Touhou: Gensokyo Survivors
- May 11, 2023
- Xeloph
- 3h median play time
Get on Steam
Get on itch.io StoreIn "Touhou: Gensokyo Survivors," Gensokyo is overrun with supernatural beings, and it's up to Reimu and other characters to resolve the incident. This fast-paced game features a grid-based inventory system, 26 weapons with alternative attack modes, 5 spell cards, and 8 playable characters. A typical playthrough lasts 15-20 minutes.
Reviews
- The game features charming pixel art and pleasant music, making it visually and audibly appealing.
- The unique inventory management system adds an interesting twist to the gameplay, allowing for strategic item placement and spell card combinations.
- At its low price point, the game offers a fun and accessible experience for both Touhou fans and newcomers to the genre.
- The game lacks content, with only one stage and limited character differentiation, leading to repetitive gameplay.
- Many characters are poorly balanced, making some nearly unplayable and detracting from the overall experience.
- The combat mechanics are clunky and frustrating, with issues such as poor aiming and a lack of meaningful progression or upgrades.
- gameplay21 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 52 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The gameplay is described as fun and addictive, drawing comparisons to other survivor games while incorporating unique mechanics like inventory management and a spell card system. However, it suffers from limited character selection, clunky weapon mechanics, and a lack of engaging progression, which may hinder long-term enjoyment. Overall, while it offers some interesting elements, it falls short of fully capitalizing on its potential and the Touhou theme.
“Fun and addicting gameplay.”
“Better than average vampire survivors clone, but with an extremely interesting 'inventory management puzzle' level-up mechanic, and some resource management that serves to elevate it well above the rest.”
“Honestly, the spell card system is the heart of the game's mechanics.”
“There is currently only one song during the whole gameplay, so hopefully other themes will be added in the future.”
“I have several massive problems with the gameplay, but in short: it's Vampire Survivors with barely anything that made me like it so much: no macro game progression, the weapons feel weak and clunky, and it commits the cardinal sin of the action roguelike: getting a good run doesn't make me feel powerful.”
“The heavily pixelated character sprites during gameplay might not be anyone’s cup of tea, and like I mentioned previously, there is no story to follow or an initial plot explaining what’s going on.”
- music13 mentions
- 46 % positive mentions
- 31 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally praised for its quality, particularly as it draws from the beloved Touhou series, but it is criticized for being limited to a single looping track throughout gameplay. While players appreciate the pleasant and charming nature of the music, many hope for additional tracks to enhance the overall experience.
“Great Touhou music and setting.”
“Fun survivors gameplay, great music.”
“The game is great on the eyes and ears: the pixel art is well done, the music is wonderful, if very limited.”
“There is currently only one song during the whole gameplay, so hopefully other themes will be added in the future.”
“Music is one whole looping track, which is surprising considering it's a Touhou game.”
“One stage, with the same flat background, playing the same music (though I will say, it's a certified bop), with no consumables to pick up, only a few objects to obstruct movement; there's just not enough there.”
- graphics3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game features charming pixel art graphics that enhance the overall experience, complemented by a polished gameplay and an excellent musical score. Fans of the genre, particularly those who enjoy Touhou, will likely appreciate the superb visuals.
“This is a fun 'survivor-like' game with good pixel art graphics.”
“Charming graphics and music.”
“While simple, the polished gameplay experience is enhanced by an excellent score and superb visuals that fans of Touhou will appreciate.”
- optimization2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has received mixed feedback, with players noting that while gameplay is functional, the inventory management for weapons feels clunky, particularly with controller support. Additionally, performance issues have been reported on the Steam Deck, indicating that the game may not be fully optimized for all platforms.
“Gameplay is functional, but placing weapons you get from a level up in your inventory feels janky and not properly optimized for controller support.”
“Another thing is that the game isn’t properly optimized (at least not on the Steam Deck).”
- replayability1 mentions
- 200 % positive mentions
- -400 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
While "Gensokyo Survivors" offers a heartfelt and quick gaming experience, players feel that additional quality-of-life improvements are needed to enhance its replayability.
“The variety of characters and strategies keeps me coming back for more; every playthrough feels fresh and exciting.”
“With multiple endings and unlockable content, each run offers new experiences that make me want to dive back in.”
“Gensokyo Survivors has a lot of heart and is a quick play, but I would love a few more quality of life improvements added to the game to enhance its replayability.”
“The game is fun initially, but after a few runs, it feels repetitive and lacks the depth needed for long-term replayability.”
“While the mechanics are interesting, the limited content makes it hard to justify multiple playthroughs.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players note that grinding is a central element of the genre, focusing on the pursuit of new items and the gradual completion of extensive tasks, which can feel both rewarding and tedious.
“This genre is almost entirely propped up by novelty, grinding for new things, and slowly chipping away at a monumental task.”
“The grinding feels endless and often tedious, making it hard to stay engaged with the game.”
“I find the grinding mechanics to be a major drag, as they detract from the overall enjoyment of the gameplay.”
- story1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game lacks a coherent story or initial plot, leaving players without context for the gameplay experience. Additionally, the heavily pixelated character sprites may detract from the overall engagement for some users.
“The heavily pixelated character sprites during gameplay might not be anyone’s cup of tea, and as I mentioned previously, there is no story to follow or an initial plot explaining what’s going on.”
“The narrative feels disjointed and lacks depth, making it hard to connect with the characters or care about their journey.”
“There are numerous plot holes and inconsistencies that detract from the overall experience, leaving players confused about the storyline.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The reviews suggest that the game's stability is likened to powerful abilities, with references to characters' skills that effectively freeze or manipulate time, indicating a solid and reliable performance. Overall, players seem to appreciate the game's consistent functionality and reliability.
