Most people don’t realize that games can be and are a work of art. Some of the most beautiful games are often based on Japanese mythology. Towa and the Guardians of the Sacred Tree, is the most beautiful game I have seen all year. It’s so colourful and the Japanese aesthetic is nothing short of awe-inspiring as you travel through the village and explore all the amazing environments throughout the world. You will explore lush green forests, dark caves, snowy cliffs, and magical flower-filled gardens. It’s so beautiful that it’s very easy to get distracted by every little detail as you fight. Plus, the character designs are so well designed that you can’t help but fall in love with each and every one.
The object of the game is to protect Japan from demons trying to plunge the world into darkness. During combat you control an attacker and a magic user which can be controlled by a second player if you want to play with a friend. The attacker has two swords equipped and you have to alternate using each sword to prevent the swords from breaking, the swords then get restored, plus you can do some great combos by doing this. Each character has a unique attack when swapping blades, so always take that to account when playing. Swapping weapons itself even lets out a little attack and helps you dodge out of harm’s way, as well as unleash a powerful skill with power from a gauge that slowly fills up during combat. Meanwhile, the magic user can use two different spells that can attack or provide defense so make sure to use both characters together to win. I won’t lie, this is very complicated especially when you first start playing.But, after a few levels you are sure to get the hang of the controls and start to have fun when taking down the next super-tough boss.
This game also has experimentation with the Grace system. This mechanic allows you to acquire various temporary upgrades, and as you play with some of these, you are sure to become so powerful that you can devise some very interesting winning strategies. One example I have used is an upgrade that makes me able to recharge my sword’s stamina whenever I dodge, which allows me to attack more continuously and take down any monster in my way.
Between levels, you will find yourself in the hub village where you can talk to folks to receive rewards and spend ores on different things, such as constructing buildings and unlocking permanent upgrades for your guardians. You can also do some fishing to buy stuff and if you need a break from story progression you can play a fun blacksmithing mini-game where you forge blades which get stronger the better you play and the type of materials you use. You can even use the dojo to delegate points to enhance your base stats, unlock new spells, equip swords, and assign boosts via inscriptions. You can even eat a meal to get a leg-up at the start of your next mission and when you unlock the school, you can complete side-quests for more rewards.
A big aspect of the game is, as you play missions, time passes and the village changes. You will see people change as time passes and even see some kids grow up into adulthood. This is a cool way to show that your mission isn’t something that will only take a short amount of time to complete and emphasize that the fight has been going on for years and isn’t slowing down like the main characters thought. It also shows how important the passage of time is to the story, especially with Towa, the main characters and your magic user, who is the cause of their biggest loss by messing with time and causing all her guardians to disappear in the first place.
The difficulty ramps up a lot after each successful mission, so if you want to survive, you will have to grind a lot to receive enough ores and materials to unlock boosts and swords that will give you the edge you need. If you find yourself struggling a lot, there’s no shame in switching the difficulty. The game is just as hard as the normal setting, but it gets easier the more you retry any particular stretch so it’s a very welcome mode that reduces the challenge when you need it to.
In conclusion, Towa and the Guardians of the Sacred Tree is a beautiful work of art that will give you a fun time, as long as you have the time to grind and enjoy high difficulty spikes. This game makes you fall in love with its artstyle and character personality and I can’t wait for the next work of art.
Score: 7 out of 10
Reviewed on PlayStation 5