東方幻想魔録W ～ The Devil of Decline

About

In "Touhou Gensou Maroku W ~ The Devil of Decline", Gensokyo is plagued by mysterious disappearances of living beings and objects. Players must choose one of four protagonists to investigate and resolve the spiriting away incident. The game features a 2D turn-based RPG system, with over 100 shikigami to recruit and combine in battles. The story and enemy strength do not change between protagonists, but there are differences in their perspectives and actions.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

東方幻想魔録W ～ The Devil of Decline screenshot

95%

Audience ScoreBased on 44 reviews

music4 positive mentions

gameplay3 negative mentions

The game features a deep and flexible combat system with a strong emphasis on character customization through the Shikigami system, allowing for various strategies and playstyles.
Boss fights are challenging and rewarding, requiring players to utilize their entire arsenal and adapt their strategies, making for a satisfying gameplay experience.
The game has a nostalgic charm for fans of the Touhou series, with amusing dialogue and a fun, albeit light, story that serves as a backdrop for the gameplay.

The story is considered bland and not particularly engaging, which may disappoint players looking for a strong narrative experience.
New characters and Shikigami start at level 1, which can lead to a grindy experience as players have to level them up to be effective in combat.
Some players feel that the character design and sprite work are a downgrade compared to the previous game, Genius of Sappheiros, affecting the overall visual appeal.

gameplay
26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
8%
81%
12%
The gameplay of "The Devil of Decline" is highly praised for its mechanics-driven design, requiring players to master various systems and adapt their strategies for challenging boss encounters. The game features unique character abilities, a turn-based battle system, and mechanics inspired by the Saga series, making it a flexible RPG that emphasizes learning and exploiting its systems. However, some players may find the changes in skill progression and mechanics from previous titles disappointing.
- “Game mechanics is where Devil of Decline really shines.”
- “Combat mechanics are tight, and the encounters expect you to know the game's systems well enough.”
- “Many RPGs make a mistake of making the random battles almost an afterthought while putting most of the gameplay focus into bosses.”
- “Some mechanics like the turn-based battle system, party formations, and the land system return, but if you were a fan of the flexible skill tree system or the linear progression of GOS, you might be a bit disappointed in this sequel.”
- “Most every boss will require you to use everything in your arsenal to barely squeak by, with many even requiring build changes to deal with their particular mechanics.”
music
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
50%
21%
The music in the game is widely praised, featuring a mix of catchy tunes and impressive battle themes, with notable influences from PC98 soundtracks. While some reviewers find the overall music style to be typical of 2010s indie games, many highlight it as a standout aspect that enhances the game's charm and content. Overall, the soundtrack is considered fantastic and a key element of the game's appeal.
- “The music is once again a jam everywhere we go, and there are a lot more battle themes in this, all absolutely fantastic.”
- “The music is fantastic, the combat system is really cool, the characters are lovable, and the game is brimming with content.”
- “I've spent quite a bit of time talking about the mechanics and such, but the visuals and music are no slouch either.”
- “The music and art are fairly standard 2010s indie game fare.”
- “Big influence from PC98 on the soundtrack too.”
- “The music is once again a jam everywhere we go, and there is a lot more battle themes in this, all absolutely fantastic.”
story
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
58%
25%
The story is generally considered light and somewhat bland, primarily serving as a backdrop for gameplay rather than a focal point. While it features a typical goofy Touhou world-threatening incident, the dialogue offers some amusement, making it suitable for players who prioritize combat over narrative depth. Those seeking a story-driven experience may find this game lacking.
- “The story is your usual goofy Touhou world-threatening incident, but serves its purpose in moving you forward and delivering a few chuckles.”
- “Story is light but the dialogue is amusing; do not go in expecting this to be focused around telling a story.”
- “The story is like really bland and barely relevant.”
- “If you favor story-heavy games, this game isn't for you.”
- “I highly recommend the game for people looking for a long, challenging, combat-heavy, story-lite JRPG.”
graphics
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
75%
The graphics are praised for their impressive character artwork and significantly improved enemy spritework, enhancing the overall visual experience of the game. The visuals, alongside the music, contribute positively to the game's appeal, making them a noteworthy aspect despite other mechanics being the focus of discussion.
- “I've spent quite a bit of time talking about the mechanics and such, but the visuals and music are no slouch either.”
grinding
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players often find the grinding aspect of the game frustrating, particularly when it comes to farming drops and recruiting new characters, which can feel tedious due to low success rates. This can lead to dissatisfaction, especially for those who prefer to stick with their favorite characters, as they may be forced to replace them with less effective newcomers.
- “This can make the game feel grindy at times, and if you really prefer specific characters over others, like I do, it's annoying to have to replace old veterans in favor of new characters who initially feel like dead weight.”
- “Farming drops and recruiting shikigami can be frustrating due to low chances of success.”
humor
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by witty and amusing dialogues between the protagonists and antagonists, complemented by the presence of a cute and funny artist. Players find the interactions to be entertaining and engaging, adding a lighthearted touch to the overall experience.
- “The conversations between the protagonists and antagonists are kind of hilarious.”
- “The artist has a cute and funny style that adds to the humor of the game.”
character development
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviews indicate a general dissatisfaction with character development, particularly noting that the overworld character design is perceived as a downgrade compared to previous installments. This sentiment suggests a lack of growth or improvement in character aesthetics and depth.
- “My only real big gripe is that I feel the overworld character design is a downgrade compared to Ghost of Tsushima.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The optimization aspect of the game emphasizes the significant role of equipment, where performance is influenced not only by numerical stats but also by strategic synergy between items. Players are encouraged to think critically about their equipment choices to maximize effectiveness.
- “Equipment has a high impact; numbers are just one avenue for good performance. Some thinking on synergy is highly rewarded and sometimes required.”