東方幻想魔録W ~ The Devil of Decline
- March 28, 2024
- ハチクマソフト
In "Touhou Gensou Maroku W ~ The Devil of Decline", Gensokyo is plagued by mysterious disappearances of living beings and objects. Players must choose one of four protagonists to investigate and resolve the spiriting away incident. The game features a 2D turn-based RPG system, with over 100 shikigami to recruit and combine in battles. The story and enemy strength do not change between protagonists, but there are differences in their perspectives and actions.
Reviews
- The combat mechanics are tight and strategic, requiring players to understand the game's systems and utilize buffs, debuffs, and formations effectively.
- The Shikigami system allows for extensive customization of characters, enabling players to create unique strategies and team compositions.
- Boss battles are challenging and rewarding, providing a satisfying experience for players who enjoy difficult encounters.
- The story is bland and not a focal point of the game, which may disappoint players looking for a strong narrative.
- New characters and Shikigami start at level 1, making the game feel grindy and frustrating when replacing veteran characters.
- Map design can be confusing at times, leading to moments of uncertainty about where to go or what to do.
- gameplay9 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by its flexibility and depth, encouraging players to master its intricate mechanics, particularly in combat where understanding the systems is crucial for success. The game features unique abilities for each character, enhancing strategic options, while the updated version introduces new mechanics like area clearing and retains familiar elements such as turn-based battles and party formations. However, fans of the previous skill tree system may find the progression in this sequel less satisfying.
“Basically, an extremely flexible RPG about learning and exploiting its own mechanics.”
“Combat mechanics are tight, and the encounters expect you to know the game's systems well enough.”
“Many RPGs make a mistake of making the random battles almost an afterthought while putting most of the gameplay focus into bosses.”
“Many RPGs make the mistake of making the random battles almost an afterthought while putting most of the gameplay focus into bosses.”
“Some mechanics like the turn-based battle system, party formations, and the land system return, but if you were a fan of the flexible skill tree system or the linear progression of the previous game, you might be a bit disappointed in this sequel.”
“The four starting characters have field abilities or items or mechanics unique to them, including Yukari having a time limit on how long she can take to beat the game.”
- story5 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
The game's story is minimal and not the main focus, catering more to players who enjoy combat-heavy gameplay rather than a deep narrative. While the dialogue is noted to be amusing, those seeking a rich, story-driven experience may find it lacking.
“Story is light, but the dialogue is amusing. Do not go in expecting this to be focused around telling a story.”
“If you favor story-heavy games, this isn't for you.”
“The story is very bland and barely relevant.”
“If you favor story-heavy games, this game isn't for you.”
“The story is light, but the dialogue is amusing; do not go in expecting this to be focused around telling a story.”
- music3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game is highly praised, with users highlighting it as a standout feature that enhances the overall experience alongside the visuals and mechanics. Many find it to be their favorite aspect, contributing significantly to the game's atmosphere.
“I've spent quite a bit of time talking about the mechanics and such, but the visuals and music are no slouch either.”
“The environments and characters are nice to look at, but my favorite part is the music.”
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be frustrating, particularly when it comes to farming drops and recruiting characters, as low success rates can make progress feel tedious. Additionally, the need to replace favored characters with less effective newcomers can detract from the overall enjoyment.
“This can make the game feel grindy at times, and if you really prefer specific characters over others, like I do, it's annoying to have to replace old veterans in favor of new characters who initially feel like dead weight.”
“Farming drops and recruiting shikigami can be frustrating due to low chances of success.”
- humor2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by witty and entertaining dialogues between the protagonists and antagonists, complemented by the presence of a cute and funny artist, which adds a lighthearted charm to the overall experience.
“The conversations between the protagonists and antagonists are kind of hilarious!”
“The art style is cute and adds a funny twist to the overall experience.”
“The humor in the game is cleverly woven into the dialogue and interactions.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players note that optimization in the game heavily relies on equipment synergy, suggesting that effective performance goes beyond just numerical stats. Strategic thinking in combining gear is often necessary to achieve the best results.
“Equipment has a high impact; numbers are just one avenue for good performance. Some thinking on synergy is highly rewarded and sometimes required.”
“The optimization mechanics in the game encourage players to think critically about their builds and strategies, leading to a more engaging experience.”
“Finding the right balance between equipment and abilities is crucial, and the game does a great job of rewarding players who invest time in optimizing their setups.”
- graphics1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The graphics are praised for their quality, complementing the game's mechanics effectively, while also being supported by a strong musical score.
“The visuals and music are no slouch either.”
“The graphics are absolutely stunning, bringing the game world to life in a way that feels immersive and captivating.”
“Every detail in the environment is beautifully rendered, making exploration a visual delight.”