Which of the Touhou Games is the Best in the Series?

[Blackbird]

I apologize if this question has already been addressed elsewhere. I did a search on "touhou" and "best" and decided that examining 81 pages was beyond my willpower -_-.

So anyway, without getting into debate about wether the series is good or not, which game do you think is the best, or perhaps the most representative, of the series? If you had to pick just a handful of games to represent the series, which games would you select? Fun factor counts.

Thanks in advance.

[Sapz]

I think the one most people like the most is probably Perfect Cherry Blossom. It's one of the less difficult ones, but it's pretty fun times.

[raigon50]

Certainly PCB would be the one I would choose to represent the series, however, I'm especially fond of Mountain of Faith. I don't know why, I just like that one a lot.

[BulletMagnet]

The ones I've played the most personally are Perfect Cherry Blossom and Imperishable Night, but aren't there demos for most of the series out there? Why not try them all and see which you like best?

[Bananamatic]

Phantasm Romance

[Aisha]

Perfect Cherry Blossom or Imperishable Night to represent gameplay (although they're probably slower than the newer installments), and Subterranean Animism or Undefined Fantastic Object to represent how far the series has progressed graphically and technically since 2002's Embodiment of Scarlet Devil or 2003's Perfect Cherry Blossom.

[Hair]

I like Imperishable Night and Shoot the Bullet, as well as StB's sequel, Double Spoiler.

Imp has a story that I actually like while the others have never captured my attention. StB and DS offer really unique gameplay and are pretty challenging but offer a stage select system that lets you skip a level and come back to it later. StB has a full review on the review forum here.

I think the first two windows TH games (Scarlet Devil, PCB) have slightly loose controls, but they would also be a good place to start.

The newer ones tend to be harder.

Edit: Touhou may be lame, but making fun of Touhou on the Internet is even more lame.

[Lance Boyle]

The best Touhou game is Novice Ultra mode in Mushihimesama Futari 1.5. I can prove this with charts and graphs.

and Subterranean Animism or Undefined Fantastic Object to represent how far the series has progressed graphically

Who knows? In ten years from now Touhou games might even catch up with the Dreamcast!

[Bananamatic]

story

Beat irrelevant fairy
Beat another irrelevant fairy
Beat a somewhat related yet still irrelevant fairy
Beat whoever lives in the final boss' area
Beat the final boss' servant
Beat the final boss
Have tea with final boss
Repeat x12

graphically

>shmups
>story
>graphics

[Blackbird]

Nothing wrong with a game that looks aesthetically appealing.

Certainly PCB would be the one I would choose to represent the series, however, I'm especially fond of Mountain of Faith. I don't know why, I just like that one a lot.

Do you think you could explain why it is that MoF appeals to you?

[Bananamatic]

Except they all look the same

[Chaos Phoenixma]

SA and EoSD are the best. MoF is third best of the Windows games. And Mystic Square is the best PC98 game. No crappy luckgarbage, no crappy gimmicks,.

[Bananamatic]

I prefer lotus land story myself

[ChainsawGuitarSP]

There are only 4 worthwhile Touhou games in the shmup genre I can think of:
LLS, MS, EoSD and UFO

[shadowbringer]

imho:

- for bombing for score (and suiciding too): LLS (plus the last 3 stages seem to have their own identity, at least they -- like the other PC-98 games -- have more enemy types, and I like the bgms too)
- for chaining/cancelling bullets: PoFV (though the enemy AI can die and break your chaining opportunity for the stage. Doesn't help that certain characters are AI killers, too..), or GFW (personally I like how grazing is optional in GFW, and even useful for survival)
- for unlockables: IN (the Last Word spellcards in the Spell Practice room kept me playing the game when I started playing it )
- fighting game: IaMP

[Treasurance]

KIWAMI SHOOTING

tbh StB/DS are the only ones really worth playing

[apple arcade]

Scarlet Weather Rhapsody is my favorite. xD

[BPzeBanshee]

KIWAMI SHOOTING

[Sumez]

I tried a couple of them just recently after that other thread, and I find the PC-98 (mainly Lotus Land Story) games to be much more fun than the later ones, even though they are a lot easier, and the score systems aren't as interesting.

[burgerkingdiamond]

I haven't played them all but I think that Embodiment of Scarlet Devil is my favorite.

The opening song and Level 3 music (Shanghai Teahouse?) is really good.

[Naut]

UFO if you're not a pussy, the rest otherwise.

They all have different systems and play styles so playing as many as possible is the best way to get an idea of what Touhou is about. No one game is representative of Touhou. There are games in the series I absolutely hate and games that I adore, basing your judgments on just one would be silly.

[Zengeku3]

UFO in terms of bosses. Unfortunately the game is such a drag the rest of the time so...

MoF and SA would be the best ones in my opinion. DS and StB are also important to mention since they are quite unique and pretty well made as well.

[Treasurance]

touhou 13 seems pretty amazing based on the gameplay videos

[raigon50]

Nothing wrong with a game that looks aesthetically appealing.

Certainly PCB would be the one I would choose to represent the series, however, I'm especially fond of Mountain of Faith. I don't know why, I just like that one a lot.

Do you think you could explain why it is that MoF appeals to you?

I like the levels. There are a lot of red and orange backgrounds that I think look nice (I like the whole waterfall thing in Aya's level). It also has a lot of my more favorite characters in it too, I guess. Their not the greatest reasons, but I think their why I like MoF. We all have our opinions.

Oh, another reason would have to be that it's not to hard, but not to easy. I think the difficulty is where it should be on this one.

[Barrakketh]

Something else about MoF that may also appeal to some people is that its scoring system is basically chaining, though the value of your chain (increases point item value) is determined by the faith point items you collect. Collecting items and destroying enemies extends the chain. There's no grazing. Sanae's theme is awesome.

My favorite game in the series is Subterranean Animism. Double Spoiler is great, but not representative of the series because it's a gaiden game (it's still worth playing). Undefined Fantastic Object is good times, just don't go crazy when it comes to chasing UFOs lest you fly into a bullet.

touhou 13 seems pretty amazing based on the gameplay videos

This man is about as honest as Aya.

[Chaos Phoenixma]

StB and DS would be fun if you had to do any actual dodging. It's just a bunch of memorization though, and let's not forget 100% undodgable puzzle cards.

[Bananamatic]

touhou 13 seems pretty amazing based on the gameplay videos

just look at it

[TrevHead (TVR)]

Ok ill leave taking the piss out of the series to the other thread, Ive been playing a little bit of IN (TH8) and ive been trying to rap my head around the scoring system. The human / youki gauge is an intresting concept. Although I still have no idea what the fuck the time points do in the game. Suffice to say im feeling a little bit out of my depth since I genrally tend to go for the more straight forward scoring shmups like Mars Matrix, DDP and Exceed 3rd BP (ie chaining or point blanking / time)

Anyway although I never thought of touhou as my cup of tea when I briefly played TH8 & 10 for suvival over a year ago (wasnt arcady enough). Ill spend a few days with it to delve into INs scoring aspect. Although the chance is slim you might see me make a magical transformation from "manly shmups only" to a frilly hat wearing "desu" weeaboo

Just a couple of simple questions, Are extends score or item based? and how may points or items does IN award an extend (plus award bombs aswell)

Im off to watch a replay to two, You Tube has a shitload, its a shame the only ones ive seen so far are shite and claim to be a 1CC even though theyre starting with 5 or 7 lives. (with dodgy copies of IN retaining the uploaders profile data, including starting lives been set at 7 when it should be 3, ild imagine theres an army of ppl who think theyve 1CCed it but in reality they havnt)

[RNGmaster]

The the only ones ive seen so far are shite and claim to be a 1CC even though theyre starting with 5 or 7 lives. (with dodgy copies of IN retaining the uploaders profile data, including starting lives been set at 7 when it should be 3, ild imagine theres an army of ppl who think theyve 1CCed it but in reality they havnt)

Here's an old WR. Extends are based on the # of score items picked up, and are also dropped by the Stage 3 and 5 midbosses.

I must say, I really love the concept of Spell Practice even though I can't sit through IN itself without drifting off to sleep.

[Bananamatic]

the extends are item based

oh and IN is pretty damn easy as stage 5 is a huge joke