. However, don’t let its charming and colourful exterior fool you. This Japanese folklore-inspired Metroidvania can be tricksy, and even in the demo I found myself in need of rejuvenation more than once. Thankfully though, when times were tough and Bō needed a pick me up, there was tea.
One of the very first items Bō gets is a kettle, which they can use at shrines or while grounded during battles and exploration to heal themselves. It’s very similar to Hollow Knight’s Focus spell in that regard. So, at each shrine I came to, I paused for a moment to breathe, top up my health, and save my progress. And as this was happening, Bō would pour themselves a cup of tea.
While I stopped at each shrine regardless of my health, there were also times when I simply to drink tea so I could heal. And much like watching Link wolfing down a three course meal in Breath of the Wild, I found it quite endearing to see Bō whipping out their kettle for a quick restorative sip, even while a battle was still raging on around them (although, unlike in Breath of the Wild, gameplay doesn’t pause). Despite the hectic chaos, there was a little moment of calm.
Bō doesn’t just drink tea on their own, however. When I completed one fight early on in the demo, the character I rescued thanked Bō by inviting them to share a cup of tea together. I loved this offer. It felt so genuine. But this sharing of tea was more than just a friendly gesture, as drinking the arcane brew also allowed Bō to unlock another ability – a baseball bat transformation for their magical earring (which until now could only be used as a staff). So, with my health topped up and new skill in hand, I progressed further into the demo.