Touhou Shinreibyou: Ten Desires

95%
Game Brain Score Based on 272 reviews
  • gameplay
  • music
  • story
Touhou Shinreibyou: Ten Desires Game Cover
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In Touhou Shinreibyou: Ten Desires, players navigate through stages, dodging enemy bullets and defeating bosses to progress. The story follows a group of reclusive girls who venture into the underworld due to a mysterious phenomenon. Gameplay features include shooting enemies, using spell cards, and entering a "spirit world" state for powerful attacks. The game also includes a scoring system, spirit power, and a spirit gauge for entering the spirit world.

  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

95%
Audience ScoreBased on 272 reviews
gameplay24 positive mentions
  • The game features a unique 'Trance' mechanic that allows players to become invincible temporarily, adding a fun layer to the gameplay.
  • The music is excellent, with memorable tracks that enhance the overall experience, particularly from stage 4 onwards.
  • Ten Desires is considered one of the easier entries in the Touhou series, making it accessible for newcomers while still providing enjoyable gameplay.
  • The game is criticized for its simplicity and lack of challenge, with many players finding it too easy compared to other Touhou titles.
  • There are complaints about the limited character options and repetitive gameplay, as each character has only one shottype that feels similar.
  • Technical issues such as low resolution and lack of native fullscreen support detract from the overall experience.
  • gameplay72 mentions

    The gameplay of "Ten Desires" is characterized by its engaging mechanics, particularly the new "trance" system that allows players to become invincible temporarily, adding depth and strategy to the bullet hell experience. While some players find the danmaku patterns less challenging compared to previous entries, the game balances its punishing nature with unique shot types and a spirit collection mechanic that enhances scoring opportunities. Overall, the gameplay is fun and challenging, appealing to both newcomers and veterans, though it may require some adjustment to fully master its systems.

    • “What I ended up experiencing was a game that had both incredible atmosphere and great gameplay.”
    • “The gameplay of this game is fun; however, with it being as punishing as it is, you end up going on long streaks of fighting through attacks that are very doable, leading to great back and forths. It feels like the energy of an extra stage the entire game.”
    • “The trance meter is a great mechanic for a game that focuses on being more open to beginners while also providing enough depth for more experienced players to toy around with.”
    • “Unfortunately, I do not feel that this installment's unique mechanic of collecting spirit orbs and the 'trance' mode is particularly engaging or useful.”
    • “I tend to hear folks criticize the resource system of this game, saying that getting those spirits kills you because you have to go to the upper half of the screen, or that you need 3 spirits filled to manually use the trance mechanic.”
    • “Every effort in Ten Desires reflects an effort to 'humble' the track of the series in a sense, bringing it back down to the magic that Touhou 6-8 were, with less scale and less drastic gameplay qualities.”
  • music64 mentions

    The music in this game is widely praised for its quality and creativity, with many noting that it maintains the iconic Touhou sound while introducing a more subdued and whimsical vibe in certain tracks. While some players feel that not all songs are memorable, standout tracks like "Desire Drive" and themes from stages 4 and 5 are highlighted as particularly enjoyable. Overall, the soundtrack is considered one of the stronger aspects of the game, effectively complementing the gameplay and enhancing the overall experience.

    • “The music is awesome as always, and I liked a lot the ending drawings; it's always cool to see the characters in alternative clothing drawn by ZUN.”
    • “This is another excellently-crafted experience where the writing, art, music, and bullet patterns all work together to create an interesting world.”
    • “Aside from the core gameplay, it becomes clear pretty early on that the music is going for something different than ZUN usually goes for, but it's nevertheless great.”
    • “Music was fine as always, but there weren't really songs that stuck to me in a way others did.”
    • “Overall music is not the best but 2 or 3 music is really good like stage 1 theme.”
    • “The music is the usual with a strange taste of disco beats thrown in.”
  • story20 mentions

    The story of Touhou 13: Ten Desires is considered forgettable by some, with easy levels and limited character development, yet it features notable character returns, such as Yuyuko, which adds depth to the narrative. The game is praised for its unique focus on character bonds rather than individual backstories, and while it draws from real-life events, it manages to incorporate interesting twists. Overall, it offers a mix of nostalgia and familiarity, appealing particularly to fans of the series.

    • “Yuyuko returning was such a great move for the first boss of the game. Most first bosses are forgotten in the long run, so making the least important boss slot an important character from the past that is relevant to the current plot is a decision that gives a lot of bang for your buck storytelling-wise.”
    • “All of this leads to an incredible cast, not one carried by strong personalities or cool stories or designs, but one whose strength is bonds, which is an incredibly unique take on the characters in this story.”
    • “Characters like Mononobe no Futo and Mamizou Futatsuiwa are simply legendary, and likewise for basically each character's backstory.”
    • “Touhou 13: Ten Desires is quite forgettable in its story aspects, and has the most mind-numbingly easy levels.”
    • “The forgettable story and characters, limited options and spell cards, a very short experience, and an insanely easy one.”
    • “To understand this game, the former two games need to be taken into account; SA and UFO were a continuation of the vastly significant increase in story focus that MoF provided.”
  • atmosphere8 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its subterranean and underworldly themes, effectively conveying a spirit-centric narrative. Reviewers express satisfaction with the immersive ambiance, which complements the gameplay, often exceeding their expectations. The stage and boss themes are particularly noted for their engaging and atmospheric qualities.

    • “The subterranean and underworldly atmosphere nicely conveys the theme of spirits this title carries.”
    • “What I ended up experiencing was a game that had both incredible atmosphere and great gameplay.”
    • “The stage theme is incredibly atmospheric and the boss' theme just bops.”
  • humor8 mentions

    The game is noted for its humorous elements, with players finding the character designs amusing and the battles, particularly against Yoshika, to be both hilarious and inventive. Overall, the humor contributes significantly to the game's charm, making it an enjoyable experience.

    • “The fight against Yoshika is hilarious, fun, and creative.”
    • “Hahahahaha, Reimu is funny.”
    • “Funny doki doki waku waku game.”
  • graphics6 mentions

    The graphics of "Ten Desires" are described as aesthetically toned down compared to previous entries, with a mixed reception towards ZUN's art style. However, the game excels in bullet clarity, enhancing the overall gameplay experience despite its lackluster visuals.

    • “Graphically, ZUN's art may be subject to criticism, but the bullet clarity is great throughout, which is always a plus.”
    • “When I started replaying Ten Desires, I was expecting a game that focused more on aesthetics and vibes than full-on bullet hell gameplay, and I was ready to defend the game on the basis that the tone makes the experience worthwhile.”
    • “Aesthetically, this game is also toned down in most facets from the grand scales of the sunsets over Hokkai and Hell.”
    • “When I started replaying Ten Desires, I was expecting to get a game that focused more on aesthetics and vibes than full-on bullet hell gameplay. Judging by the way certain fans talk about this entry of the series, I was ready to defend the game on the basis that the tone makes the experience worthwhile, despite lackluster gameplay.”
  • replayability2 mentions

    Despite its short length, the game offers high replayability through the inclusion of four distinct characters and four difficulty levels, encouraging players to experience different playstyles and challenges.

    • “While the game is short, it is also very replayable with 4 characters and 4 difficulties.”
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