Touhou 6: Embodiment of Scarlet Devil

Touhou 6 - Embodiment of Scarlet Devil, is a 2D, vertical scrolling shooter that provides extended hours of fun while being one of the most challenging games I have ever played. The first of Touhou’s Project series to be released to Windows, the game found popularity amongst old fans, and newcomers as well. While the game can’t portray itself as the first of its kind, it perfects the genre and delivers an incomparable experience to gamers.

Story

The storyline of the game is fairly interesting, a mysterious mist arrives at Gensokyo's Human Village and blocks the sunlight from reaching its citizens. Humans in that village can’t possibly survive in an environment without the sun, so our heroes Reimu Hakurei and Marisa Kirisame set out to uncover who or what is behind the mist that threatens their village.

Each character has its own motivation to try and save the village Reimu as a protector and guardian wants to ensure the survival of her kind, while Marisa has an interest in what type of riches she can obtain on the journey. On their journey, the duo finds the Scarlet Mansion, which is home to Remilia Scarlet, the one responsible for the mist. Later on, we discover that Remilia is in fact a vampire and that she created the mist, so she could be comfortable during the day.

Gameplay

Controls are straight-forward arrow keys move the characters, Z shoots (and can be held for automatic shooting), X throws a bomb (Spell Card), Shift tightens movements, and focuses shots. The main objective is to run through levels without having the default three lives depleted while shooting the waves of enemies that come your way.

Both characters possess different types of characteristics, each one of them has a unique moving speed, attack range, and attack power. They also have two spells cards which make up for four styles of gameplay. In general, Reimu has more balanced stats, longer range, but weaker attacks. Marisa on the other hand is faster and stronger but relies on a much shorter range to destroy enemies.

Difficulty

Touhou 6 offers four difficulties: Easy, Normal, Hard, and Lunatic. The game also has six playable stages and an extra stage for completion on difficulties above normal. Playing the game on easy will end the game prematurely on stage 5, but it will help you understand the mechanics and the overall “feel” of the game. I highly recommend easy as the starting point.

Normal mode is achievable while being challenging enough. Hard mode feels like a big step up and will challenge even the most seasoned players. Finally, Lunatic mode completion is reserved for an elite group of gamers.

Summary

Touhou 6 is one of the series most popular, and one of its best games for a reason. The game provides countless hours of fun and challenge for the conventional players up until hard mode. Now, for the truly hardcore elite players, the battle to complete the game on Lunatic difficulty will challenge you (or drive you crazy).

Pros:

• Extremely Challenging
• High Replayability
• Simple
• Fun

Cons:

• Patterns might seem unfair at times
• Language barriers

Touhou 6 - Embodiment of Scarlet Devil is a spectacular vertical scrolling shooter that hypnotizes players with its beauty and musical accompaniment.

Event, Shattered Life

The player's task is to find out why a thick purple fog has appeared over Gensokyo (the fictional area where the protagonist lives). There are two female characters in the game, Reimu Hakurei and Marisa Kirisame. The player chooses one of them and sets off on a dangerous journey, closer to the scary home of the Scarlet Deviless, who most likely sent a mysterious natural phenomenon to the settlement. The player will understand the story, the characters' lives and information about the world through dialogue.

Gameplay

The only criteria that distinguish the two heroines, other than appearance, are movement speed and type of attack. For beginners, Reimu is more suitable - she kills enemies from a safe distance away from them.

On the way of the player will meet many different enemies. Opponents use magic cards (spell cards), which give powerful projectiles, and destructive power. During the battle, the screen is a mess. The protagonist needs to avoid the bullets that fly at him and simultaneously shoot the enemy. Colored patterns of projectiles literally dance on the screen. Try not to lose lives and aim your fire at the enemy.

Available modes:

• Practice Mode. Allows you to restart the desired levels to improve without having to start the game from the beginning
• Story Mode. Follow the story
• Training. Get the skills you need

Sakuya Izayoi's great music theme. Today there are hundreds of remixes of every background music, some people even know Touhou because of the music, not the game.

Choose from four levels of difficulty:

• Beginner
• Medium
• Lunatic. For unbeatable gamers