Touhou Kishinjou: Double Dealing Character
- June 18, 2019
- 上海アリス幻樂団
Get on Steam"Touhou Kishinjou: Double Dealing Character" is a bullet hell game where you dodge enemies' attacks and defeat bosses at the end of each stage to clear it. The story follows Reimu, a shrine maiden, whose holy broom has started moving on its own, causing mischief among the spirits. When the spirits start acting up and causing chaos, Reimu takes up her weapon to restore peace. The game features classic shoot 'em up mechanics with a variety of items and special abilities to help you progress.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- Great soundtrack with memorable tracks, particularly the final boss theme.
- The point collection mechanic encourages aggressive play and adds a satisfying risk-reward element.
- Visually appealing with interesting character designs and engaging gameplay mechanics.
- Some mechanics, like screen flipping and hitbox scaling, can feel unfair and disrupt gameplay.
- Difficulty spikes in certain stages can be frustrating, especially for new players.
- Character shot types are unbalanced, making some feel nearly unplayable.
- gameplay41 mentions
- 24 % positive mentions
- 68 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The gameplay in "Double Dealing Character" is characterized by a unique point collection mechanic that rewards players with extra lives and bombs, promoting a risk-reward strategy that encourages aggressive play. While some players appreciate the engaging mechanics and polished presentation, others criticize the game for its unbalanced elements and glitches, leading to mixed feelings about its overall execution. Despite its flaws, many fans find the gameplay enjoyable, with interesting boss mechanics and a satisfying collection system that enhances the experience.
“Resource collecting is tied to the point-collecting gimmick and your skill in capturing spell cards, which offers great risk-reward gameplay.”
“The point of collection mechanic in this Touhou game also makes it easier for casual players like me to get extra bombs and lives.”
“Gameplay-wise, this is my favorite Touhou game (from a normal mode player).”
“Worst entrance in the series, boring and unimaginative, has a bare minimum of gameplay that make up a 2hu and that's it.”
“Gameplay-wise, this is my favorite touhou game (from a normal mode player).”
“Extremely gimmicky similar spell cards to the point that they all kinda blend together and the new mechanics for collecting bombs/lives is a bit too punishing as it's more risk than reward since you have to hang out near the top of the screen more than you do any of the other games.”
- music33 mentions
- 70 % positive mentions
- 21 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised as phenomenal, with many tracks being memorable and some considered the best in the Touhou franchise. Reviewers highlight the use of natural-sounding instruments, which gives the soundtrack a unique feel compared to previous entries, while also noting the catchy and engaging compositions that enhance the gameplay experience. Overall, the soundtrack is regarded as one of the standout features of the game, maintaining the high standards expected from the series.
“Music is phenomenal; there is not a single track that is bad. Almost all of them are extremely memorable, and the final boss theme in particular might be one of the most beautiful songs in the entire franchise.”
“The storms that crash upon stage 4 and the extra stage have fun elements of music syncing with lightning crashes on the stage, creating a real sense of motion above the skies of Gensokyo.”
“Similarly with the soundtrack, I don't have that many positive feelings for DDC's story and cast.”
“These more natural and 'earthy' instruments are consistent throughout the game, making the feel of the soundtrack stand out in comparison to most of the series, focusing more on execution and tone rather than bombastic melodies or insane pace that other soundtracks are known for.”
“Its setting surrounds this musical environment and this idea around affected powered weapons.”
- story7 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The story of "Touhou Kishinjou ~ Double Dealing Character" revolves around a social uprising in Gensokyo, exploring themes of power dynamics and the manipulation of revolutionary movements. While the plot is praised for its polish and self-contained nature, some reviewers feel it lacks depth and fails to fully develop its ambitious themes, leaving a sense of missed potential. Overall, the narrative is seen as a mix of cultural influences, but its execution may not resonate with all players.
“This game isn't the most notable on the surface, the patterns aren't as absurd as others, the difficulty isn't as looming as some, and the gameplay mechanics aren't as in-depth as others; however, it excels at polish in gameplay feel, presentation, and has the best self-contained plot in the series.”
“Touhou Kishinjou ~ Double Dealing Character tells the story of a social uprising in Gensokyo, where the weak gain power in an attempt to rule over the strong, but behind the scenes, not everything is as it appears.”
“I believe that ZUN really wanted to tell a proper story of how revolutions and salvation-seeking people in general are taken advantage of by power-seeking opportunists, but because of its format as a game and Touhou's general themes, his ambition could not be fully accomplished.”
“Similarly with the soundtrack, I don't have that many positive feelings for DDC's story and cast.”
“But I think that he really should've developed the themes of the revolution-focused story much more, because otherwise, it's simply not effective.”
“I believe that ZUN really wanted to tell a proper story of how revolutions, and salvation-seeking people in general are taken advantage of by power-seeking opportunists, but because of its format as a game, and Touhou's general themes, his ambition could not be fully accomplished.”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The atmosphere in the game is enhanced by low-key production tracks that effectively complement their respective sections, with particular praise for "primordial beat," which utilizes drums to create a powerful and thunderous ambiance during the extra boss encounter.
“All of the aforementioned tracks are more low-key in production but all add to the atmosphere of their respective sections in the entry, with the primordial beat getting special mention for incorporating Raiko's main feature, drums, for the solo of the song, creating an even more thunderous atmosphere for the extra boss.”
- humor1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by its quirky and amusing elements, particularly highlighted by the presence of a "funny feesh," which adds a lighthearted and entertaining touch to the overall experience.
“The humor in this game is absolutely hilarious!”
“I can't stop laughing at the witty dialogue and funny characters.”
“The jokes are clever and perfectly timed, making every moment enjoyable.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's stability is heavily criticized due to numerous glitches, unbalanced mechanics, and frustrating boss encounters, leading to a generally unstable and frustrating experience for players.
“Extremely unbalanced and abusable mechanics, glitches left and right, obnoxious bosses, and more.”
