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.
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.
About Author
