Touhou 15

Touhou 15 is my second favorite game in the series. For me, liking it is a little more complex then with my favorite, Touhou 8. While what makes Touhou 8 the best for me is that it just feels pure fun to play, this game is definitly not that. I play most Touhou games on normal difficulty, the furthest I've gone with Touhou 15 is clearing point device normal with Sanae. Beyond that, it's straight easy mode for me haha. Beyond that, the game just feels too tedious and often, unfair.

I know many people will just use Reisen, who's bombs allow her to take extra hits, but I find that the tradeoff of her hitbox also getting bigger is just too much of a deal breaker for me. For me, Sanae is my go to in this game. Having both a seemly strong wide shot while unfocused and being able have a homing shot while focused really works well for me. Her bomb is also a big plus, it does a good amount of damage, gives a long time of invicibiliy, and allows you to graze during it, while you are also invicibile. While Sanae is awesome, she doesn't mitigate all the intensity of the game.

In my touhou 8 review, I talk about how it also doesn't contain any sections that I dread to do. But this game absolutely does. Some of Sagume's non spells can be a pain with Sanae, as Sanae's homing bullets focus on the wrong enemies, so it takes forever to actually hit Sagume enough to move on. With Clownpiece, while I actually don't have too much trouble with her moon spells, Flash and Stripe feels literally impossible to do. With Junko, I'll probably always going to get hit once on Pristine Lunacy and Overflowing Blemishes can be a pain if you don't get your movement right. And don't even get me started on Moon "Lunatic Impact".

For me, most of my love for this game comes from just the overall vibe. Since I was young, I have always loved outer space, and this whole game really taps into those feelings. It really does feel like a grand jouney across the earth and through space. Like Touhou 8, everything, the characters, who all just feel so fitting and cool (probably even Doremy, who I hate) the art, the music, the intricate backgrounds and effects, all come together to create that perfectly tailored package. Even the gameplay too, to an extent. For me, getting a nice long graze off a stream of aimed bullets feels something akin to pulling off a long grind or combo on a tony hawk game. There is just something so satifying about it, and i like that the game is designed in a way where those experiences are encouraged and delivered.

My ultimate goal is to beat Hecatia / the extra stage. I can get pretty close, but still have a ways to go really. I think I need to do other games at higher difficulties to train my reaction time.

Anyways, have you played Touhou 15? What do you think about it, and it's characters? Let me know?