In
Bō: Path of the Teal Lotus, players journey through a hand-illustrated dream populated by tea-sipping yokai, fire-breathing Daruma dolls, and monstrous guardians of the sea—a vibrant melange of Japanese folklore and original ideas born from the imagination of Squid Shock Studios and creative director Chris Stair.
Chris’s vision: weave a tapestry of folklore and inspiration that feels both timeless and new, and draw fans of metroidvania-style action-platformers into a realm they’ll love getting lost in. As Bō's release July 17 draws near, let's take a look at creative process of bringing this world to life, delving deeper into four key characters from the game and the folktales that inspired them.
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[h2]Bō, the Fox Tentaihana[/h2]
The world of Bō is populated by a wide variety of yokai, a word that encompasses a broad range of supernatural entities and spirits in the traditional stories of Japan. The game’s title character and player protagonist is one such yokai, but not one that people will find in any stories.
“I wanted to introduce players to something familiar yet entirely new,” says Chris, “which led us to create an original kind of yokai—the ‘Tentaihana’ or ‘Celestial Blossoms.’” These sprite-like beings emerge from flowers, brought to life by the tears of divine kami, and often awaken in places touched by tragedy or sorrow.
The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter (Late 17th Century), The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
“The legends of Princess Kaguya and Momotaro in particular provided a thematic foundation,” says Chris, referring respectively to the tale of a girl who sprouted from a bamboo shoot (and the subject of a 2013 Studio Ghibli film) and a boy who discovered living inside a giant peach. “Another inspiration, this one originating in China, is Sun Wukong the Monkey King from Journey to the West, whose magical staff inspired Bō's weapon—a shapeshifting earring that transforms into a Bo staff, a gift from the kami.”
“Each Tentaihana has two innate affinities,” says Chris. “One related to the flower from which it blossoms and another to the local fauna, influencing their appearance and abilities.” Bō’s animal affinity is that of a fox. “If I’m being honest with myself, I made that decision only because the ears looked really cute,” says Chris. But ultimately, this initially aesthetic choice informed the narrative, and the fox's cunning and mystical qualities became a part of Bō's character.
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[h2]Tori, the Two-Headed Bird[/h2]
In traditional Japanese stories, the Yogen no Tori, or "prophetic bird," traditionally serves as an omen foretelling future events. “This concept perfectly aligned with what I envisioned for a tutorial character, but I wanted to twist it and make it our own,” says Chris, “So Tori was born, not just as a guide, but as a character with depth, humor, and a touch of mystery.”
In Bō, Tori is a two-headed bird who acts as a tu-tori-al (a play on words too good to pass up), offering advice in a way designed to feel less like instructions and more like part of the adventure. “The black head, named To, is a conduit for sporadic and prophetic visions,” says Chris. “He breaks the fourth wall, offering players hints and nudges in a playful, cryptic manner. Ri, the white head, is dignified and composed, providing a calm and level-headed counterpoint to To's antics.”
For Chris, this duality embodies the contrasting aspects of guidance: “the intuitive, sometimes vague nudge towards discovery, and the clear, straightforward advice we often seek.”
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[h2]The Vermillion Stranger[/h2]
When developing Bō: Path of the Teal Lotus, Chris stumbled upon a captivating 19th century story that would leave a mark upon the game: the tale the Utsuro-bune (loosely translated, “hollow ship”).
“In the story, a mysterious woman arrives on the coast of Japan in 1803 inside an object resembling a flying saucer, completely alien to the villagers who find her,” says Chris. “Her vessel contains texts in an undecipherable language, suggesting a connection to something beyond our world.”
Utsuro-bune illustration from Ume-no-chiri; Nagahashi Matajirou; 1844
The woman at the heart of the Utsuro-bune story served as inspiration for an in-game character called the Vermillion Stranger, whom Bō meets for the first time fairly early in his journey. Early encounters with the Vermillion Stranger are ponderous, as she speaks in a language unfamiliar to Bō, and offers players no obvious bane or boon.
“As the game progresses,” says Chris, “players might notice a subtle evolution in her dialogue. It becomes increasingly complex and grammatically refined, reflecting the growing understanding and connection between her and Bō.” As for her exact role in Bō journey: that’s for players to discover themselves.
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[h2]Rozu of the Usagi Clan[/h2]
“There’s this part of Bō: Path of the Teal Lotus that’s really close to my heart: the story of Rozu the rabbit Tentaihana and the Usagi Clan.”
Usagi is the Japanese word for rabbit, and “there's this idea in Japanese folklore that rabbits live on the moon, making mochi or medicine, depending on the story,” says Chris. “I thought about Tsukuyomi, the moon god, and how cool it would be if the Usagi Clan in Bō were born from the moon's influence—living secluded, simple lives away from the chaos of the world.”
Rabbit in the Moon; 17th century; Smithsonian Design Museum
But that peaceful existence doesn’t last forever, as a tragedy strikes that sparks the story of Bō and serves as one of the key mysteries for players to discover.
“Rozu is meant to be this figure of hope amidst the turmoil,” says Chris, “and her quest ‘Rozu’s Requiem’ serves as a backdrop of the main game.”
[hr][/hr]There are similar stories behind the fearsome Jorogumo, inspired by a legendary spider yokai; mighty Hashihime, who guards the sea-spanning bridge that Bō must traverse; and many more of the eccentric creatures that Bō encounters—but those are tales for another day.
“In the end, Bō’s journey is a reflection of our own creative process,” says Chris. “Exploring new territories, embracing the unexpected, and finding beauty in the blend of different cultural narratives. It's been a rewarding challenge, and I hope players will feel the depth and care we've poured into this world.”
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1614440/B_Path_of_the_Teal_Lotus/
