Touhou Seirensen: Undefined Fantastic Object

94%
Game Brain Score Based on 232 reviews
  • music
  • gameplay
  • story
Touhou Seirensen: Undefined Fantastic Object Game Cover
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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.

  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

94%
Audience ScoreBased on 232 reviews
music26 positive mentions
grinding10 negative mentions
  • The UFO mechanic adds a unique layer of strategy and resource management, making gameplay engaging and dynamic.
  • The soundtrack is exceptional, featuring some of the best tracks in the series that enhance the overall experience.
  • The game offers a variety of characters and shot types, allowing for diverse playstyles and memorable boss fights.
  • The difficulty spikes between Normal and Hard modes are inconsistent, making it frustrating for players.
  • The UFO mechanics can be annoying and distracting, often leading to accidental mistakes during gameplay.
  • Character balance issues, particularly with Marisa, detract from the overall experience and competitiveness.
  • music58 mentions

    The music in the game is widely praised, with many reviewers highlighting its superb quality and emotional resonance, featuring standout tracks like Byakuren's and Murasa's themes. Players appreciate how the soundtrack enhances the gameplay experience, syncing well with the stages and contributing to the game's whimsical atmosphere. Overall, the music is considered one of the game's strongest aspects, often described as infectious and memorable, solidifying its place as a favorite in the Touhou series.

    • “And finally the music, it has some really nice tracks (personal favorites are Nazrin's, Murasa's, and Byakuren's themes).”
    • “I went ahead and got UFO on Steam a couple of days of playing my old copy and man, this game marks all the ticks with variable mechanics, colorful patterns, really unique attacks, and an infectious soundtrack I cannot stop hearing.”
    • “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.”
    • “Going to the extra, it feels pretty quirky and out there, it feels like pure chaos caused by Nue, being expressed through the patterns of the stage enemies, Kogasa randomly showing up, the music, Nue's patterns herself, it's honestly a great time but isn't stand out enough to be up in talks of best extras like SA's or LoLK's.”
    • “Curvy lasers are awful but the music is banging and the patterns look cool.”
  • gameplay58 mentions

    The gameplay of "Touhou 12 ~ Undefined Fantastic Object" is polarizing, with some players appreciating the unique UFO mechanics that add strategic depth and emergent gameplay, while others find them tedious and distracting. The difficulty balance is criticized for being inconsistent, with a significant jump between normal and hard modes, and the reliance on resource management can feel overwhelming. Overall, the game features a vibrant aesthetic and an exceptional soundtrack, but the execution of its mechanics leaves players divided on their enjoyment.

    • “I found the UFO mechanic added another layer of strategy that I enjoyed, building my runs around getting them.”
    • “There's more mechanics, but these alone provide such a unique experience where you can focus on lives and bombs for survival, or focus on point multipliers and strategic use of rainbow UFOs for score and adjust on the fly depending on your current status and how well you know the game.”
    • “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, it is overall fantastic.”
    • “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 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.”
  • story16 mentions

    The game's story is praised for its originality and depth, effectively building on previous installments while establishing a self-contained narrative that feels unique. The integration of storytelling into the game's environments and the overall artistic presentation enhances the experience, contributing to a compelling plot that resonates with players. Overall, the story is highly rated, with some reviewers giving it a perfect score of 10/10.

    • “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.”
    • “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.”
  • grinding10 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and frustrating, as it involves farming resources through challenging mechanics that require memorization and precise timing. The randomness of UFO movements adds to the difficulty, making it feel like a burdensome mini-game rather than an enjoyable experience. Overall, many express dread towards the grinding process, which can detract from the overall enjoyment of the game.

    • “Overall, the main strategy is farming resources on the first four stages and then surviving the last two, which sounds easy but in practice it's not. Collecting the 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.”
    • “The game comes down to your resources based on a constant, and tedious 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 random areas, making it not only RNG-based but also an absolute tedium to ensure you get the ufos and the resources you want.”
    • “This game is exhaustingly difficult, to the point where I dreaded grinding it at times.”
  • emotional8 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its impactful music, particularly the themes associated with characters like Byakuren, which evoke strong feelings and even tears from players. The term "emotional skyscraper" reflects the profound emotional resonance of the soundtrack, making it a standout feature that enhances 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.”
    • “Her theme makes my skyscraper emotional, for real.”
  • character development4 mentions

    Character development in the game is noted for its unique character designs, which stand out as a highlight. However, the dialogue is criticized for being dull and unengaging, detracting from the overall experience.

    • “Honestly, I can say this game has one of the most unique character designs in any game I've played.”
    • “The only flaw this game has would probably be the worsening of character design and the dialogues being narcolepsy-inducing.”
  • graphics2 mentions

    Reviewers note a significant improvement in the art style compared to previous versions, highlighting enhanced visuals that elevate the overall aesthetic of the game.

    • “The art style has improved dramatically over time.”
    • “The art style has improved dramatically over time.”
  • atmosphere2 mentions

    Reviewers consistently highlight that the themes in the game are well-suited and significantly enhance the overall atmosphere, creating an immersive experience for players.

    • “All themes are fitting and add even more atmosphere.”
  • humor2 mentions

    The humor in the game is primarily centered around a funny alien character, which has resonated well with players, contributing to a lighthearted and entertaining experience.

    • “The humor in this game is top-notch, especially the funny alien characters that always bring a smile to my face.”
    • “I love the witty dialogue and the hilarious antics of the funny alien; they really add a unique charm to the game.”
    • “The funny alien interactions are a highlight, making every moment in the game entertaining and full of laughs.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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