Touhou Luna Nights

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Touhou Luna Nights is a metroidvania-style game with a heavy emphasis on combat and exploration. Players control protagonist Sakuya Izayoi, a powerful time-manipulating maid, as they navigate through various stages filled with challenging enemies and intricate puzzles. The game features beautiful hand-drawn art and animation, as well as a captivating soundtrack that adds to the atmosphere of the Touhou Project universe.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Reviews

80%

Audience ScoreBased on 4,319 reviews

gameplay768 positive mentions

grinding51 negative mentions

gameplay
1,536 mentions
50 % positive mentions
48 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Touhou Luna Nights" is highly praised for its innovative mechanics, particularly the time stop and graze systems, which add depth and strategy to both combat and exploration. Players appreciate the fluid controls, engaging boss fights, and the seamless integration of time manipulation into the gameplay, making it feel fresh and dynamic. While the game is relatively short, the combination of tight mechanics, beautiful pixel art, and a fantastic soundtrack creates a satisfying experience that resonates well with both metroidvania and touhou fans.
- “The time-stop mechanic is a masterpiece, and it carries the entire game.”
- “The gameplay is smooth and the time mechanics add a layer of bullet-hell depth to the already wild boss fights!”
- “The time manipulation mechanics really served to spice up the gameplay.”
- “The gameplay feels awfully slow, and the time stop mechanic manages to be way too overpowered while being boring in execution at the same time.”
- “The time stop mechanic is allowed to be as powerful as it seems like it ought to be, with just enough weak spots to avoid undermining the thrill of utilizing it.”
- “The gameplay loop and pacing slowed down towards the end with the introduction of prolonged platforming sections that punish you harshly for failure.”
music
896 mentions
65 % positive mentions
34 % neutral mentions
1 % negative mentions
The music in "Touhou Luna Nights" is widely praised for its high quality, featuring energetic remixes of classic Touhou tracks that enhance the gameplay experience. Many players highlight the soundtrack's ability to complement the game's fast-paced action and boss battles, with some tracks being particularly memorable. However, a few users noted that the music can become repetitive over time, and there are limited options for adjusting sound settings in-game. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout feature, aligning with the franchise's reputation for exceptional music.
- “The music is solid, the artwork is stellar (as all of this developer's games show), and it's just a pleasant way to kill an afternoon.”
- “Touhou’s music has long been a strong suit and the tracks help keep the energy high for the entire playthrough.”
- “The gameplay is great, fun and interesting, the music is fantastic and a fricking banger, the map is not the biggest but still enough to take about 7-9 hours on a casual playthrough to fully explore, the story is also interesting imo, the artstyle is also really beautiful and overall I enjoyed the game a lot!!!”
- “But the music and audio design all kind of suck, I can't remember the music the second I'm back to the Windows desktop.”
- “The loud background music at first is indeed cheering but not for long.”
- “Music ain't amazing and bosses are simple except the last one which is just annoying.”
story
389 mentions
25 % positive mentions
70 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
The story in "Touhou Luna Nights" is generally considered simple and somewhat shallow, often serving as a mere backdrop for the gameplay rather than a focal point. Many players noted that familiarity with the Touhou universe enhances understanding and enjoyment, as the narrative relies heavily on established lore and character relationships, which can be confusing for newcomers. While some found the story charming and lighthearted, others criticized it for being poorly translated and lacking depth, ultimately agreeing that the game's strengths lie more in its mechanics and design than in its storytelling.
- “The gameplay is great, fun and interesting, the music is fantastic, and the story is also interesting in my opinion; the art style is really beautiful and overall I enjoyed the game a lot!”
- “The story is simple and straightforward, the game is mostly linear with backtracking only required for collecting a few optional abilities/gems/hp & mp upgrades, the time manipulation mechanics are easy to understand and help make the game easier.”
- “The story is cute, and while it may feel bare-bones as it isn't heavily focused upon, the story we do get is sweet enough to evoke some feelings in the end.”
- “The story is a nonsensical soup that seems translated poorly and doesn't do any of these fun and interesting characters any reasonable level of justice.”
- “Unfortunately, the story in Luna Nights is directly tied to the lore of other games and does not explain itself to new players.”
- “The story is pretty much nonexistent, but that is not a big deal for me.”
graphics
344 mentions
69 % positive mentions
30 % neutral mentions
1 % negative mentions
The graphics of "Touhou Luna Nights" have received widespread acclaim for their stunning pixel art and fluid animations, which contribute significantly to the game's overall aesthetic appeal. Reviewers highlight the vibrant character designs, detailed environments, and impressive visual effects that enhance gameplay, particularly during boss fights. The combination of beautiful artwork and a well-executed soundtrack creates an engaging atmosphere, making it a standout title in the metroidvania genre.
- “The graphics are gorgeous and fluidly animated, from the sprites themselves to how Sakuya moves to even effects like the water and fire - not to mention boss effects.”
- “The graphics are easily the best part of this game.”
- “The visuals are great sprite work with fluid animation.”
- “However, the game's interface is overly simplistic, and the inability to adjust settings like graphics and language except at game launch is user-unfriendly.”
- “This is not AVGN bad, but it certainly shouldn't be up there with real titans of the metroidvanian genre; it's way too half-assed in every regard other than graphics.”
- “A very short metroidvania with okay exploration, kind of boring upgrades, but wonderful boss fights; dragged down a point because of the art style.”
replayability
62 mentions
31 % positive mentions
61 % neutral mentions
8 % negative mentions
The game's replayability is a mixed bag; while some players find it enjoyable enough to revisit for boss rush modes and speedrunning challenges, others note that the short length and limited content reduce its overall replay value. Many agree that the core gameplay is fun, but the lack of significant new content or challenges after the initial playthrough leaves little incentive for repeated runs. Overall, it offers decent replayability for completionists and fans of the genre, but may not satisfy those seeking extensive replay options.
- “While it was short, it undeniably has amazing replay value.”
- “The main game takes only around 6-7 hours for a new person to complete, while it may not be long this game has tons of replayability as it doesn't force players to adopt a single strategy.”
- “In practice, this means that any boss or even basic enemy encounter can be approached differently depending on the player's preference and skill level, giving this fairly short game an uncanny level of replayability.”
- “Low replayability, coupled with a sudden increase in environmental trap difficulty in the latter half, detracts from the gaming experience.”
- “The only downside I can give is that it is a little short and there's only a small bit of replayability, but that is most likely a nitpick.”
- “Not much replay value unless you want the no continues achievement.”
grinding
55 mentions
4 % positive mentions
4 % neutral mentions
93 % negative mentions
The game's grinding aspect is a mixed bag; while some players find it necessary for leveling up and collecting gems to enhance their characters, others feel it can become tedious and repetitive, particularly during boss fights and backtracking. Many reviews highlight that grinding is not strictly required to complete the game, but it can significantly ease the difficulty, especially in later stages. Overall, the balance between challenge and grinding varies, with some players enjoying the grind while others see it as a flaw in the game's design.
- “The inclusion of the lost holy sword, which is an endgame item, removes the tedium of grinding, as it automatically reveals secret rooms, making an endgame sweep of the map enjoyable.”
- “It's heavy on collectibles, but it isn't tedious.”
- “The game is plagued with tedious, forced multiple playthroughs for collection purposes, and the map design lacks refinement.”
- “S-ranking boss rush mode seems to want Sakuya at at least level 40 with tons of money put into upgrades if the achievement guide is any indication, and I doubt anyone but the most hardcore of players would be willing to do the amount of grinding necessary to make up 15+ levels of grinding for money on such a short game.”
- “World exploration is enjoyable but sometimes tedious due in part to the long amount of travel between save points.”
humor
53 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised for its quirky character interactions, amusing dialogue, and clever references, particularly to the JoJo's Bizarre Adventure series. Players find the comedic elements enhance the gameplay experience, making even challenging mechanics like time-stopping feel entertaining. Overall, the humor adds a lighthearted charm to the game, contributing to its appeal as a fun and engaging metroidvania.
- “The character interactions are funny and you really need skill to play this game efficiently.”
- “Mixed in is the typical Touhou goodness, with funny and charming characters, dialogue, and difficult bullet-hell boss fights.”
- “There's so much funny dialogue between the characters, as well.”
emotional
15 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by a blend of heartfelt nostalgia and wholesome gameplay experiences, particularly through its homage to the Touhou series. Players appreciate the engaging mechanics, such as the "graze" system, which adds a layer of strategy and satisfaction, while the music and pixel art contribute to a charming atmosphere. Despite a simple story, the overall presentation and emotional resonance leave players feeling fulfilled and eager for replayability.
- “Having finished the game a day prior to writing this review, it was one of the most wholesome experiences I've had in a single-player game in a long, long time.”
- “It's neither overly long nor too difficult; it's real fun, it's got a fantastic presentation, and it's a heartfelt homage to Touhou.”
- “It's hard to describe because Touhou music is very broad, full of modern electronics to traditional magical folk, with emotional shifts in tone and melody.”
stability
15 mentions
20 % positive mentions
-7 % neutral mentions
87 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's stability is a mixed bag; while many players report an enjoyable experience with minimal bugs and a well-implemented time mechanic, others have encountered significant glitches, particularly with controller functionality and tutorial issues. The presence of some graphical glitches and the dual time control mechanics can lead to confusion, but the core gameplay remains engaging and refined for most users.
- “Runs great on Proton.”
- “No glitches.”
- “The game maintains a steady frame rate throughout.”
- “That being said, it is extremely buggy and a very badly done tutorial.”
- “Please can anyone tell me how to configure my controls? If I press Z, it just freezes there and I can't do anything... help please!!!”
- “- controller glitches and bugs.”
atmosphere
12 mentions
50 % positive mentions
25 % neutral mentions
25 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is characterized by its exquisite pixel art, fluid animations, and a vibrant soundtrack that enhances the overall experience, creating a satisfying blend of excitement and nostalgia reminiscent of classic titles like Castlevania. While many players appreciate the colorful scenery and engaging music, some critiques point to a lack of depth in level design and a few forgettable tracks that fail to elevate the atmosphere in certain stages. Overall, the combination of visuals and sound contributes to a pleasant and immersive environment, particularly during boss encounters.
- “Its exquisite pixel art style, fluid character animations, metroidvania gameplay, bullet hell shooting, unique Touhou 'grazing' mechanic, and atmospheric music all contribute to a highly satisfying gaming experience.”
- “The atmosphere was also pleasant, with colorful scenery and a soundtrack to get you pumped up for battle.”
- “Smooth controls, amazing music, fantastic atmosphere.”
- “But still, this game has some flaws; the songs don't create any atmosphere for the stages that you're playing, except for the bosses. The level design is amazing, but I think it's too straightforward.”
- “Great music is also a thing that both Touhou and Castlevania share, but unfortunately this is not the case: the arrangements are forgettable, do not really deliver any specific atmosphere, and are a bit too repetitive.”
- “The remixes were done really well, and I felt they did well to add to the atmosphere of the locations and boss fights.”
optimization
7 mentions
57 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
43 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its excellent optimization, featuring low system requirements and stable performance without crashes or significant bugs. Players report smooth gameplay, even on lower-end hardware, and while it is still in early access, the current build is fully optimized and free of major issues. However, the content is limited, with players noting a relatively short playtime for the available content.
- “It has very low PC requirements and stable performance without any crashes or game-breaking bugs.”
- “The game runs smoothly, and once I got used to the snail/freeze and graze systems (you have to, otherwise this game seems impossible), I enjoyed it pretty much.”
- “Now that the final verdict is clearly stated, the very next thing that has to be said is that it's early access... at the time of writing, it's about half done (not in the 'it's all bugged due to incomplete coding', rather it's fully optimized, never saw one bug).”
- “The optimization is lacking, leading to frequent frame drops and stuttering during gameplay.”
- “Despite the low PC requirements, the game struggles to maintain a consistent performance, especially in crowded areas.”
- “There are numerous graphical glitches that detract from the overall experience, indicating poor optimization.”
character development
4 mentions
75 % positive mentions
25 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Character development is highlighted through unique abilities and appealing designs that have inspired various anime and games, particularly noting the influence of characters like Izayoi Sakuya from the Touhou Project. The art quality, including character designs and environments, is praised for its smooth animations, although some oddities in design are mentioned. Overall, the character development is seen as a strong point, enhancing the overall experience.
- “The art from the character designs to the environments was genuinely great.”
- “Character design is also nice, with an occasional oddity once in a while.”
- “This unique ability and character design have significantly influenced various anime and game creations, including Izayoi Sakuya from the Touhou Project.”
monetization
2 mentions
50 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
50 % negative mentions
The game features an in-game currency system without any microtransactions, which users appreciate; however, the shop's design resembles that of games typically associated with microtransactions, leading to some confusion among players.
- “It's weird that the devs set it up that way; I mean, it's not a pay real money to level up game. All the currency is 'in-game'; there are no microtransactions, thank God. But yet, they set it up the way one would expect a game with microtransactions to be set up, as far as the shop goes.”
- “It's strange that the developers designed it this way. I mean, it's not a pay-real-money-to-level-up game; all the currency is 'in-game.' There are no microtransactions, thank God, but they set it up in a way that feels like a game with microtransactions, especially regarding the shop.”