Wonderful Waking World

98%
Game Brain Score Based on 140 reviews
  • music
  • gameplay
  • graphics
Wonderful Waking World Game Cover
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A simplistic, dynamic Touhou fangame bullet hell shmup with a pixel art esthetic. Shoot down your enemies and dodge your way through an incessant barrage of projectiles!

  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

98%
Audience ScoreBased on 140 reviews
music24 positive mentions
optimization3 negative mentions
  • The game features beautiful art style and charming character designs, making it visually appealing.
  • The soundtrack is memorable and well-composed, enhancing the overall experience.
  • The gameplay is engaging and accessible for newcomers to the Touhou series, with fun patterns and witty dialogue.
  • The difficulty curve can be unbalanced, with some stages feeling harder than their corresponding bosses.
  • The lack of a power system may disappoint some players who prefer more traditional mechanics.
  • Some players found the humor and dialogue to be overly meme-centric, which might not appeal to everyone.
  • music52 mentions

    The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its quality and memorable compositions that align well with the game's themes and gameplay. Standout tracks, particularly from specific stages and boss encounters, are highlighted as exceptional, contributing significantly to the overall experience. Overall, the soundtrack is described as beautifully crafted, showcasing a blend of styles that resonate with fans of the genre, particularly those familiar with Touhou.

    • “The music is great, just about every stage theme is amazing with the standouts being stage 2 and 4 in particular and the boss themes are just as good with the stage 6 and especially stage 5 boss theme being a complete banger.”
    • “An excellent fangame with beautiful music and spritework, clearly designed with devotion and love for the series and its community.”
    • “The gameplay is fun and creative, the graphics are great and the music is phenomenal (as expected from a touhou game haha) 10/10”
    • “Most of them feel like you are controlling your character through honey, and the music, patterns, and characters all feel... kind of odd.”
    • “Okay since you freaks think that all my music sounds like Touhou, I have no choice but to play improvised Touhou music that doesn't actually exist.”
    • “Now it's coming to this sort of break in music while you're talking to the boss.”
  • gameplay17 mentions

    The gameplay is widely praised for its smoothness, engaging mechanics, and nostalgic ties to the Touhou series, featuring fast-paced action and a focus on dodging numerous projectiles. While some players appreciate the simplicity and accessibility for newcomers, others note that it maintains depth through creative design and memorable music. Overall, the game successfully balances classic elements with fresh perspectives, making it a standout experience for both fans and newcomers alike.

    • “Overall, the gameplay is pure butter; the style is really cute, the soundtrack is super memorable, and it actually comes translated to English.”
    • “The gameplay, music, and character personalities are faithful to ZUN's works while providing some new flavors that only a fresh perspective could bring.”
    • “The gameplay is fun and creative; the graphics are great, and the music is phenomenal (as expected from a Touhou game). 10/10”
    • “In terms of gameplay, there are some things that need adjustments.”
    • “As a beginner, I found myself often intimidated by the official Touhou games' rules and mechanics, but the simplistic style of this game made it easy to pick up and play.”
    • “A lot of Touhou games have various scoring gimmicks, and so do the fangames, with mechanics like hypers, transes, shields, etc... but this one keeps it simple.”
  • graphics16 mentions

    The graphics of the game are widely praised for their charming and cute art style, reminiscent of classic browser games and MS Paint aesthetics. While some players appreciate the unique 2D pixelated sprites and detailed animations, others feel that certain elements, like the Undertale-inspired aesthetics, clash with the Touhou theme. Overall, the visuals are considered fresh and engaging, contributing positively to the game's overall experience.

    • “Graphics are filled with charm.”
    • “The art style is also really good, looks MS Paint-ish in the best way possible and reminds me of browser games from back in the day.”
    • “Graphics-wise, this title is amazing.”
    • “The art works well too and is charming, but is not amazing.”
    • “I don't like the Undertale aesthetics; it feels out of place in a Touhou game. But I guess since the game is supposed to be a tribute to Toby Fox, it makes sense.”
    • “The art style and use of 2D pixelated sprites is a rather unique take that I don't see often in Touhou fangames.”
  • humor14 mentions

    The humor in the game is characterized as fun, silly, and self-aware, with many players appreciating the goofy characters and witty dialogue. The comedic elements enhance the gameplay experience, creating a lighthearted atmosphere that complements the visuals and music. While some found the humor to be referential and dependent on prior knowledge, overall, it is regarded as a standout feature that adds to the enjoyment of the game.

    • “Humor is fun, silly, and doesn't take itself too seriously.”
    • “One of my favorite Touhou fangames ever; characters are fun, humor is goofy, visuals are fresh, and the music will blow your socks off.”
    • “The conversations in this game are hilarious and super fun, creating lore and context for the enemy characters that is also reflected in the bullet patterns.”
  • story6 mentions

    The story has received mixed feedback, with some players finding it solid and enjoyable, while others describe it as lacking depth or being somewhat mediocre. Many appreciate the humor and creative design, though it often relies on prior knowledge for full appreciation. Overall, while not universally praised, the story contributes positively to the overall experience.

    • “Story wise, everything is solid.”
    • “Great fanwork, love the design/arts, gameplay and the story <3”
    • “The plot and dialogue are designed to be interesting, combined with memes, just awesome.”
  • character development2 mentions

    Character development is highlighted by recognizable and unique designs that enhance the overall experience, with players particularly appreciating the charm of characters like the adorable stage 3 boss. The combination of appealing visuals and engaging gameplay contributes to a memorable character-driven experience.

    • “Recognizable and unique character designs.”
    • “I love the soundtrack, the gameplay, and the cute character designs.”
  • atmosphere1 mentions

    Reviewers highly appreciate the game's atmosphere, noting it significantly enhances the overall experience.

    • “The atmosphere it brings to the game is very appreciated.”
  • optimization1 mentions

    The game benefits from recent optimizations, enhancing its simplicity while maintaining a smooth performance.

    • “This inherits that simplicity, but with the optimizations of recent titles.”
    • “The game feels sluggish and poorly optimized, making it frustrating to play.”
    • “Despite its potential, the optimization issues really hold it back from being enjoyable.”
    • “I experienced frequent frame drops and long loading times, which severely impacted my gaming experience.”
  • grinding1 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect tedious, particularly when practicing, as the lack of a controller button mapping for quick restarts makes the process cumbersome.

    • “The ability to map a controller button to restart would also be helpful, as pausing and hitting retry becomes tedious when practicing.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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