Towa and the Guardians of the Sacred Tree is a roguelike action-adventure game set in a mystic realm where the titular Sacred Tree is protected by the all-powerful Deity, Shinju. However, corruption and evil have spread throughout the rest of the world and have finally made their way to the Sacred Tree itself and Shinju village, which is located nearby. Towa, Shinju’s trusted priestess, and her 8 guardians are tasked with fighting off the corruption and its evil leader, known as Magatsu. This seems to be working until one day, it doesn’t. So, is Towa and the Guardians of the Sacred Tree worth playing? This is surprisingly complex to answer.
Story and Setting
The game kicks off with Towa and her 8 companions fighting through an area and finally reaching a spot where she can purify the corruption and put an end to Magatsu’s reign of terror. However, right when it seems as if she’s going to complete her task, Magatsu does something unexpected and manages to banish every single one of the Guardians to the edges of time itself. Towa is left alone, but thanks to Shinju’s protection, she miraculously survives.
The game then thrusts you back to Shinju village, where you will reunite with the 8 guardians and set off once again in a quest to defeat Magatsu. This sets up the game’s core gameplay loop with players picking a Kagura and a Tsurugi. With the Kagura wielding magic and the Tsurugi wielding a sword, players will effectively play as two characters while exploring various levels that are split up into smaller segments filled with enemies. You can also encounter a travelling merchant, a food stall vendor, or even a campsite or hot springs along your journey out into the world, breaking up the monotony of fighting enemies non-stop.
Gameplay Mechanics
Being a roguelike game, no two runs will be the same since you’ll have different enemy encounters and different areas to pick from once you clear out all enemies. Yes, it’s formulaic, but if you’re a fan of the roguelike genre, you’ll be used to this. However, this also sets up some major gripes with the game.
The combat in Towa and the Guardians of the Sacred Tree involves players using the chosen Tsurugi guardian to sword slash enemies while also using the chosen Kagura guardian to cast magic spells. You can control one character while the other runs automatically alongside you, or you can assume direct control over them with a button press, which is cumbersome and hard to manage in the heat of battle.
Defeating enemies is fairly straightforward, and the game’s real challenge lies with its boss enemies. You will end up dying multiple times along your journey, with fatigue and frustration setting in quickly. Even with numerous upgrades, the game remains challenging, so playing on the easiest difficulty is recommended to enjoy the story.
Storytelling and Character Interactions
The story is told via visual novel-style conversations with NPCs and the guardians themselves. Back at the village, Towa will converse with NPC villagers and learn more about the game’s world and how to upgrade the Tsurugi and Kagura’s capabilities. The real star is the interaction between the guardians, but these are limited and felt like a massive letdown. Each guardian pairing has a campsite conversation, but this isn’t explored enough. Some baffling game design choices make players feel alienated from their favourite guardians despite investing resources into them.
Back at the village, Towa can craft swords for the Tsurugi, which is surprisingly detailed and fun. For players unfamiliar with sword forging, this game teaches some interesting mechanics and mini-games.
Main Issues and Comparisons
Towa and the Guardians of the Sacred Tree face tough competition in the roguelike genre. While Hades sets a high bar, Towa falls short, particularly in character interactions and combat depth. The game has 8 guardians, but barely any interactions beyond the campfire sequences, wasting potential for personality-driven storytelling.
Combat is also limited due to weapon durability mechanics, which interrupts the flow. Kagura’s abilities feel repetitive regardless of which guardian is chosen. NPC conversations often feel like filler, distracting from core gameplay.
Visuals, Sound, and Presentation
Towa and the Guardians of the Sacred Tree looks fantastic with an anime art style and visually appealing graphics. The soundtrack is excellent, and voice acting is performed by seasoned veterans recognisable to fans of modern anime. This further highlights the wasted potential of having so few interactions fully voiced.
Co-Op Gameplay
The co-op system is disappointing. The second player is mostly relegated to the Kagura and has limited impact, while the first player continues to hack and slash. This imbalance makes co-op unengaging and boring for the second player.
Final Verdict
Overall, Towa and the Guardians of the Sacred Tree is a “fun in short bursts” roguelike hack-and-slash action-adventure. It would benefit from more character interactions, a revamped combat system, and a focus on actual engaging battles. Hades remains a superior roguelike. For fans of niche anime titles or those seeking short, casual sessions on Nintendo Switch or SteamDeck, it may still be worth a try, but be warned—repetition and disappointment arrive quickly.
Towa and the Guardians of the Sacred Tree Trailer
Read more awesome reviews >>here<<.
Game code was provided to us for the express purpose of reviewing.
You must be logged in to post a comment.