Touhou Danmaku Kagura Phantasia Lost Review (Nintendo Switch OLED)
Touhou Danmaku Kagura Phantasia Lost Review, “The collapse of Gensokyo… it was all you – ” To rebuild the now barren Phantasia, Reimu’s journey begins. A Touhou Project officially approved a derivative rhythm action game.
Touhou Danmaku Kagura Phantasia Lost Review Pros:
- Decent Anime graphics.
- 5.2GB download size.
- Full touchscreen support for playing.
- Rhythm action gameplay.
- Lane settings for Kagura and Danmaku (individual) – note speed, top visibility, bottom visibility, mirrored, random, outer random, layout, note tap sound, center line, tap timing sliders, measure, expert mode, tap accuracy display, note skin (four types), lane BG transparency, and set the display position of the elements.
- Volume sliders for each menu option like main menu volume, sound effects, and in-game volume.
- Speed sliders for adventure text, and novel text speed.
- Kagura and Danmaku each have their own controls, you can also remap them individually.
- Two game modes – main story and free mode.
- The gallery is where you can view any unlocked images and episodes.
- Two screen layout choices – standard and touchscreen.
- In-game cutscenes and dialogue screens can be skipped, fast-forwarded, and set to auto-scroll.
- The groove gauge is what you need to fill in order to finish a level. Great hits fill it up and bad hits reduce it.
- Notes are either a tap or rap and hold.
- Opening tutorial pop-up manual.
- Before a song, you get told the name, BPM, difficulty, and info of the track like the artist’s name, etc.
- Earn points and get a rank at the end.
- Combo counter for hitting notes consecutively.
- The scoring and ranks feel lenient on the lower difficulties.
- World map level selected with each location having several songs within them.
- Before starting a song you get told your mission requirements and if a stage has a gimmick which can be good or bad.
- Buy booster items like double exp or double score etc.
- Earn credits from playing and spend them in the shop for boosters.
- Four game difficulties – Easy, normal, hard, and Lunatic.
- Plays best with touchscreen.
- Fantastic art and character models.
- After pausing you get a three-second countdown.
Touhou Danmaku Kagura Phantasia Lost Review Cons:
- The settings are very overwhelming and not worth touching until you get in the game and you get a better idea of what they do.
- Takes a lot of getting used to the controls even when remapping them.
- You don’t get a playable tutorial.
- No accessibility options.
- Music will come down to personal preference.
- Playing with a controller is not as fun as the touchscreen.
- Tinkering with the lag and input delays is very tricky, more so if you don’t know what to do but you know it needs tweaking.
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Touhou Danmaku Kagura Phantasia Lost:
Developer: Alliance Arts
Publisher: Alliance Arts
Store Links –
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Graphics - 7/107/10
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Sound - 8/108/10
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Accessibility - 7/107/10
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Length - 8/108/10
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Fun Factor - 8/108/10
Summary
Touhou Danmaku Kagura Phantasia Lost offers a visually appealing experience with its decent anime graphics and fantastic art and character models. The game requires a 5.2GB download and supports full touchscreen gameplay, which is the most enjoyable way to play. The rhythm action gameplay is complemented by extensive lane settings for both Kagura and Danmaku modes, allowing players to customize note speed, visibility, layout, and more. Volume and speed sliders for various game elements add to the customization options, and the game features two modes: main story and free mode. The gallery allows players to view unlocked images and episodes, and there are two screen layout choices: standard and touchscreen.
Despite these positives, the game has its drawbacks. The settings can be overwhelming and are best left untouched until players are more familiar with the game. The controls take time to get used to, even with the option to remap them individually for Kagura and Danmaku. Unfortunately, there is no playable tutorial, which can make the learning curve steeper. Additionally, the game lacks accessibility options, and playing with a controller is not as enjoyable as using the touchscreen. Tinkering with lag and input delays can be tricky, especially for those unfamiliar with such adjustments.
The gameplay itself is engaging, with a groove gauge that players need to fill by making great hits, while bad hits reduce it. Notes can be tapped or held, and players earn points and ranks at the end of each song. The scoring and ranks are lenient on lower difficulties, and the game features a world map with multiple songs at each location. Before starting a song, players are informed of the mission requirements and any stage gimmicks, which can be either beneficial or detrimental. Booster items like double experience or score can be purchased with credits earned from playing, and the game offers four difficulty levels: Easy, Normal, Hard, and Lunatic.
In summary, Touhou Danmaku Kagura Phantasia Lost is a visually appealing rhythm game with extensive customization options and enjoyable touchscreen gameplay. However, it is hindered by overwhelming settings, a lack of a playable tutorial, and no accessibility options. The game shines in its engaging gameplay and customization but requires patience and adjustment to fully enjoy.
