Towa and the Guardians of the Sacred Tree Review

Towa and the Guardians of the Sacred Tree surprised us when we first tried it out during Summer Game Fest, impressing with its snappy gameplay and roguelite progression focused on a strong narrative base. Unfortunately, it is launching in a time when two of the hottest indie titles, Hollow Knight: Silksong and Hades 2, are launching almost side by side with it.

Despite this, Towa and the Guardians of the Sacred Tree is a pretty competent title that sets out to do its own thing, implementing a two-character system that’s refreshing to play.

World of Color

Immediately, you’ll notice the visuals of Towa and the Guardians of the Sacred Tree, filled with vibrant colors and an anime-style aesthetic that suits what it is trying to go for. The characters and environments all look fantastic, and it makes combat more engaging due to its visual flair and flashy effects.

Being a narrative-based roguelite, Towa and the Guardians of the Sacred Tree leans heavily on conversations in between battles, with an overarching story that follows Towa as she aims to restore peace by taking on Magatsu and his evil influence. In this journey, Towa is joined by eight guardians as they cross treacherous lands and environments along the way.

It’s quite challenging to discuss this game without mentioning spoilers, especially since much of what defines the game is how the story unfolds through the levels and encounters, especially how it affects the town and its people. There’s a lot of dialogue in this game, maybe even too much at times, and contrary to the way other titles drip-feed information, Towa and the Guardians of the Sacred Tree‘s pace is faster with its revelations and progression through the story.

The story is heartfelt and memorable, although a little bit goofy at times, thanks to its cast of characters, but they are likable overall. Towa, especially, is a heroine who is charming and easy to root for. The themes discussed are pretty deep, and its focus on the narrative over everything else is an interesting take for a title in this genre.

That said, each of the guardians available in the game has their own motivations and personalities, which is great for replayability. These guardians also have distinct playstyles, centered on the concepts of the Tsurugi and the Kagura.

A Tale of Two Blades

One of the standout features of Towa and the Guardians of the Sacred Tree is its innovative dual-role combat system, which assigns each character to either the Tsurugi (attacker) or Kagura (supporter) role. This dynamic setup not only alters a character’s abilities depending on their role but also encourages strategic experimentation with different pairings.

The Tsurugi is the primary combatant, capable of dodging, executing fatal blows, and switching between two distinct weapons, each with unique skills and cooldown mechanics, while the Kagura offers support from the sidelines, casting various skills. Although the Kagura isn’t directly controlled during most encounters, players can reposition them when needed using R3, which is a nice feature. However, it is rarely used due to the challenges of controlling two things amid the ongoing action.

The game also features a mechanic called “Quick Draw,” which lets players switch between two weapons to manage durability and maintain offensive momentum. Mastery requires practice, as players must alternate between weapons while also coordinating attacks and positioning with their Kagura companion; however, the responsive controls make it feel intuitive over time, but will definitely take getting used to because of constantly having to switch up between weapons, breaking up the flow a bit more than we would have liked.

As you can imagine, this system opens up a wealth of possibilities and combinations. Whether you’re pairing Rekka’s sword mastery with Nishiki’s aquatic magic or exploring other combinations, the flexibility of switching roles mid-run adds replayability and personalization. It’s a clever twist on the genre, offering a fresh take on character synergy.

Power Up!

Similar to other titles, Towa and the Guardians of the Sacred Tree employs room-based progression and an upgrade-driven loop. Each completed encounter rewards “Graces,” which are powerful enhancements that shape your build for the run ahead. These function similarly to buffs, offering an increase in power across several categories: Grace of the Merciful focuses on healing and survivability, Grace of the Mighty amplifies Honzashi-based attacks, and Grace of the Lucid sharpens your critical hit potential.

For a roguelite, Towa and the Guardians of the Sacred Tree doesn’t feel as tough and as punishing as similar games in the genre. Some players familiar with the ins and outs may even find themselves surprisingly deep into progression, even on their first run. Even so, there is a certain level of challenge that players must contend with, especially with some bosses that exhibit somewhat predictable patterns.

Forging in Towa and the Guardians of the Sacred Tree adds a layer of depth to progression, allowing players to craft blades that not only boost damage but also gain bonus attributes based on the forging process. It’s more than just selecting materials, as players engage in a series of mini-games that influence the final stats, making each weapon feel earned and personalized.

While the system may feel a bit too involved for casual players, an auto-craft option is available for those who prefer a streamlined experience, albeit at the expense of sacrificing the potential for optimal builds. Min-maxers may find this process too tedious, requiring them to go through it several times to craft the perfect blade, which could discourage experimentation.

Complementing this is the Shinju Shrine, where Jade Ores can be spent to increase the likelihood of specific Graces appearing during runs. Shinju’s Virtue offers additional upgrades, such as expanding vendor inventories or unlocking a resurrection mechanic. These features are far from new in the genre, but they are also welcome inclusions.

Verdict: Wait for it…

Overall, Towa and the Guardians of the Sacred Tree is a worthwhile play for roguelite enthusiasts, incorporating elements from other similar titles and wrapping them in anime-inspired packaging that plays as good as it looks. The game also makes efforts at innovation, employing a dual-hero system that adds replayability and experimentation. This is not just another Hades clone, despite what it looks like at a glance.

In fact, it’s safe to say that this title will surprise many, if given a chance. There’s a heartfelt and memorable story, paired with a great cast of characters that shine. Despite having too much dialogue at times, players who choose to immerse themselves in the world will be pleased. While not as in-depth as other roguelites, systems-wise, Towa and the Guardians of the Sacred Tree is a title that can definitely stand on its own, thanks to its innovations and gameplay.

*Towa and the Guardians of the Sacred Tree was reviewed on a PC with a review code provided by the publisher.