Towa and the Guardians of the Sacred Tree trailer makes Towa playable — and Yoasobi sets the tone

Towa steps out of the title and onto the battlefield

This new trailer for Towa and the Guardians of the Sacred Tree finally answers a question fans have been quietly asking since reveal: will Towa actually be playable? The answer is yes, and Bandai Namco made sure the moment lands with style-set to Yoasobi’s “Seventeen,” the trailer leans hard into Towa’s resolve after the Guardians’ sacrifice, tees up the full English and Japanese voice casts, and reminds everyone there’s a free demo on PC and consoles before the Sept. 19 launch. As someone who’s followed Brownies Inc. since EGGLIA and knows Kameoka’s Mana-era DNA when I see it, this caught my attention because it reframes the whole pitch: this isn’t just a duos-driven roguelite anymore-your namesake hero is taking the field.

Key takeaways

• Towa is now confirmed playable, shifting the combat mix beyond the previously spotlighted Guardian pairings.
• Yoasobi’s “Seventeen” gives the trailer mainstream punch; dual EN/JP voice casts suggest localization is a real priority.
• Free demo available on consoles and PC-try-before-you-buy is smart for a system-heavy roguelite.
• Launch is set for September 19 on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and PC.

Breaking down the announcement

Until now, most of the messaging focused on the duo-combat hook: you enter runs (journeys) with a frontline Tsurugi and a support Kagura, swapping swords with durability quirks while the partner fires off spells. It’s a good angle—part Scarlet Nexus synergy, part action-roguelite rhythm—and it gives Brownies room to fuse character relationships with moment-to-moment decisions. Making Towa playable adds an emotional anchor that the series title promises. The trailer frames her as a response to loss—the Guardians’ sacrifice isn’t just lore wallpaper; it’s fuel for her arc—and that context matters in a genre that too often treats story like a loading screen tip.

The dual voice cast showcase also signals confidence. JRPG-ish action games live or die on vibes, and giving players both dubs at launch has become table stakes for anyone courting a global audience. The question is scope: will all side content, incidental barks, and late-game scenes get the same care, or is the polish front-loaded? The trailer looks comprehensive, but we’ll only know after multiple runs when the repetition sets in—roguelites expose weak VO faster than linear adventures.

Why this matters now

Towa being playable isn’t just a box to tick; it could shift how builds feel. If she slots into the existing Tsurugi/Kagura format, what does her kit do to the meta? The guardians we’ve seen split roles clearly: melee pressure up front, elemental control from the backline, with swords that degrade and force smart switching. If Towa introduces new ways to manage durability or alters how fatal blows are set up, that’s a meaningful change, not just another face in the roster. The last wave of previews emphasized proactive weapon swapping and spell synergy—if Towa bends those rules, she might become the “starter” recommendation for new players or the high-ceiling pick for veterans.

There’s also the Brownies factor. This studio has a knack for charming art direction and cozy hub design—Shinju Village evolving between runs is the kind of detail that keeps a roguelite from feeling disposable. The risk? Weapon durability is polarizing. When it works, it’s a satisfying resource puzzle; when it doesn’t, it’s downtime and menu churn. The demo is the perfect antidote to speculation: you’ll know in 30 minutes whether the red/blue sword cadence clicks or grates.

Music and casting: more than marketing?

Yoasobi’s “Seventeen” isn’t a random needle drop. Their tracks carry cultural gravity with anime and J-pop fans, and pairing that energy with a story about sacrifice and resolve is a clever tone-setter. My only caution is expectation management: trailer music doesn’t always reflect in-game soundtrack identity. If the game’s score leans orchestral with light pop flourishes, great—just don’t expect wall-to-wall Yoasobi unless Bandai Namco surprises us with licensing beyond the trailer.

On the VO side, showing both English and Japanese line-ups up front is the right play, especially on Switch where portable sessions amplify the value of clean, expressive VO. The hope is that combat callouts and support spell cues are mixed clearly; in duo-driven fights, readable audio is gameplay, not just flavor.

The gamer’s perspective: try the demo before you commit

If you’re roguelite-curious, the free demo is the make-or-break moment. Use it to answer three questions: does the durability loop feel strategic or fussy? Can you comfortably juggle your support caster while staying aggressive? And does the village upgrade treadmill make you want to start “just one more run” at midnight? Also, test your platform of choice. Switch players should check handheld clarity and input latency; PS5/Xbox/PC folks can gauge how smooth fights stay when the screen fills with spell effects. None of this shows up in trailers, but it decides whether a roguelite sticks.

Personally, I’m into what this trailer implies: a character-forward roguelite that remembers why we keep returning to the tree—because we care about the people under it. If Towa’s playable debut meaningfully intersects with the duo systems, this could be one of Bandai Namco’s more distinctive mid-budget action bets in years.

TL;DR

Towa is playable, the dubs are in, Yoasobi sets the mood, and a free demo lets you stress-test the durability-and-duo combat before the Sept. 19 launch. If the mechanics click for you in the demo, keep this on your fall list; if not, the trailer’s style won’t save a loop that doesn’t feel good in your hands.