Touhou Tenkuushou: Hidden Star in Four Seasons

99%
Game Brain Score Based on 978 reviews
  • music
  • gameplay
  • story
Touhou Tenkuushou: Hidden Star in Four Seasons Game Cover
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Touhou Tenkuushou ~ Hidden Star in Four Seasons is the 16th game in the Touhou Project series. It was announced on the developer ZUN's blog on April 20, 2017. A playable demo was released on May 7, 2017, at Reitaisai 14, and the full version was released at Comiket 92 on August 11, 2017. The game was released on Steam worldwide on November 17, 2017, becoming the first game in the series to be avai…

  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

99%
Audience ScoreBased on 978 reviews
music128 positive mentions
stability2 negative mentions
  • The game features a great soundtrack and memorable characters, making it enjoyable for both newcomers and veterans of the series.
  • The seasonal mechanics add depth to the gameplay, allowing for various strategies and playstyles.
  • It's a more accessible entry point for new players, with a lower difficulty compared to previous titles in the series.
  • The visibility of bullets can be poor due to the colorful backgrounds, making it difficult to see what to dodge.
  • The game lacks official English support, requiring players to rely on fan translations.
  • Some players feel that the game is easier than previous entries, which may disappoint long-time fans looking for a challenge.
  • music256 mentions

    The music in this game is widely praised, with many reviewers highlighting its memorable compositions and how well it complements the gameplay and character themes. Fans of the Touhou series appreciate the unique style and quality of the soundtrack, often considering it a standout feature that enhances the overall experience. While some feel it may not reach the heights of previous entries, the consensus is that the music remains a significant draw for both new and returning players.

    • “Good music and visuals and easily understandable scoring make this something that's easy to learn and challenging to master.”
    • “The music is amazing, as always.”
    • “The music is diverse and evocative, and certainly deserves a place among the already revered Touhou soundtracks of the past.”
    • “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.”
    • “I am a little bit disappointed at th16's music.”
  • gameplay121 mentions

    The gameplay in "Touhou: Hidden Star in Four Seasons" is characterized by its blend of traditional bullet hell mechanics and innovative features like the seasonal release system, which adds depth and strategy without being overly punishing. While the game is generally accessible for beginners, it still offers challenging encounters, particularly in certain stages, making it enjoyable for both new players and series veterans. The smooth controls, engaging mechanics, and exceptional soundtrack contribute to a rewarding and addictive experience.

    • “The gameplay is great, the attacks excellent, and best of all, easily available anywhere with Steam!”
    • “A glorious soundtrack, surprisingly decent visuals (considering ZUN's track record for art) and really damn fun gameplay.”
    • “Fun and addictive gameplay, beautiful presentation, likeable and memorable characters, tight controls and breathtaking OST.”
    • “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.”
  • story62 mentions

    The story of "Touhou: Hidden Star in Four Seasons" is generally considered enjoyable, featuring a whimsical narrative about a fairy with a suntan and the chaos of the seasons in Gensokyo. While the plot is straightforward and loosely connected to previous titles, it offers fun character interactions and lore, though many players may struggle with language barriers as official translations are lacking. Overall, the game is accessible for newcomers, but those seeking a deeper understanding of the story may need to rely on fan translations.

    • “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.”
    • “The story (if you can find translations) is simple, but really good, details hidden in plain sight and a really interesting villain to tie it all together.”
    • “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.”
    • “Simply put, the genre of the game makes dialogue and story really simple and straightforward, sometimes leaving meaningfulness behind.”
    • “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.”
  • graphics28 mentions

    The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many praising the vibrant visuals and charming character designs, while others note that they fall short compared to commercial titles. The art style, often attributed to the developer's unique aesthetic, is appreciated by fans but may not appeal to everyone. Overall, the visuals are considered decent and well-designed, contributing positively to the game's overall experience despite not being AAA quality.

    • “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 development13 mentions

    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.”
  • replayability12 mentions

    The game offers high replayability due to its four playable characters, each with four unique shot types and sub-seasons, allowing for diverse gameplay combinations. Players can enjoy multiple difficulty modes, unique dialogues, and endings, enhancing the overall experience and encouraging repeated playthroughs. Overall, the variety in character options and mechanics contributes to a rich replay value that keeps players engaged.

    • “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 dandy 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.”
  • humor8 mentions

    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 certain characters like Cirno. However, some players express frustration with comparisons to other games, indicating a desire for originality in the humor.

    • “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.”
  • atmosphere5 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its enchanting charm, unique lore, and top-tier musical compositions that enhance the overall experience. Players appreciate the immersive quality of the environment, despite some gameplay challenges, noting that the music and design contribute significantly to the game's appeal. Overall, the atmosphere is described as magical and captivating, making it a standout feature of the series.

    • “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.”
  • stability2 mentions

    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.”
  • emotional2 mentions

    The game features a heartwarming narrative centered around a fairy with a suntan on a quest for world conquest, evoking a sense of charm and whimsy. Additionally, the gameplay mechanics promote an emotional connection through the unique interaction of grazing bullets, enhancing the player's engagement and investment in the experience.

    • “The heartwarming story of a fairy with a suntan who sets out to conquer the world.”
  • optimization2 mentions

    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 can be negatively impacted by errors, as illustrated by a character's demise due to a flawed ritual execution.

    • “Multiple endings determined by your performance, character choice, and difficulty setting.”
  • monetization1 mentions

    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; there's no content yet it takes hundreds of precious gigabytes off your HDD.”
    • “The monetization model is frustratingly aggressive, making it hard to enjoy the game without spending extra money.”
    • “It feels like the game was designed to push players towards spending more, rather than providing a complete experience upfront.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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