Towa And The Guardians Of The Sacred Tree Is A Whimsical Roguelite Bursting With Personality

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When I learned that I could play Bandai Namco’s freshly unveiled roguelite Towa and the Guardians of the Sacred Tree for just 15 minutes, I must admit, I felt a bit anxious. After all, fifteen minutes isn’t much time to thoroughly assess a game, especially at an event where demos are located all over.

Certain genres possess the ability to captivate quickly, and it turns out roguelites are at the forefront of this talent. In a mere 15 minutes, Towa and her protective companions managed to leave an indelible mark on me, leaving me eager to continue my quest to aid Towa in liberating the world from Magatsu’s malevolent grasp.

To put it simply, Towa has become one of the video game phenomena I enjoy most, a fact that was unbeknownst to me until Summer Game Fest. After trying out its demo, I find myself eagerly anticipating the chance to delve deeper into this game as soon as I can.

As a fan, I’d like to introduce you to an exhilarating action roguelite titled “Towa and the Guardians of the Sacred Tree.” From my perspective, it’s all about you – choosing two guardians and embarking on a heroic quest against Magatsu, an evil force. This journey unfolds across various areas teeming with demons, monsters, and enemies, which you vanquish using sword combos, powerful spells, and unique abilities.

What makes this game even more captivating is the hand-drawn backdrop of each area, offering breathtaking vistas of mountains, forests, and a myriad of outdoor locations. It’s as if you’re stepping into a beautiful, fantastical world, ready to save it from impending doom!

To start off, I picked two out of the four guardians assigned to aid Towa in battling Magatsu and saving the world. In the full game, there will be eight guardians to pick from, but for this demo, only four were available. I found myself attracted to Nishiki, the large half-man, half-koi being my first choice, followed by Rekka, a samurai maiden, as my second preference.

In my selection of guardians, each one received the power of one out of two sacred artifacts. My initial choice, Nishiki, obtained the might of the holy sword, known as Tsurugi, and served as the primary character I managed during the demonstration. On the other hand, Rekka, my second pick, was bestowed with the power of the holy staff, called Kagura. Although Rekka was primarily controlled by the CPU, I had the freedom to trigger special abilities on demand. At launch, both local and online cooperative play will be accessible for those who wish to team up with a friend.

Upon selecting my guardians, I found myself captivated by the environment immediately. The beauty of Towa’s realm is breathtaking; each screen corner bursts with vivid charm. The hand-drawn visuals also contribute significantly to its liveliness, as even the adversaries I faced during my run possess a delightful splash of color. This visually appealing world was a joy to behold, which undeniably made traversing it more enjoyable.

In my game selection, it transitioned into a typical roguelike style: I managed Nishiki and Rekka as they navigated through various zones, encountering enemies that escalated in strength with each progression. Following certain fights, I was given the option to pick a Grace – a transient boost enhancing my gameplay for the ongoing session. Occasionally, rooms offered respite, enabling me to recuperate or acquire additional temporary enhancements from the shopkeeper.

In Towa, what sets it apart from other roguelites is an intriguing mechanic: each character wields two distinct weapons. One has a quicker strike but deals less damage, while the other, larger one delivers more power, albeit slower. As I used one weapon, a gauge at the screen’s bottom gradually decreased. When it hit zero, the weapon’s effectiveness significantly dropped, necessitating a switch to recharge the gauge.

Using two weapons instead of just one added depth to the gameplay for me, as it necessitated learning about the character I chose and mastering two distinct combat styles within the abilities of the giant fish-man. This continuous learning kept me engaged, and I was able to seamlessly integrate weapon switching into my combos, ensuring that neither weapon ever fell short on power.

This tactical maneuver might seem repetitive when described in text, but I found it engaging in action; it prevented me from slipping into a dull routine during battles against numerous adversaries, while simultaneously offering two distinct combat styles to master. With eight characters available and all of them employing this dual-weapon setup, there’s a wealth of different techniques to explore once the game is fully released, and that prospect thrills me.

The journey unfolded as I moved from one chamber to another until finally facing off against an imposing adversary, a colossal creature with numerous limbs. After overcoming this foe, I returned to base with additional experience points that would boost my characters’ levels permanently. Unfortunately, the trial concluded in just 15 minutes, leaving me eager for more gameplay.

Initially, I wasn’t expecting Bandai Namco to venture into the roguelite genre, assuming that chances for fresh AAA roguelites might have passed. However, I was taken aback by how much I enjoyed Towa and the Guardians of the Sacred Tree. Typically, roguelites don’t appeal to me, but the vibrant setting, captivating characters, and the intricate combat system against Magatsu’s dark forces held my attention. Now, Towa is definitely a game I’ll be keeping an eye on.

On September 19th, I’ll be diving into the world of “Towa and the Guardians of the Sacred Tree”! This thrilling adventure is set to release on Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, and PC. Can’t wait to embark on this journey with you all!

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2025-06-16 21:09