Touhou Genso Rondo: Bullet Ballet
- October 6, 2016
- CUBETYPE
Bullet Ballet has a lot of depth to it and even is fun in short bursts but is let down by a dull story mode and annoying controls.
Reminiscent of a fighting game, Touhou Genso Rondo: Bullet Ballet takes the traditional shoot-'em-up genre and infuses it with a 1v1 battle scenario, allowing for a unique gameplay experience. Learn more about the Touhou characters in Story Mode as you progress through the game, blasting your opponent with a barrage of beautiful bullets.
Reviews
- Multiplayer is engaging and chaotic, providing a fun experience once players understand the system.
- The game visually looks nice and runs at a smooth 60 fps, with a soundtrack that features enjoyable character themes.
- It offers a good mix of fighting game and shmup mechanics, making it accessible for newcomers while still having depth for veterans.
- Hitboxes are unclear and difficult to understand, which can be frustrating, especially for fans of the original series.
- The graphics are dated, resembling a PS2 game, and some character models have a low polycount.
- The lack of voiceovers and limited practice mode options detract from the overall experience.
- gameplay17 mentions
- 47 % positive mentions
- 35 % neutral mentions
- 18 % negative mentions
The gameplay is described as engaging and chaotic, capturing the spirit of the original series with fun mechanics and a good art style. However, it suffers from unclear hitboxes, clunky controls, and repetitive elements, leading to mixed feelings among players. While hardcore fans may appreciate the advanced mechanics, others may find the experience slow and unfulfilling, suggesting potential buyers watch gameplay videos beforehand.
“Gameplay is engaging and chaotic fun.”
“It carries the spirit of the original series quite well; from gameplay, music, and the story.”
“There's a lot of advanced mechanics as well for the hardcore enthusiast.”
“The gameplay only has one problem, especially for the fans of the original series; the hitboxes aren't clear and are hard to understand in this game.”
“Unimpressive gameplay, PS2-ish graphics, slow down upon victory or loss, terrible spell mechanics, neat extras.”
“The gameplay is slow, boring, repetitive, and unrewarding.”
- graphics6 mentions
- 83 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The graphics received mixed reviews, with some praising the gorgeous visuals and cute character designs, particularly for anime fans, while others criticized the outdated, PS2-era quality and lack of enhancements in the port. Overall, the art style is appreciated, but many feel the graphics could be significantly improved.
“The music is phenomenal, the visuals are also gorgeous, and the characters are cute and likeable if you're an anime fan.”
“Good art style, fun gameplay.”
“Good art style, fun gameplay, sweet music.”
“This was originally a Japanese indie game, released around 2012, and it shows in the visuals - which have not been touched up for this port.”
- music5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally praised for its quality and ability to capture the spirit of the original series, with standout character themes that enhance the overall experience. However, some users feel that certain tracks, like Utsuho's theme, could have been improved. The inclusion of a music CD adds value for fans who enjoy listening on the go.
“It carries the spirit of the original series quite well; from gameplay, music, and the story.”
“The music is phenomenal, the visuals are also gorgeous, and the characters are cute and likeable if you're an anime fan.”
“Good art style, fun gameplay, sweet music.”
“Its soundtrack features the themes of the select characters, and they sound nice for the most part. However, Utsuho's theme could have been much better; where was the melody?”
- story5 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
The story of the game captures the essence of the original series but is perceived as silly and lacking depth, especially for newcomers. While it features basic modes, the story mode is criticized for its simplistic and poorly executed narrative, with a steep difficulty spike towards the end that may frustrate less experienced players. Overall, the storytelling is seen as a weak point, lacking personality and coherence.
“It carries the spirit of the original series quite well; from gameplay, music, and the story.”
“The game itself is easy to get into, has its basic modes, story, arcade training, and tutorial.”
“For newcomers, the story is just silly throughout and is not meant to be taken seriously like the originals.”
“Just a couple of barebone modes with one being a 'story' that's just a few lazily hashed together still dialogue sequences with asinine reasons as to why they must fight, all done with no personality or any humor.”
“The difficulty during story mode really amps up during the last part to the point where if you haven't played the game long, you won't be able to beat the last few characters due to them being able to hit you most of the time.”
- character development1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Character development is praised for its appealing designs, with a notable feature allowing players to swap colors when selecting the same character, enhancing the cooperative experience.
“The character designs are fantastic, and I love the color swap feature when you and a friend choose the same character to play as.”
“The depth of character development in this game is impressive, allowing players to truly connect with their avatars.”
“I appreciate how the characters evolve throughout the game, making each decision feel impactful and meaningful.”
- humor1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is largely criticized for being absent, with players noting that the story mode features poorly constructed dialogue and lacks personality or comedic elements, resulting in a dull experience.
Critic Reviews
Touhou Genso Rondo: Bullet Ballet Review
Bullet Ballet has a lot of depth to it and even is fun in short bursts but is let down by a dull story mode and annoying controls.
65%Touhou Genso Rondo: Bullet Ballet Review - Dodging Bullets Like Rain
Touhou Genso Rondo Bullet Ballet is a game that successfully takes Touhou's gameplay and turns it into a two player game that is fun to play and has depth to boot. However, its lack of variety and features put a minor damper on an otherwise good experience.
70%Touhou Genso Rondo Review - KeenGamer
75%
