Touhou Tenkuushou: Hidden Star in Four Seasons

About

Touhou Tenkuushou: Hidden Star in Four Seasons is a bullet hell game where players must dodge enemy attacks and defeat bosses to clear stages. Each character is associated with a different season, and players can equip two seasons at once to use their unique shot and spell card abilities. Defeating enemies and collecting season items allows players to strengthen their abilities and unleash special season-themed attacks. The goal is to skillfully avoid a barrage of colorful bullets in a race against the boss for the best time.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

Touhou Tenkuushou: Hidden Star in Four Seasons screenshot

99%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,031 reviews

music133 positive mentions

replayability3 negative mentions

The gameplay is fun and accessible, making it a great entry point for newcomers to the Touhou series.
The scoring mechanic adds depth and versatility, allowing players to approach challenges in different ways.
The soundtrack is excellent, featuring memorable tracks that enhance the overall experience.

The game suffers from visual clutter, making it difficult to see bullets against the backgrounds.
There is no official English translation, which can be a barrier for new players unfamiliar with Japanese.
Some players feel that the difficulty spikes in certain stages can be frustrating, especially compared to earlier entries in the series.

music
263 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
51%
48%
2%
The music in this game is widely praised, with many reviewers highlighting its catchy, memorable tracks that enhance the overall gameplay experience. Fans of the Touhou series appreciate the unique compositions by ZUN, noting that the soundtrack is a significant draw for both new and returning players. While some feel that certain tracks may not be as strong as in previous entries, the overall consensus is that the music remains a standout feature, contributing to the game's immersive atmosphere and enjoyment.
- “The music is amazing, as always.”
- “The music is beautiful, it has a unique style and good music.”
- “The soundtrack is great, and the artwork is so far the best in the series.”
- “The release system is a bit of a dud considering the summer release is so much better than everything else in the game, and the music is really lackluster aside from a midsummer fairy's dream until stage 5 onwards throws every banger known to man your way.”
- “The music is computer generated and some people have a problem with it.”
- “The soundtrack, while being of standard ZUN quality (it's good of course) doesn't really stand out from his other works, but maybe that's just me.”
gameplay
124 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
54%
2%
The gameplay in "Touhou: Hidden Star in Four Seasons" is characterized by its engaging bullet hell mechanics, featuring a unique "seasonal release" system that adds depth and strategy without being overly punishing. Players appreciate the balance of challenge and accessibility, making it suitable for both newcomers and veterans of the series, while the responsive controls and captivating soundtrack enhance the overall experience. Despite some criticisms regarding boss design and difficulty spikes, the game is generally regarded as a fun and addictive entry in the Touhou franchise.
- “Overall, it's quite a manageable game in terms of difficulty thanks to the season mechanics, but funnily enough, there are some stages that are harder than the actual boss itself (stages 4 and 5 precisely).”
- “The gameplay is great, the attacks are excellent, and best of all, it's easily available anywhere with Steam!”
- “A glorious soundtrack, surprisingly decent visuals (considering ZUN's track record for art), and really fun gameplay.”
- “While clearing is pretty easy compared to a regular Touhou game, the gameplay itself isn't as easy.”
- “Other than the seasons mechanic, Touhou Tenkuushou doesn't really feel different from previous games.”
- “In the end, Touhou 16 has its music, cute girls, unique playables, the neat sub-season mechanic, and availability on Steam/cheap price going for it, but it really, really lacks in the gameplay/enjoyability department.”
story
63 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
75%
5%
The story of "Touhou: Hidden Star in Four Seasons" is generally considered enjoyable, featuring a whimsical narrative about seasonal chaos in Gensokyo, though it is often described as simple and straightforward, typical of the Touhou series. While some players appreciate the character-driven plot and humor, others note that the lack of official English support can hinder understanding, making fan translations essential for a fuller experience. Overall, the story is seen as a fun backdrop to the gameplay, but not a primary focus, with many players emphasizing the game's accessibility for newcomers.
- “The story takes place over a big portion of Gensokyo, showcasing all the seasons and unique species to go with it.”
- “The heartwarming story of a fairy with a suntan who sets out to conquer the world.”
- “There's a fun twist at the end and the extra stage feels less like a thing tacked on for the sake of having an extra stage and more like an actual addition to the main story.”
- “The worst part is that the extra stage is now part of the main story, so most people will never get to see the true ending because extra stages are impossible.”
- “The game has a story prologue found in the physical manual of the game, but is translated here, and gives some intro insight into the game's story proper if you get it English patched so you aren't totally lost in the narrative.”
- “Simply put, the genre of the game makes dialogue and story really simple and straightforward, sometimes leaving meaningfulness behind.”
graphics
31 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
39%
52%
10%
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some praising the vibrant visuals and cute character designs, while others criticize the lack of a coherent art style and the overall simplicity compared to commercial titles. Despite these criticisms, many players find the graphics pleasing and well-suited to the game's aesthetic, contributing positively to the overall experience. The visuals are generally considered decent for the genre, especially given the game's indie roots, and fans appreciate the unique charm of the art style.
- “The backgrounds and visuals are really nice and all the character designs are really cute.”
- “A glorious soundtrack, surprisingly decent visuals (considering Zun's track record for art) and really fun gameplay.”
- “Fun gameplay, amazing soundtrack and while the visuals aren't AAA worthy, they're pleasing to look at and well designed.”
- “It's only natural that they have inferior graphics and sound compared to commercial bullet hell games.”
- “- no coherent art style, everything is supposed to be as 'realistic' as possible.”
- “Graphics: standard touhou project.”
character development
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
62%
15%
23%
Character development in this game is highly praised for its integration of storytelling, character design, and music, creating a vibrant and engaging experience. The characters are described as lively and colorful, reflecting seasonal themes, though some critiques mention a decline in the appeal of newer designs. Overall, the game is celebrated for its iconic character designs and memorable soundtrack, contributing to its strong narrative and gameplay.
- “Along those lines, the character designs are wonderful; they're all so lively and colorful and really reflect each season they're about.”
- “The series is extremely well known for its instantly recognizable melodic music, fun character designs (and goofy hats), unexpected banter between said characters, and beautiful bullet hell patterns.”
- “This game is peak fiction in storytelling and character development.”
- “The only downside for this series is that the character designs are getting dull and unattractive.”
- “The character design wasn't my favorite for some of the bosses, but they're all welcomed characters in their own right.”
replayability
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
55%
27%
The game offers high replayability due to its four playable characters, each with unique shot types and sub-seasons that allow for diverse gameplay combinations. Players can enjoy multiple difficulty modes and distinct character endings, enhancing the overall experience. The inclusion of fan-favorite characters like Cirno and Aya further adds to the game's appeal, making it a worthwhile investment for those seeking variety.
- “Lots of replay value with the 4 characters and 4 shot types to mix and match.”
- “The shot and release types are wide and varied, so there's a lot of replayability beyond a 1cc.”
- “A great addition to the series in this game is the 'release' subshot system, it gives a whole new spin on player shot types and adds a neat little layer of replayability by mixing and matching characters with seasons, not to mention a handy extra little bomb in its own sense.”
- “Combine this with multiple difficulty modes, and unique dialogue and endings for each character (including endings for the extra stage), and you've got yourself a game with plenty of replayability in it.”
humor
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is widely praised, with players finding it both funny and endearing, particularly through the character of a comedic ice fairy and the game's playful take on serious themes like sexism and racism. Many reviews highlight the amusing bugs and the engaging story, suggesting that the humor enhances the overall experience, especially when playing as certain characters. Overall, the game is celebrated for its lighthearted approach and clever writing.
- “I'm laughing too hard reading the other reviews.”
- “In any case, it’s great to see a funny and endearing game in which women triumph despite the sexism and racism that they encounter, and it’s made all the more sweeter by the fact that this game also represents a triumph against the hordes of entitled men in the real world who feel threatened by the simple concept of women busting yokai.”
- “As to the specific merits of this game, the subseason system gives a lot of options for players to explore (16 in total, 4 player characters times 4 seasons), the story is interesting and funny (try playing Cirno for the most laughs), and the attack patterns are difficult but definitely reward deliberate practice.”
atmosphere
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its enchanting charm, unique lore, and exceptional musical compositions that enhance the overall experience. Despite some gameplay issues, players find the atmosphere captivating and immersive, contributing to a delightful and engaging environment.
- “Having a giant smile on my face and casually trying to understand the mechanics, graze some bullets, enjoy the atmosphere and top-tier musical compositions.”
- “It's not even worth mentioning how amazing Touhou's music always is, but ZUN always manages to go bigger and better, improving his musical style with each game while giving them all their own unique style and atmosphere.”
- “The atmosphere of these games is great and the lore is very interesting.”
emotional
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the game emotionally engaging, particularly appreciating the heartwarming narrative of a fairy on a quest for world domination. The unique gameplay mechanic of grazing bullets adds an emotional layer, as it encourages players to take risks while navigating the story.
- “The heartwarming story of a fairy with a suntan who sets out to conquer the world.”
stability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game experiences stability issues, particularly with glitches in spell and stage practice modes that can lead to crashes. Additionally, visibility problems arise with certain bullet colors against similar backgrounds, and text may appear buggy if the system language is not set to Japanese.
- “There are quite a few glitches involving the spell practice and stage practice functions, including some that crash the game. Additionally, the bullets can sometimes be hard to see against the background (seriously, green bullets on a bright green background???).”
- “If your system is not running in Japanese, some texts will appear buggy.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The optimization aspect of the game is influenced by player performance, character choices, and difficulty settings, leading to multiple endings. However, there are instances where gameplay mechanics, such as the seppuku ritual, can result in unintended consequences that affect the overall experience.
- “Multiple endings determined by your performance, character choice, and difficulty setting.”
monetization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The monetization model is criticized for being overpriced and heavily reliant on microtransactions, with users noting a lack of content despite the game consuming significant storage space.
- “Overpriced and full of microtransactions, the game has no content yet takes up hundreds of precious gigabytes on your HDD.”
- “The monetization model is frustrating, with constant prompts to spend money on in-game items that should be earnable through gameplay.”
- “It's disappointing to see a game that could be great bogged down by aggressive monetization tactics that prioritize profit over player experience.”