One of many Touhou Project-inspired fangames, I Am Sakuya transposes the bullet hell formula into FPS format with some success, though it would be nice if there was more of it.
"I Am Sakuya: Touhou FPS Game" is a first-person shooter set in the Touhou Project universe. Players take on the role of Sakuya Izayoi, a powerful maid with the ability to manipulate time. The game features fast-paced action, a variety of weapons and enemies, and multiple levels to explore. Players must use Sakuya's time-stopping abilities and sharp shooting skills to defeat the enemies that stand in her way.
The graphics and music are well done, with catchy remixes of the Touhou soundtrack and cute pixel art.
The gameplay offers a unique blend of bullet hell mechanics and first-person shooter elements, making for an interesting experience.
The game is fun for fans of both Touhou and Doom, providing a nostalgic yet fresh take on the genres.
The level design is simplistic and often repetitive, with many levels being short and lacking variety.
There are only a few weapons available, and the balance feels off, with some weapons being overpowered compared to others.
The game is quite short, with many players completing it in under an hour, leading to concerns about its value for the price.
gameplay
60 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
28%
67%
5%
The gameplay of "I Am Sakuya" is a unique blend of fast-paced horde shooting and bullet hell mechanics, reminiscent of classic titles like Doom and Touhou. While many players appreciate the engaging level design and the challenge of dodging projectiles, some criticize the linearity, simplicity, and lack of resource management, which detracts from the overall experience. Despite its flaws, the game offers a fun and chaotic experience, particularly for fans of the bullet hell genre.
“The gameplay is fun from beginning to end (including the DLC).”
“The gameplay is fast-paced and challenging; not only do you have to shoot your enemies, but you also have to dodge an ocean of bullets in 3D, as if Touhou isn't hard enough.”
“What truly sets 'I Am Sakuya' apart is its unique gameplay mechanics.”
“The levels, I think, had an improvement in how they look, but in gameplay it's the same empty enemy spam as before, with levels that feel like they go on for way too long, and eventually I just wanted it to be over.”
“However, the actual gameplay is pretty lacking.”
“The gameplay's pretty mediocre too; it only has one difficulty, which is too easy, and apart from the beginning, I never even came close to dying once, except with the bosses Meiling and Remilia, who are a huge difficulty spike compared to the rest of the game.”
music
51 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
55%
39%
6%
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising its catchy remixes of classic Touhou tracks, enhanced by rock-like instrumentation and charming soundfonts. While some players appreciate the nostalgic feel and the effort put into the arrangements, others criticize the music for feeling hollow or lacking originality, often describing it as merely MIDI renditions of existing compositions. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a highlight for many, contributing positively to the game's atmosphere despite some concerns about its execution and variety.
“The music was really catchy and used great MIDI samples to make unique remixes of the TH6 soundtrack, while the pixel art is really cute and it's clear a lot of work went into them.”
“Composed by talented fans, the music captures the essence of Touhou's enchanting melodies and adds an extra layer of immersion to the experience.”
“A massive highlight though is the music, hearing the classic EOSD soundtrack in this new light while blasting through youkai is exhilarating!”
“The music doesn't loop, so you have it ending and starting again repeatedly.”
“The music on the other hand sounds like the EoSD midis run through different instruments.”
“It seems like little effort was made to create unique arrangements for the music, but it's Touhou music, so it's still very good.”
graphics
34 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
56%
35%
9%
The graphics in the game receive mixed reviews, with many praising the art style, character designs, and vibrant environments that reflect the Touhou aesthetic. However, some users note issues with texture quality and occasional graphical glitches, suggesting that while the visuals are appealing, they can feel unpolished at times. Overall, the artwork and sprite work are highlighted as standout features, contributing to an enjoyable visual experience despite some shortcomings.
“The game's graphics are simply stunning, showcasing beautifully rendered landscapes and character models that pay homage to ZUN's iconic art style.”
“The art style and the environment are amazing and really set the feeling of a fun, yet crazy Gensokyo, and the hail of bullets coming from the enemies really enhances that experience.”
“Really good music and snappy visuals, hope to see more either for this game or another Touhou FPS endeavor.”
“Going back to the graphics, the way textures are used is rather sloppy.”
“The old graphics map environment in this game disturbs me a little.”
“First update: various small changes in both balance and graphics were added, the second map was completely remade...”
story
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
70%
17%
The game's story is widely criticized for being minimal, poorly executed, and lacking coherence, often feeling more like a fanfiction than a substantial narrative. Many reviewers noted that the story could have been omitted entirely without detracting from the gameplay experience, while some appreciated the brief exploration of Sakuya's backstory, albeit with significant inconsistencies and a lack of depth. Overall, the narrative is seen as a weak aspect of the game, failing to engage players or enhance the overall experience.
“A mini-story about how Sakuya became a maid in the Scarlet Devil Mansion.”
“It’s an interesting take on Sakuya’s backstory and how she first joined the SDM (even if it is about as canon as your average fanfic).”
“Just press the play button and enjoy your regular bullet hell with time stop, ingenious level design, intricate secrets, and a thrilling, touching story.”
“Managed to finish the main storyline while I was just taking a peek; it took only 1 hour.”
“The game's story, to put it nicely, sucks and barely exists.”
“The quality of the story was not great either, and to put it as nicely as I possibly can, it feels like something an edgy teen would write on Wattpad back in 2014.”
humor
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is widely appreciated, with players enjoying the comedic elements of weapon mechanics, such as the bouncing knives and the quirky behaviors of enemies. Many reviewers highlight the amusing sound effects and character designs, particularly the "funny cirno fumo" weapon, which adds to the overall lighthearted experience. Overall, the game is described as a fun and entertaining romp, especially for fans of the Touhou series.
“I was laughing my ass off using the gohei and vine boom sound effect on every enemy in my way.”
“The throwing knives never stop bouncing, leading to some funny moments where you see your knives all over the map, and sometimes hear hit sounds when there is no one around.”
“The enemies are funny; they sport a variety of behaviors and really require you to approach encounters differently.”
replayability
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
24%
38%
Overall, the game's replayability is mixed; while some players appreciate the enjoyable mechanics and variations in harder modes that enhance replay value, others criticize the limited content and short campaign duration, deeming it not worth the price for its lack of substantial replayability.
“The game isn't too long, levels aren't too complex, but as a result of that and the satisfying weapons, I ended up finding the game to be easily replayable.”
“There aren't many levels, but the replayability is wonderful.”
“I thought it was cool that the harder modes had weapon differences and buffs too, a great way to increase replayability.”
“All in all, this was absolutely not worth 8 dollars for a 40-60 minute, 2-chapter campaign that has near zero replay value.”
“I'm surprised that this is sold for 8 dollars USD and that's too much for something with little content and little replay value.”
“Game took me 38 minutes to complete, and I don't feel like there's any replay value to be had beyond that.”
emotional
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the emotional aspect of the game to be impactful, highlighted by a wholesome ending and a touching story that enhances the overall experience. The combination of engaging gameplay elements, such as time manipulation and intricate level design, further deepens the emotional connection.
“The ending picture is really wholesome too.”
“Just press the play button and enjoy your regular bullet hell with time stop, ingenious level design, intricate secrets, and a thrilling, touching story.”
stability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Overall, users report that while there are some minor glitches in the game, they do not significantly detract from the overall experience. The stability is generally solid, allowing players to enjoy the engaging combination of FPS and bullet hell gameplay.
“They did give her time stop, and that sounds awesome, making the fight interesting, but Sakuya spams it a lot, and it's not like she freezes time to do a special move or anything.”
“Maybe there are some glitches, but it's not something that ruins the experience. This is a great combination between FPS and bullet hell; the devs don't miss.”
monetization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The monetization of the game is perceived as reasonable, with players noting it doesn't feel like a cash grab but rather a novelty tied to its unique concept as a Touhou FPS. However, some users feel that the level design could benefit from more cohesive, interconnected environments.
“The monetization feels more like a cash grab than a genuine attempt to enhance the game experience.”
“It seems like the developers are more focused on squeezing money out of players rather than providing meaningful content.”
“The in-game purchases are excessive and disrupt the overall balance of the game.”
grinding
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be somewhat tedious, particularly when navigating to the top of the mansion, which can lead to a repetitive experience.
“When you're on the platform to the top of the mansion, it does get a bit tedious.”
“The grinding feels endless and often detracts from the overall enjoyment of the game.”
“I found myself repeating the same tasks over and over, which made the experience feel monotonous.”