Tempest of the Heavens and Earth
- December 25, 2018
- LION HEART
Get on Steam"Tempest of the Heavens and Earth" is a derivative action game set in the Gensokyo universe, inspired by the Touhou Project. As Tenshi Hinanawi, investigate suspicious earthquakes, Iku Nagae's disappearance, and a conspiracy while showcasing your power and egoism. Experience stylish action with high-maneuver abilities, super attacks, and stunning visuals.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- Very unique and intense gameplay with a mix of platforming, beat-em-up, and shooter mechanics.
- High production value and charming art style, complemented by an amazing soundtrack and engaging boss fights.
- Challenging yet rewarding gameplay that encourages players to learn and master mechanics, with a fun weather manipulation system.
- The game can be frustratingly difficult, with some bosses relying on random elements and a steep learning curve.
- Unforgiving checkpoint system that forces players to restart long levels or multi-stage boss fights from the beginning.
- Lack of variety in enemy design and simplistic stage art detracts from the overall experience.
- gameplay52 mentions
- 19 % positive mentions
- 75 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The gameplay is described as unique and intense, blending action platforming with bullet hell mechanics and melee combat, particularly shining during boss fights. While the game features a variety of mechanics, including weather manipulation and a range of attack styles, some players find certain mechanics opaque and the learning curve steep, leading to potential frustration. Overall, it offers a fun and challenging experience, though it may not be as accessible to newcomers unfamiliar with the Touhou series.
“This is a really, really nice adventure platformer with a very unique action twist to the mechanics.”
“Boss fights in this game are where all the player abilities truly shine, with a solid mixture of bullet hell mechanics and melee combat.”
“Fun gameplay, good looking sprite work, great soundtrack, this game is definitely worth your time.”
“Some things about the game's mechanics feel a bit opaque as well.”
“You may get stuck a bit though because it's not easy to tell when or how to use mechanics, specifically one part near the end of the game.”
“But you'd better be down for some hard gameplay; the reality is you can't sit down to play unless you have an extended (preferably ostensibly indefinite) amount of time to spend on it if you don't want to put up with a lot of deeply unnecessary repetition... because the game is going to involve a lot of restarting as it is, believe me that tacking more on in unnecessary ways is something I found very irksome.”
- music30 mentions
- 80 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised, with many reviewers highlighting its catchy and enjoyable nature, particularly noting its quality as "Touhou music at its best." The soundtrack complements the gameplay and boss fights effectively, enhancing the overall experience, while the remixes and original compositions contribute to the game's charm. Overall, the music is considered a standout feature, adding significant value to the game's appeal.
“Every boss has 4 to 5 spell cards that you need to figure out the best way to beat them, and the OST that accompanies them is just Touhou music at its best.”
“The music is enjoyable, enough to keep you company throughout the game.”
“Fun gameplay, good looking spritework, great soundtrack; this game is definitely worth your time.”
- story26 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The game's story is praised for its quality and engaging plot twists, though it may be less accessible to newcomers unfamiliar with the Touhou series, as it references prior events from official games. While the narrative is relatively simple and the main story mode is short, players can enjoy additional challenges through a lunatic boss rush. Overall, the story complements the game's strong gameplay and soundtrack, making it a worthwhile experience for fans of action platformers.
“I think the thing that surprised me the most was how good the story is.”
“Great story with some really good plot twists.”
“The story, the combat, the bosses, the OST, everything is really damn good!”
“This game is not as accessible to non-Touhou fans as something like Touhou Luna Nights, since the story directly references some events of official Touhou games. If you're only in it for the gameplay and aren't trying to follow the story, I highly recommend this game to anyone who likes action platformers.”
“And the story is quite simple, at the level of any game in the saga.”
“While the playtime of story mode is relatively short with about 3 hours for your first playthrough, there is a lunatic boss rush you can unlock that will probably take you ages to complete.”
- graphics12 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game features charming artwork and stunning visual effects, with well-executed graphics and animations that enhance the overall experience. Players appreciate the beautiful art style and the integration of a fantastic soundtrack, contributing to a visually appealing and immersive gameplay environment. While the game has a linear level design, it maintains a visually lovely presentation that complements its unique mechanics.
“Stunning artwork and visual effects.”
“The graphics and animation are great too, pretty well made.”
“Graphically lovely with a fantastic soundtrack and a simple but fairly satisfying progression system and fun gameplay.”
- emotional4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by its wholesome, lighthearted charm, culminating in a heartwarming ending that enhances the player's affection for the character Tenshin. Overall, the experience is described as quick and uplifting, leaving a positive impression.
“The ending is heartwarming and made me like Tenshin as a character a lot more.”
- grinding4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players have mixed feelings about the grinding aspect of the game; while some find it necessary for mastering controls and progressing through challenging stages, others view it as tedious and frustrating, particularly due to the lack of checkpoints during boss phase shifts. Overall, the grinding can enhance the experience for some, but it may deter others who prefer a more streamlined approach.
“This is deeply tedious and I can't say I'm a fan... the 'phase shifts' of the bosses represent a clear point to have some form of checkpoint or save state, and it really ought to be there.”
“It was tough to get used to the controls at first, but after a few hours of practicing and grinding at stage 3 (you'll find out why, trust me), it became a chore rather than an enjoyable experience.”
