東方憑依華 ～ Antinomy of Common Flowers.
- January 5, 2018
- 黄昏フロンティア
- 2h median play time
Get on SteamTouhou Hyouibana: Antinomy of Common Flowers is the 15.5th official installment of the Touhou Project, developed by Team Shanghai Alice in conjuction with Twilight Frontier. The game was announced during the Play, Doujin! Year-End Party stream.
Nintendo Switch
PC
Playstation 4
Windows
PlayStation
Reviews
- The game features a unique aerial combat system that adds depth and variety to the fighting mechanics.
- The soundtrack is exceptional, with high-quality remixes and original tracks that enhance the gameplay experience.
- The character roster is diverse and includes beloved characters from the Touhou series, each with unique abilities and interactions.
- The online multiplayer functionality is poorly implemented, making it difficult to find and connect with other players.
- There is a lack of a tutorial or comprehensive guide, which can make it challenging for new players to learn the mechanics.
- The story mode feels short and lacks depth, with some characters missing spell cards and other content.
- gameplay91 mentions
- 34 % positive mentions
- 63 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Antinomy of Common Flowers" is characterized by its unique aerial combat and tag-team mechanics, allowing for dynamic and varied fighting experiences. Players can engage in fast-paced battles with a focus on mastering the master/slave system, which adds depth and strategic options to combat. While the mechanics are generally easy to learn, some players find the lack of tutorials and the complexity of certain systems a bit overwhelming, yet the overall consensus is that the gameplay is fun, engaging, and offers a refreshing take on traditional fighting game elements.
“Antinomy of Common Flowers has finally managed to make aerial fighting games fun with the spellcard break mechanic returning from Soku, a story mode with interesting twists and turns, and each fight feeling different thanks to the master/slave mechanic.”
“Gameplay is unique among fighting games, being that the fights are always airborne, allowing for the ability to dive under the opponent in addition to jumping over them.”
“A brilliant, super-unique, competitively viable fighting game that never ceases to interest me with its completely original mechanics and fluid gameplay.”
“You'll have to look up a guide to understand the basic mechanics beyond 'use these buttons to do different types of attack.'”
“There's no tutorial though, so your best bet is just to go straight to the Steam guide to learn the mechanics.”
“While knowing from IAMP and SWR/Hisoutensoku that it is a fighting game with danmaku mechanics, since the fights are all in mid-air, movement is a top priority to master this game.”
- story76 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The story aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players finding it enjoyable and filled with interesting twists, while others criticize it for being repetitive and lacking depth. Many appreciate the unique mechanics, such as the master/slave dynamic and spellcard battles, which add variety to the gameplay, though some note that the story mode can feel short and incomplete. Overall, fans of the Touhou series seem to find value in the narrative, despite some translation issues and gameplay bugs.
“Antinomy of Common Flowers has finally managed to make aerial fighting games fun with the spellcard break mechanic returning from Soku. The story mode has interesting twists and turns, and each fight feels different thanks to the master/slave mechanic.”
“The game's story is good, with the cast divided into pairs of two as you traverse the paranormal world of Gensokyo, trying to find explanations for the 'perfect possession' incident. It is best experienced for yourself, so I won't spoil much.”
“It's fun, it's got a creative and intriguing story, humorous moments, and as always, the soundtrack is spectacular.”
“The game's story chapters were the reason I was so hesitant to review this for so long; they were unfinished, and many encounters lacked any spells whatsoever.”
“The boss of the second to last story chapter is impossible to beat, even on easy.”
“Story mode seems very short; many characters are missing spell cards (noted to be in the works).”
- music66 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The music in this game is widely praised, with many reviewers highlighting its high-quality remixes and original tracks, often considering it among the best in the Touhou series. The soundtrack features contributions from notable doujin circles and is described as both catchy and immersive, enhancing the overall gameplay experience. While some players noted a few repetitive tracks from previous games, the overall consensus is that the music is spectacular and a significant draw for fans.
“This game might also have the best music tracks out of all Touhou fighters, with plenty of high-quality remixes and original tracks.”
“The music, as always, is spectacular.”
“An amazing Touhou fighting game with great characters, fun gameplay, and an awesome soundtrack.”
“More like a music player than a game.”
“A Touhou fighting game that mixes fighting and bullet hell with music that makes you glad you lost your hearing.”
“A bunch of reused tracks from ULIL (if you don't care about new music, characters, and shipping material, I recommend ULIL over AOCF).”
- graphics23 mentions
- 52 % positive mentions
- 35 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their brilliance and high-quality 2D animations, showcasing a unique and beautiful art style that enhances the overall experience. Players appreciate the detailed character portraits and fluid sprite animations, noting that the visuals are among the best in the Touhou series. Despite some minor issues with netcoding and bot fights, the stunning artwork and engaging visuals significantly contribute to the game's appeal.
“Brilliant visuals, catchy soundtrack, and the gameplay mechanics are easy to pick up quickly.”
“The sprites and artwork are gorgeous, also props to Moe Harukawa for drawing all these pretty girls in her style; it's very nice on the eyes.”
“Graphically, it is one of the most beautiful Touhou games out there, with beautiful artwork and wonderful sprite animation.”
“However, I'm still very lucky since at least I'm not a Windows 7 + NVIDIA graphic card user, an unfortunate group that even has no way to hack to make their game playable.”
“In comparison, the English fan patch places the translations inside of the talk bubbles themselves; in addition, the creators of the patch also went out of their way to modify the art of some text to be in English while also sticking to the original artwork style.”
“The characters' portraits are very well-done as well (and the biggest way of telling that this is a collaborative effort; sorry to say it, Zun, but your unique art style can't quite top these guys' art.)”
- humor11 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised, with players highlighting its funny character interactions, particularly between the quirky "pimp girl" and her sister. The comedic elements enhance the overall experience, making the fighting mechanics more enjoyable and adding replay value through various story paths. While the main story may be generic, the humorous moments and creative character dynamics keep players entertained.
“Funny fighting game.”
“It's fun, it's got a creative and intriguing story, it's got humorous moments, and as always, the soundtrack is spectacular.”
“Plenty of humor too.”
- stability4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's stability is criticized due to persistent bugs and issues with the netplay system, particularly in the lobby search, which has led players to rely on Discord for direct invites. While these problems are not new to the series, their presence at launch has left some users frustrated and questioning the developers' commitment to addressing them.
“While the game's built-in netplay isn't really working for me, there is a Discord with players who use the direct invite system to get past the buggy lobby search.”
“The buggy online experience is frustrating, but every Touhou fighting game before this has had the same issues.”
“The biggest issue is that there are glitches since the game has just come out.”
- character development3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- -67 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is highlighted by impressive character design and expressive visuals, though some players desire deeper insights into the characters' personalities through text. While the game appeals strongly to Touhou fans, its engaging gameplay and aesthetic are likely to attract a broader audience as well.
“I really liked their character design, but I would have loved to read more about their personalities in the game text. Unfortunately, I can't read Japanese, so I focused on their expressions.”
“A must-have if you're a Touhou fan, and even if you're not, the character designs and gameplay are likely to grab you.”
“I really liked their character design, but I would like to read about their personalities in the game text. Unfortunately, I can't read Japanese, so I had to rely on their expressions.”
“The character development feels lacking; I wanted to connect with the characters on a deeper level, but there just isn't enough backstory or personality exploration.”
“While the character designs are visually appealing, the lack of meaningful character development makes it hard to care about their journeys.”
- optimization2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -150 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The optimization in the latest Touhou fighter is notably improved, enhancing overall performance and gameplay experience. While it doesn't introduce significant new content for veterans of previous titles, it stands out as the best in the recent series due to its refined mechanics and expanded roster.
“Six new fighters: Reisen Udongein Inaba (previously available only in the PS4 version of ULIL), Doremy Sweet from TH15 LOLK, Tenshi Hinanawi from TH 10.5 SWR, Yukari Yakumo from TH7 PCB, and 2 new characters who function as 1 fighter, bringing the total roster up to 19 playable fighters, along with some new stages, new arrangements including the PS4 version’s soundtrack, and most notably improved optimization!”
“In conclusion, AOCF doesn’t offer much that is new if you’ve previously played ULIL or HM, but it is easily the best of the recent Touhou fighters, with a fairly large roster, improved mechanics, better optimization, and of course the ever fantastic arrangements.”
“The optimization in this game is severely lacking, making it difficult to enjoy the new content.”
“Despite the addition of new fighters, the optimization issues really detract from the overall experience.”
“The game feels sluggish and unresponsive due to poor optimization, which is disappointing given the new features.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game offers moderate replayability due to its humorous yet generic story mode, allowing players to explore different paths and experiences on subsequent playthroughs.
“The story mode may be generic, but it's filled with humor, and the different paths you can take add significant replay value.”
“There are multiple choices and endings that encourage you to play through the game again, making each run feel fresh.”
“The variety of character builds and strategies keeps the gameplay engaging, inviting you to replay and explore new possibilities.”
- monetization1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game features no microtransactions, providing a straightforward purchasing model without additional costs for players.
“There are no microtransactions, which is a refreshing change in today's gaming landscape.”
“I appreciate that the game doesn't rely on microtransactions to enhance the experience.”
“The absence of microtransactions allows for a more immersive and uninterrupted gameplay experience.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by the personal connection players feel when interacting with the ball, as it becomes a representation of their involvement and effort. This mechanic fosters a sense of competition and attachment, enhancing the overall emotional engagement during gameplay.
