Touhou Koumakyou: New Classic - the Embodiment of Scarlet Devil Review Summary

This remake earns praise for its quality, visible hitboxes, and the inclusion of the original, though brutal difficulty, weaker new music, and technical issues hold it back.

Rearranged music highly praised: The rearranged music is a standout feature, with multiple players praising the quality and enjoyability of the new arrangements. This feedback is consistent across several clusters.

Original music switchable: The ability to switch to the original soundtrack is praised, as it caters to nostalgia and player preference. This feature is seen as a thoughtful inclusion.

Remake quality excellent: Players consider this a proper and excellent remake, praising its fidelity and presentation. The remake is seen as a worthy update of the original classic.

Visible hitbox aids player: Players appreciate the newly visible hitbox, which helps them understand their hitbox during gameplay. This feature is praised for improving clarity and player awareness.

Infinite lives mode accessible: The addition of an infinite lives mode is lauded for making the game more accessible and allowing players to complete it. This mode is seen as a positive change for newcomers and casual players.

Difficulty is excessively high: Players consistently report the game as brutally difficult, with multiple reviewers dying numerous times, facing steep spikes on early bosses, and struggling to clear even Normal mode. This difficulty appears to be a major turn-off for both new and veteran players.

New music is inferior: A large portion of feedback criticizes the rearranged soundtrack, stating it sounds worse, lacks the atmosphere of the original, and has poor instrument choices or mixing. Some players specifically miss the gothic detuning and expressive sound of the original tracks.

Graphics cause visibility issues: The bright and colorful graphics, especially with certain options, make bullets hard to see and cause dizziness or panic. This hurts gameplay clarity, especially for a bullet hell where visibility is critical.

Art style is worse: Players criticize the remastered visuals, including less skilled ZUN drawing, outdated or uncanny sprites, and uglier dialogue portraits. The new style is seen as a downgrade from the original's pixelated charm.

Game feels like a mod: Reviewers feel the remaster offers little beyond improved graphics and different music, making it feel like a mod rather than a new game. The lack of new modes or content reduces its value as a standalone purchase.

Remake of classic Touhou: The feedback overwhelmingly identifies this as a remake or remaster of Touhou Koumakyou (Touhou 6), with remade graphics and BGM. It is described as a 1:1 remaster that preserves the original's strong foundation.

Bullet hell gameplay: The game is consistently described as a bullet hell (danmaku) shooter, requiring precise bullet dodging and no-continue clears. This genre is central to the game's identity.

Infinite lives mode: The game includes an infinite continues or lives mode, which may not allow an unconditional good ending. This mode appears alongside a challenge mode that scores based on fewest mistakes.

Multiple difficulty levels: The game offers various difficulty levels including Normal, Lunatic, and others like 'e' or 'N' and 'L'. Difficulty selection is a key part of the experience.

Spell card mechanics: Spell cards are a core gameplay element, with boss battles and a practice mode to challenge specific spell cards unlimited times. This is a hallmark of the Touhou series.

Smooth performance on capable hardware: Multiple reviewers praised the game for running smoothly, with one noting improved fluidity and another confirming stability. Positive reports also mention smooth performance on Steam and Steam Deck.

60 FPS frame rate cap: Multiple reviewers highlighted that the game's frame rate is locked at 60 FPS, which may disappoint players with high-refresh-rate displays. This limitation is a common point of discussion in the feedback.

Performance issues on Windows: Some users reported the game running at very low frame rates (10-15 FPS) at random moments, while others found it unplayable due to sped-up gameplay on Windows 10. These issues suggest inconsistent performance across different systems.

Upscaling and resolution options: The game supports a range of resolutions including 1080p, 2K, and 4K, and incorporates DLSS5 upscaling technology. These features are seen as enhancements for visual quality and performance.

Vsync behavior criticized: The game includes built-in vsync, but one reviewer complained that it no longer runs at extremely high frame rates without vsync, which may be a limitation for some players. This shows mixed feelings about the vsync implementation.

Recommended for newcomers: Many reviewers advise that this game is an excellent entry point for those new to the Touhou series, citing its approachability and simpler system. It is especially recommended for players who are curious about the series or the danmaku genre.

High recommendation: Multiple reviewers give the game a high recommendation, often labeling it a 10/10 or a must-play. They indicate that the game is worth buying and highly enjoyable.

Value for money: The bundle includes both the original and the new classic versions, offering great value for players. This addresses previous unavailability and makes it a worthwhile purchase.

Best way to play: Reviewers highlight that this remake is the definitive way to experience Touhou 6, offering improved accessibility and a modern compatibility layer. It is praised as the best current version of the classic game.

Must-have for fans: Touhou fans are strongly encouraged to purchase this game without hesitation, as it is considered a must-have for the franchise. The package provides both the original and new versions, making it a valuable addition for dedicated fans.

Session length: 0.1h.

Newcomer Onboarding Fan: Uses easy modes, practice, and modern conveniences (checkpoints, visible hitbox) to learn bullet hell patterns. Motivation: Discovering the Touhou series through an approachable, polished remake. Stance: buy.

Retro Veteran Purist: Optimizes runs for 1CC clears, compares gameplay to original, and values subtle differences in music and mechanics. Motivation: Reliving the classic experience with remastered visuals and confirming authenticity to the original. Stance: buy.

Emotional Nostalgic Enthusiast: Plays for the experience, enjoys extra content and new tracks, may engage in challenge runs or just appreciate the atmosphere. Motivation: Re-experiencing a legendary game with enhanced presentation and celebrating its legacy. Stance: buy.

Both low-VRAM and high-VRAM Windows cohorts report positive performance outcomes, with no significant performance complaints.

Windows <8GB VRAM: positive. Optimized performance with no resolution jankiness on 6GB VRAM.

Windows 12-15GB VRAM: positive. Reported high-definition experience with no performance issues mentioned.

Linux and Proton: The game shows strong Linux compatibility: one reviewer successfully ran it without any setup, while another suggests using Proton 10.0-4, a minor configuration step. No anti-cheat, launcher, or severe graphical issues were reported, suggesting only minimal tweaks are needed for a good experience.

Remake of classic Touhou: The game is a remake of the original Touhou Koumakyou (Embodiment of Scarlet Devil), released after 24 years with HD graphics, remixed music, and features from later games backported.

Requests for more remakes: Reviewers express hope and anticipation for remakes of other Touhou titles, specifically Perfect Cherry Blossom and Imperishable Night, in the same direction.

New music arrangements: The game features a new soundtrack with remastered and remixed tracks, including arrangements by ZUN, which differ from the original.

Multi-language support: The game includes an official English release and multi-language support from day one, including a Russian translation.

Soundtrack switching option: Players can switch between the new arranged soundtrack and the original soundtrack in the settings, offering flexibility in music preference.