Touhou Genso Wanderer -Reloaded-
- October 25, 2018
- AQUASTYLE
- 200h median play time
The roguelike procedural generation in Touhou: Genso Wanderer Reloaded often generates terrible flaws, horrible stages, and difficulty levels all over the shop - when the difficulty spikes, the challenging nature often just results in repetitive and frustrating grinding. There is far too much dialogue to read through, meaning huge gaps between actually being able to play… It's hard to find much to like here. It will certainly interest Touhou fans who get to enjoy some of their favourite characters, but for casual fans and those new to the series, all they are getting is a rather monotonous dungeon crawler.
Get on SteamTouhou Genso Wanderer Reloaded is a roguelike RPG set in the Touhou Project universe. Traverse procedurally generated dungeons, defeat powerful bosses, and collect items to aid you in your journey. This updated version includes new characters, story content, and balance changes from the original game. Cooperate with a friend in local split-screen multiplayer for an added challenge.
Reviews
- The game features a deep crafting and equipment system that adds significant depth and replayability.
- The story is well-written with engaging character interactions, making it enjoyable even for those unfamiliar with the Touhou universe.
- The game offers a vast amount of content, including numerous dungeons and playable characters, providing a rewarding experience for fans of the genre.
- The game can be extremely punishing, with a steep learning curve and difficult boss fights that may frustrate players.
- Inventory management can be cumbersome, and the map interface takes up too much screen space, making navigation challenging.
- Some players may find the reliance on RNG and the lack of checkpoints during dungeons to be frustrating, leading to repeated runs without significant progress.
- story72 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 79 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The game's story is surprisingly well-crafted, featuring a rich main narrative and numerous side stories that are engaging and well-voiced, making it accessible even for newcomers to the Touhou series. While the initial arcs are particularly strong, some players feel that the later storylines lose momentum, and the overall experience is enhanced by high production values in its visual novel presentation. However, familiarity with the Touhou universe may be necessary to fully appreciate the depth and references within the story.
“The story is surprisingly good; I wasn't expecting much at first, but everything is actually well-written and the characters are faithful to the original series.”
“The story part is in visual novel style, and every character is fully voiced by amazing voice actors.”
“The several side stories also give more connections and references to the main story arc, and having the creator thought of this is a very nice and impressive touch.”
“The most underwhelming story I found is going to the 3rd main story arc.”
“The only real way you can progress through this game and experience the story without having to deal with the BS of this game is to use cheats/trainers.”
“Notably, the story doesn't quite stand up on its own, relying on prior knowledge of the characters you meet.”
- gameplay42 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 64 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
Gameplay in this title is a mix of challenging dungeon-crawling mechanics and strategic turn-based elements, reminiscent of the Pokémon Mystery Dungeon series. While players may find the learning curve steep and some mechanics poorly explained, the game offers a wealth of content, character variety, and a deep crafting system that can lead to rewarding experiences for those willing to invest time. Overall, it is recommended for fans of the genre, particularly those who appreciate the Touhou universe, despite its frustrations and occasional roughness during boss fights.
“I would strongly recommend this game for its story and gameplay.”
“Stellar soundtrack, a fun story with some hilarious moments, really fun gameplay with loads of characters to choose from, and a deep crafting and upgrade system that's based on putting and removing seals on your pieces of equipment.”
“Gorgeous visuals, fantastic characterization, attention to detail, myriad clever references, engaging gameplay that is harder yet (mostly) feels more fair than other mystery dungeon games I've played, this game has everything going for it and very little against.”
“The game is extremely well made, especially the voices and art, but it has gameplay that is very, very difficult to learn. It doesn't matter if you use a gamepad or keyboard; the developers seem to be aware of this and included lots of tutorials and challenges to try before advancing in the adventure. This part is not too fun, as there are a lot of things to memorize, and Reimu controls very stiffly.”
“The lack of specific descriptions against certain enemies and/or dungeon mechanics can really demotivate or frustrate you when it gets you, and can even force you to start over or have you quit the game.”
“An absolute must buy if it's on sale because it's like a AAA Touhou game, but it just has a huge difficulty curve in the gameplay and use of the menus.”
- music32 mentions
- 59 % positive mentions
- 31 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received overwhelmingly positive feedback, with many reviewers praising its high production value, catchy remixes, and original compositions that enhance the gameplay experience. Fans of the Touhou series particularly appreciate the soundtrack, noting its ability to evoke various emotions and complement the game's atmosphere. While a few critiques mention that some tracks feel more background-oriented, the overall consensus is that the music is a standout feature worth the investment.
“The music is very nice, worth getting the extra 18 dollars for the soundtrack and official artwork.”
“Music is wonderful and alone worth buying the game.”
“Music so amazing to hear in this Touhou fangame; it uses remixes of the originals, fitting in most scenarios while also having some originals of their own.”
“In the past, I've stated that the soundtrack isn't as notable compared to other Touhou games; only a few remixes really stand out.”
“Not that it matters much because you will constantly hear the 'crafted' noise from the nitofusion device if you know what you're doing. While it's true and annoying that the nitofusion sound effect overrides the music, I think the music is actually exceptional, even for Touhou standards, which are extremely high.”
“Average music.”
- graphics21 mentions
- 57 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their beautiful art style, rich character designs, and vibrant visuals that enhance the overall experience. Reviewers highlight the high production value, attention to detail, and unique equipment effects, making the game visually appealing even at higher resolutions. While some may find the chibi art style overly vibrant, many appreciate its charm and warmth, contributing to a delightful aesthetic that complements the engaging gameplay.
“The graphics of the game are amazing: the art style for the characters is rich and absolutely gorgeous, and the equipment design and effects vary, truly showcasing their uniqueness.”
“Gorgeous visuals, fantastic characterization, attention to detail, myriad clever references, engaging gameplay that is harder yet (mostly) feels more fair than other mystery dungeon games I've played; this game has everything going for it and very little against.”
“The art is really top notch, and I was surprised to see that despite the game having no graphics settings, it ran in my desktop resolution of 4K, and the art was high enough resolution to look really good in 4K.”
“The art is really top notch and I was surprised to see that despite the game having no graphics settings, it ran in my desktop resolution of 4K and that the art was high enough resolution to look really good in 4K.”
“Graphics are fine.”
“The graphics and interface are lacking in depth and detail, making the overall experience feel flat.”
- grinding15 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The reviews highlight that grinding is a significant aspect of the game, with many players investing over 1000 hours to complete extensive dungeons and farm for items. While some enjoy the grind for weapon improvement and rare item farming, others find it tedious and repetitive, suggesting that the game leans more towards grinding than traditional rogue-like mechanics. Overall, the experience of grinding varies widely among players, with some embracing it and others criticizing its impact on gameplay.
“Oh and Innocent Heart is 1000 floors long. I personally did not pursue that set of grindy dungeons, but most people I know that did end up clocking over 1000 hours in this game.”
“And speaking of grinding, it is almost pointless to try and farm on lower levels entirely after your weapon or armor is +15 or so.”
“My first criticisms regarded the grinding and repetitiveness.”
- humor13 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised for its clever writing, amusing character interactions, and entertaining visual novel segments, making it enjoyable for both fans and newcomers. Players appreciate the comedic elements, such as quirky character traits and humorous situations, alongside a fun story and engaging gameplay. Overall, the game is recommended for its blend of humor, creativity, and a rich cast of characters.
“Great music, cute and funny writing.”
“It has great dialogues between the characters, impressive cut scenes, and absolute humor.”
“I love how the game is both creative, funny as hell, and addictive as hell.”
- replayability4 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The game offers high replayability, particularly appealing to roguelike fans, with its randomized dungeon dives and a wide variety of playable Touhou characters. Players appreciate the potential for infinite replay value, making it a compelling choice for those who enjoy diverse gameplay experiences.
“Short, but highly replayable randomized dungeon dives.”
“I think this game potentially has infinite replay value and could be the main game for any roguelike aficionado.”
“I love the variety that this game provides; the replay value is quite high if you really like Touhou.”
“Almost every Touhou character is here, and a bunch of them are playable.”
Critic Reviews
Touhou: Genso Wanderer Reloaded Review
The roguelike procedural generation in Touhou: Genso Wanderer Reloaded often generates terrible flaws, horrible stages, and difficulty levels all over the shop - when the difficulty spikes, the challenging nature often just results in repetitive and frustrating grinding. There is far too much dialogue to read through, meaning huge gaps between actually being able to play… It's hard to find much to like here. It will certainly interest Touhou fans who get to enjoy some of their favourite characters, but for casual fans and those new to the series, all they are getting is a rather monotonous dungeon crawler.
30%Touhou Genso Wanderer Reloaded Review
Overwhelming for newcomers and probably too generic for genre aficionados, Touhou Gensou Wanderer Reloaded is difficult to recommend to all but die-hard series fans. The beautiful hand-drawn presentation and high production values are hindered severely by a contrived and intrusive interface, unimportant dialogue with very little character development and derivative mechanics. It certainly looks the part, but there are more fun and interesting adventure roguelikes such as Crypt Of The Necrodancer on the eShop right now.
50%- 45%
