Touhou SouzinengiV -The Genius of Sappheiros-
- October 31, 2022
- ハチクマソフト
Get on Steam"Touhou Soujinengi V: The Genius of Sappheiros" is a bullet hell shooter game set in the Touhou Project universe. The player controls Sapphire, a Youkai detective, investigating strange occurrences in the Youkai district. Gameplay involves fast-paced shooting and dodge mechanics, with boss battles that feature intricate attack patterns. The game boasts beautifully hand-drawn graphics and an immersive soundtrack.
Reviews
- The game features deep and complex gameplay mechanics that encourage strategic thinking and party composition, making each encounter engaging and challenging.
- It offers a charming old-school JRPG experience with a fun and humorous tone, appealing to both Touhou fans and newcomers alike.
- The difficulty is well-balanced, with multiple difficulty settings available, allowing players to choose their preferred challenge level without excessive grinding.
- The game can be extremely grind-heavy, with low drop rates for materials and new characters starting at level 1, making it frustrating for players who want to progress quickly.
- The story is linear and lacks depth, often feeling like a mere backdrop to the gameplay rather than a compelling narrative.
- Some mechanics, such as the ambush system and the lack of random encounters, can lead to tedious backtracking and disrupt the flow of gameplay.
- gameplay22 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 59 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The gameplay of this Touhou-inspired RPG is praised for its solid mechanics, strategic depth, and engaging boss battles that require players to learn and adapt. While some players find the grind tedious, the overall experience is described as fast-paced and enjoyable, with a good balance of challenge and variety in character roles. The game is recommended for RPG fans, particularly those who appreciate turn-based systems, though it may be challenging for newcomers.
“Fun game, plenty of mechanics without being overcomplicated, fast pace.”
“Bosses have unique mechanics that you have to either learn to exploit or otherwise deal with, and the dialogue is quite enjoyable.”
“I cannot stress this enough, this is peak turn-based gameplay, the bosses are challenging and require actual strategy, the game does not require any grinding beyond just battling stuff normally.”
“The grind is utterly excruciating and there are a host of mechanics to make it even worse.”
“If you don't fully explore or understand every mechanic, from status ailments to how attacks from bosses interact with your own, and even the dungeon puzzles themselves, I've seen people get very frustrated.”
“I admit it's not for everyone, as it can be very challenging for newcomers and the story being what it is means you're only playing it for the gameplay.”
- story17 mentions
- 18 % positive mentions
- 65 % neutral mentions
- 18 % negative mentions
The story in this game is described as linear and typical of the Touhou series, featuring a simple plot where the protagonist, Reimu, resolves incidents by defeating various characters. While the narrative lacks depth and memorability, it is charming and humorous, providing a refreshing contrast to more text-heavy modern RPGs. Overall, the focus is primarily on gameplay rather than story, making it appealing for players who prioritize combat over narrative complexity.
“The story is really simple but fits Touhou stories perfectly; it's a bit funny, a bit charming, not overly serious, and especially not absurdly long and verbose, which is a breath of fresh air when modern RPGs are so text-heavy.”
“Extremely rich with content, you can easily spend 100+ hours just to clear the main story, and hundreds more in the post-game.”
“The plot is silly, and while nobody is going to be making analytical videos about its characters or themes twenty years from now, that's fine.”
“The story is just Touhou; weird things happen and Reimu beats everyone up to solve it.”
“The plot, on the other hand, is silly and nobody is going to be making analytical videos about its characters or themes twenty years from now, and that's fine.”
“The story itself is emulating a standard Touhou plot - there's an incident happening in Gensokyo, and the protagonists run around looking for the culprit, eventually confronting them at their own home base - not that memorable for JRPG plotlines in general, but okay if you're more focused on the gameplay aspect.”
- grinding8 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Overall, players find that while some grinding is necessary for character optimization, the game emphasizes strategy and party composition over extensive level grinding. The improved experience curve and quality of life features in the latest version reduce the need for grinding, allowing players to progress without getting stuck, although achieving 100% completion may still require more effort. Boss fights are challenging but can be tackled with the right tactics rather than grinding for levels.
“Although some degree of grinding is necessary if you want to make certain characters shine, they can still function if you don't want to bother doing so.”
“You don't have to grind a lot if you're just aiming to clear the game, but getting to 100% completion will be tedious.”
“Grinding is nowhere near as rewarding as learning more and more about how this game works.”
- humor5 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by witty banter and amusing interactions among characters, particularly in their playful yet threatening demeanor. While the plot is simplistic and serves mainly as a backdrop for action, it effectively complements the lighthearted tone, making the experience enjoyable without overwhelming players with excessive dialogue. Overall, the humor strikes a balance between charm and fun, enhancing the game's appeal.
“Pretty funny banter too, given the plot's paper-thin nature, which is basically an excuse to get into cool fights.”
“Also, it's fun to see the different girls just hold daggers, creating a threatening but funny vibe.”
“The story is really simple but fits Touhou stories perfectly; it's a bit funny, a bit charming, not overly serious, and especially not absurdly long and verbose, which is a breath of fresh air when modern RPGs are so text-heavy.”
- music5 mentions
- 80 % positive mentions
- -40 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally praised for its expressiveness and memorability, with standout tracks like the boss battle theme being particularly highlighted as exceptional. While some songs may not resonate as well, the overall soundtrack contributes significantly to the gaming experience, leaving a lasting impression on players. However, there is a desire among fans for the option to purchase the original soundtrack on Steam.
“The soundtrack is great, with the theme for boss battle 1 being one of the best boss songs you can find in this medium.”
“The game's soundtrack is very good and definitely memorable; I have heard so many hours of the overworld theme while changing gear and respec'ing, it is stuck in my head forever. Even if I'll never get over how good boss theme #1 is, which sadly gets replaced halfway through the game for something a little more sober.”
“Character sprites are expressive and the music is nice.”
“I wish the original soundtrack could be purchased here on Steam.”
“The music feels repetitive and lacks variety.”
“The background tracks are forgettable and don't enhance the gameplay experience.”
- graphics3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- -67 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The graphics in Gosv represent a significant upgrade from previous versions, featuring widescreen support and higher resolution visuals. The environments are beautifully crafted with unique identities and exceptional spritework, while the character sprites are cute, expressive, and contribute to the game's overall charm.
“Gosv is an improvement over the previous versions of the game, particularly in terms of visuals, featuring widescreen support and a much higher resolution.”
“Environments all establish an immediate identity for themselves and are constructed of unblemished, beautiful sprite work you won't really find almost anywhere else, while character sprites have a cute, endearing aesthetic and are very expressive.”
“The graphics are a significant step back from what I expected, with low-resolution textures that feel outdated and uninspired.”
“The character models lack detail and animation fluidity, making the game feel less immersive than it should be.”
“While the environments have potential, they often feel empty and lack the polish needed to truly engage players.”
