In the years following a groundbreaking video game launch, it’s common to see numerous imitations or games inspired by its originality. Most recently, I can’t help but notice the surge of titles similar to “Stardew Valley” that sprang up shortly after ConcernedApe’s game became a global phenomenon. Now, it seems the same trend is repeating with “Hades”. This year, several new and upcoming games like “Reignbreaker”, “Lost in Random: The Eternal Die”, and “Windblown” have caught my attention as potential “Hades” clones. Adding to this list is “Towa and the Guardians of the Sacred Tree“, a project by Bandai Namco Entertainment and Japanese developer Brownies.
During this year’s Summer Game Fest kickoff live broadcast, “Towa and the Guardians of the Sacred Tree” was unveiled as a fresh intellectual property from Bandai Namco Entertainment. While it shares some similarities with Hades, it distinguishes itself by allowing players to customize the weapons, which also serve as their unique characters, and by encouraging frequent swapping between these characters. I had the opportunity to play “Towa and the Guardians of the Sacred Tree” at Summer Game Fest Play Days, and I believe it shines among other games similar to Hades due to its captivating character designs and innovative combat style.
The essential details about the storyline of “Towa and the Guardians of the Sacred Tree” can be found in its title itself. In this game, players take up arms to shield their village from a menacing entity called Magatsu. Although players assume the character of priestess Towa, they use the guardians to safeguard their village and the holy tree. In essence, the choice of weapons in the game also serves as a selection of characters, as you decide whom to control in the gameplay.
The battle against Magatsu unfolds through numerous trials in a roguelike format, mirroring the gameplay style of Hades. Players progress by clearing individual rooms, selecting run-specific enhancements, and pushing forward until they encounter the final boss. Despite not managing to defeat the final boss during my short gaming session, I found myself captivated by the core mechanics in much the same way as I was with Hades.
In contrast to Hades, where the power-ups players collected took on character traits to make their choices more intriguing, Towa and the Guardians of the Sacred Tree allows the choice of weapons to determine the characters you control. Unlike playing as Towa herself with a weapon, you control the characters she recruits prior to combat.
One figure employs the holy sword known as Tsurugi, whereas another handles the Kagura staff. The choice between them significantly impacts your primary and secondary attacks. It appears that the genuine enjoyment from playing Towa and the Guardians of the Sacred Tree lies in experimenting with various characters, discovering which ones you find engaging to control and effective in combat.
In the game, Tsurugi can attack while changing weapons, which is beneficial since each weapon eventually wears out and requires recharging. The game encourages frequent switching as a way to keep your swords charged. This dynamic combat system ensures that encounters with Towa and the Guardians of the Sacred Tree are different in each room. Once a room is cleared, players can upgrade one of their abilities.
In simpler terms, you can expect ‘Towa and the Guardians of the Sacred Tree’ to be really fun when I discover the optimal mix of primary and additional character abilities, along with upgrades, to effortlessly defeat enemies. While it may not be the most innovative roguelike game, it offers a distinctive charm that could make it an engaging choice for those who are tired of repeatedly playing ‘Hades’ but still enjoy the genre.
Fortunately, you can get your hands on Towa and the Guardians of Sacred Tree quite soon! This game is set to launch on September 19 for PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch.
Read More
2025-06-12 17:40