Touhou Genso Rondo: Bullet Ballet

57%
Game Brain Score Based on 34 reviews
  • gameplay
  • graphics
  • music
Touhou Genso Rondo: Bullet Ballet Game Cover
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.
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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.

  • Play​station 4
  • Play​Station
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

57%
Audience ScoreBased on 34 reviews
gameplay15 positive mentions
story3 negative mentions
  • Multiplayer is engaging and chaotic fun, especially once players learn the system.
  • The game features charming graphics and a diverse cast of characters, appealing to both newcomers and long-time fans.
  • The soundtrack is enjoyable, and the game carries the spirit of the original series well.
  • The gameplay can feel repetitive due to its simplicity and lack of variety in stages.
  • The story mode lacks personality and depth, with unvoiced dialogue and minimal character development.
  • Controls can be frustrating, and some characters are poorly balanced, affecting competitive play.
  • gameplay29 mentions

    The gameplay is described as engaging and chaotic, successfully capturing the spirit of the original series with a unique blend of shoot 'em up mechanics and one-on-one battles. However, it suffers from unclear hitboxes, repetitive elements, and some clunky mechanics that may frustrate players, particularly those unfamiliar with the series. While the art style and music are praised, the overall experience can feel unvaried and lacking in depth for some players.

    • “Gameplay is engaging and chaotic fun.”
    • “There's a lot of advanced mechanics as well for the hardcore enthusiast.”
    • “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.”
    • “The gameplay is slow, boring, repetitive, and unrewarding.”
    • “Unimpressive gameplay, PS2-ish graphics, slow down upon victory or loss, terrible spell mechanics, neat extras.”
    • “Does putting up with this sorry excuse for gameplay get you anything?”
  • graphics11 mentions

    The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews; while many players appreciate the charming art style and cute character designs, particularly appealing to anime fans, others criticize the visuals as outdated, likening them to PS2-era graphics. Despite the aesthetic appeal, some users feel that the graphics could be significantly improved, especially given the game's indie origins and lack of updates in the port. Overall, the visuals are described as gorgeous but inconsistent in quality.

    • “The music is phenomenal, the visuals are also gorgeous, and the characters are cute and likeable if you're an anime fan.”
    • “[Unique blend of shoot 'em up gameplay and one-on-one battles, charming graphics and art style, wide selection of unique characters].”
    • “Good art style, fun gameplay.”
    • “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.”
  • music10 mentions

    The music in the game is generally praised for its quality and ability to capture the spirit of the original series, with character themes that resonate well, though some specific tracks, like Utsuho's, received criticism for lacking melody. Overall, the soundtrack is described as phenomenal, complementing the game's visuals and character design, making it a delightful experience for anime fans. Additionally, the inclusion of a music CD and artbook enhances the overall package.

    • “The music is phenomenal, the visuals are also gorgeous and the characters are cute and likeable if you're an anime fan.”
    • “It carries the spirit of the original series quite well; from gameplay, music, and the story.”
    • “Good art style, fun gameplay, sweet music.”
    • “Its soundtrack features the themes of the select characters, and they sound nice for the most part (Utsuho's theme could have been much better; where was the melody?).”
  • story10 mentions

    The story in the game is described as lacking depth and personality, with a silly tone that may not resonate with newcomers or fans of the original series. While it captures the spirit of its predecessor, the narrative is criticized for being poorly constructed and repetitive, with minimal engagement and humor. Overall, the story mode feels like a barebones addition that fails to elevate the gameplay experience.

    • “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 dialogue sequences with asinine reasons as to why they must fight, all done with no personality or any humor.”
    • “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.”
  • character development1 mentions

    Character development is praised for its appealing designs and the fun feature that allows players to swap colors when selecting the same character, enhancing the multiplayer 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.”
    • “Each character has a unique backstory that unfolds beautifully throughout the game, making every choice feel significant.”
  • humor1 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.

Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

68% average critic score

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