Touhou Seirensen: Undefined Fantastic Object

About

In Touhou Seirensen: Undefined Fantastic Object, players control a shrine maiden battling mysterious beings in a snowy landscape using shot attacks and spell cards. Collecting items and defeating enemies earn power-ups, but contact with enemy fire results in lost lives. The game features a story about a shrine situated on the outskirts of a village, where the shrine maiden, Reimu Hakurei, hears rumors of a strange flying ship said to carry the Seven Lucky Gods. Determined to uncover the truth, Reimu sets out to investigate and encounter various challenges along the way.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

Touhou Seirensen: Undefined Fantastic Object screenshot

92%

Audience ScoreBased on 133 reviews

music15 positive mentions

grinding5 negative mentions

The game features a unique UFO mechanic that adds depth and strategy to gameplay, making it engaging and rewarding for players.
The soundtrack is exceptional, with many memorable tracks that enhance the overall experience.
The character designs and art style are well-received, contributing to the game's charm and appeal.

The difficulty spikes between different modes can be inconsistent, making it frustrating for players, especially newcomers.
The UFO mechanics can be annoying and distracting, leading to moments of frustration during gameplay.
Some players find the game mentally taxing and overwhelming, leading to mixed feelings about the overall experience.

music
32 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
47%
44%
9%
The music in the game is widely praised as some of the best in the series, featuring a variety of memorable tracks that enhance the gameplay experience. Many players appreciate how the soundtrack syncs with the action, creating an immersive atmosphere that complements the game's whimsical and chaotic nature. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout element, contributing significantly to the game's appeal and enjoyment.
- “And finally the music, it has some really nice tracks (personal favorites are Nazrin's, Murasa's, and Byakuren's themes).”
- “The music is some of ZUN's best, and so are the gorgeous graphics, with really nice 3D stage visuals, cute portraits, and well-made object sprites.”
- “Just about every stage goes along with its theme, and makes for a truly musical experience.”
- “I remember the first time I played this game, the only songs I really liked were the final boss and maybe the stage 4 and 5 themes, but now I like most of it.”
- “Curvy lasers are awful, but the music is banging and the patterns look cool.”
- “Even if the community is mixed over this entry, it's my favorite; I really love every character design choice in this one and the OST bangs as always.”
gameplay
29 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
28%
62%
10%
Gameplay in this title is a mixed bag, featuring a unique UFO mechanic that adds strategic depth and emergent gameplay, but also suffers from significant difficulty spikes and frustrating resource management. While the soundtrack and art are praised, the inconsistency in challenge levels and the reliance on a tedious mini-game detract from the overall experience for many players. Despite these issues, some players appreciate the dynamic nature of the UFO system, which encourages on-the-fly decision-making and offers a fresh take on the series' traditional mechanics.
- “I found the UFO mechanic added another layer of strategy that I enjoyed, building my runs around getting them.”
- “The sheer fluidity of the mechanic leads to some great on-the-spot decision making that really takes the front seat of this game's gameplay-wise; it is overall fantastic.”
- “The gameplay is quirky because you rarely use normal dodging techniques in this game; tried and true streaming is hardly present in this game's stage sections, and it reiterates that feeling of foreign familiarity.”
- “Gameplay-wise, however, you're going to have a bad time.”
- “UFO mechanics are annoying and distracting from the gameplay. The jump in difficulty between normal and hard is just ludicrous (normal is a bit easier than SA normal, hard is way harder than even SA hard), while the extra stage might be one of the easiest extra stages in the series. The difficulty is just all over the place.”
- “The game comes down to your resources based on a constant, and tedious, annoying mini-game that all UFO players experience. Those complaining about it will be told to 'get good.' Even if you master the timing of this mechanic, the UFOs still move in areas at random, so not only does it become RNG-based, but it's still an absolute tedium to ensure you get the UFOs and the resources you want.”
story
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
33%
33%
The game's story is praised for its unique and self-contained narrative, which builds upon the foundation of previous installments while establishing its own identity. The integration of storytelling into the game's environments and the effort put into character development contribute to a compelling experience, earning it a perfect score of 10/10. Overall, players appreciate the depth and originality of the plot, alongside the engaging art and soundtrack.
- “The shadow of the ship being cast over you when you go into Nazrin's first non on stage 1 shows the effort put forth into making storytelling part of the stage and environments in this installment.”
- “The plot of this game feels uniquely its own too.”
- “While SA felt like it relied heavily on MoF and was practically MoF 2 story-wise, this game uses SA as a stepping stone to kick its plot into gear, but holds its own story-wise and is self-contained outside of the starting conditions, which makes it feel more special.”
- “While 'SA' felt like it relied heavily on 'MoF' and was practically 'MoF 2' story-wise, this game uses 'SA' as a stepping stone to kick its plot into gear, but holds its own story-wise and is self-contained outside of the starting conditions, which makes it feel more special.”
- “A challenging game that grows on you over time; in the story, characters, and music.”
- “On the subject of the story, art, and soundtrack, the game is pretty good.”
grinding
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and frustrating, as it involves farming resources while navigating challenging mechanics and random elements. The need to memorize UFO drop patterns and manage resource collection during battles adds to the difficulty, making the grinding feel like a burdensome mini-game rather than an engaging experience. Overall, many players express a sense of exhaustion and dread associated with the grinding process.
- “Overall, the main strategy is farming resources in the first four stages and then surviving the last two. This sounds easy, but in practice, it's not. Collecting ufos without getting hit can be really challenging, so you'll have to memorize where they drop in more complex sections. Also, something really annoying is trying to get three of the same color, and the last one changes color at the worst possible moment, breaking your chain and potentially ruining runs if you're not careful.”
- “Not only can this be annoying, but collecting ufos during battle is tedious and frustrating.”
- “The game comes down to managing resources through a constant and tedious mini-game that all ufo players experience. Those who complain about it are often told to 'get good.' Even if you master the timing of this mechanic, the ufos still move randomly, making it not only RNG-based but also an absolute tedium to ensure you get the ufos and the resources you want.”
emotional
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the game's music, particularly the "emotional skyscraper" theme, to evoke strong feelings, with many expressing that it has made them cry. The emotional depth of the soundtrack is highlighted as a standout feature, contributing significantly to the overall experience.
- “Byakuren, you made me cry when I first heard your theme. Thank you! (No wonder it's called emotional skyscraper.)”
- “Music-wise, this game is solid too, with 'Emotional Skyscraper', 'Heian Alien', 'Kogasa's Theme', and 'Fires of Hokkai' being some personal favorites.”
character development
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
100%
Character development in the game receives mixed reviews, with some praising the unique character designs and overall appeal, while others criticize the quality of dialogues and a perceived decline in character design compared to previous entries. Despite these criticisms, many players express a strong attachment to the characters and their designs.
- “Even if the community is mixed over this entry, it's my favorite. I really love every character design choice in this one, and the OST is fantastic as always.”
- “The only flaw this game has would probably be the worsening of character design and the dialogues being narcolepsy-inducing.”
- “Even if the community is mixed over this entry, it's my favorite. I really love every character design choice in this one.”
- “Honestly, I can say this game has one of the most unique character designs in any game I've played.”
graphics
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The graphics have seen a significant improvement, featuring stunning 3D stage visuals, charming character portraits, and well-crafted object sprites, which contribute to an overall visually appealing experience.
- “The art style has improved dramatically over time.”
- “The music is some of Zun's best, and so are the gorgeous graphics, with really nice 3D stage visuals, cute portraits, and well-made object sprites.”
atmosphere
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
300%
Reviewers highlight that the game's themes are well-integrated and significantly enhance the overall atmosphere, creating an immersive experience for players.
- “All themes are fitting and add even more to the atmosphere.”
- “The game's atmosphere is incredibly immersive, drawing you into its world.”
- “Every detail contributes to a hauntingly beautiful atmosphere that lingers long after playing.”
- “The atmosphere feels flat and uninspired, lacking the depth needed to immerse players.”
- “Despite the potential, the game fails to create a compelling atmosphere, leaving it feeling lifeless.”
- “The environments are dull and fail to evoke any sense of wonder or tension.”
humor
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The humor in the game is characterized by the presence of a funny alien, which adds a lighthearted and entertaining element to the overall experience. Players appreciate the comedic interactions and quirky personality of the alien, enhancing the game's charm.
- “The game features a hilarious alien character that always has a witty remark ready.”
- “I couldn't stop laughing at the funny alien antics throughout the game.”
- “The humor in the game, especially from the alien, is absolutely top-notch!”