Yea, I only liked Seiga's design this time round, but all their backstories are very interesting. Also kinda like this 'bad guy' feel these bosses give unlike those from previous games..
Same here. None of the bosses were as good as any previous Touhou characters in my opinion (and not just because they're new. However, the possibility of fascinating interpretation by the fandom is expected) but they sit quite nicely with me, especially Futo and Miko. Also the backstory was indeed quite interesting. Not only is it the first time that there was actually a lot of immorality with the majority of the characters, it's also worth noting that they are the first faction in any Touhou game to harbor hostility beyond minor rivalry against any other faction. It's quite interesting to imagine how things will turn out, both canonically and in doujin.
I rate Ten Desire's backstory as second only to Imperishable Night's. It's interesting, contains quite some (im)morality worth pondering upon, and invites much doujin interpretation. And the game itself and the vastly improved graphics were good. Very satisfying for the first mainstream Touhou game to be released ever since I entered Touhou doujin fandom.
Lick_King said: Same here. None of the bosses were as good as any previous Touhou characters in my opinion (and not just because they're new. However, the possibility of fascinating interpretation by the fandom is expected) but they sit quite nicely with me, especially Futo and Miko. Also the backstory was indeed quite interesting. Not only is it the first time that there was actually a lot of immorality with the majority of the characters, it's also worth noting that they are the first faction in any Touhou game to harbor hostility beyond minor rivalry against any other faction. It's quite interesting to imagine how things will turn out, both canonically and in doujin.
I rate Ten Desire's backstory as second only to Imperishable Night's. It's interesting, contains quite some (im)morality worth pondering upon, and invites much doujin interpretation. And the game itself and the vastly improved graphics were good. Very satisfying for the first mainstream Touhou game to be released ever since I entered Touhou doujin fandom.
I note that it may have the worst reasons for the protagonists to intervene though (why exactly does Reimu decide to fight Miko?)
Clone394 said: Boys prepare for war, and what I read from the Extra scenarios we may actually have it over some sea; since the Ex boss cross a sea to get to Gensokyo
I thought she merely mentions the ocean, that she saw it since she wasn't from Gensokyo.
Speaking of Mamizou, though her design isn't the best I took a large liking to her because she abandoned her status of a goddess and entered Gensokyo, where she's just another stronger raccoon youkai, just to help Nue. That was a pretty nice display of friendship. And I'm already inspired to make a doujinshi out of it.
JakeBob said: I'll be wanting a read of that if it happens.
And now that Comiket 80's over, we'll hopefully start seeing a rise in average quality of these new characters.
Thanks for the interest. But that's all just wishful speaking, because I still severely lack artistic skills and all I can produce in a short time is probably its written version. Not that it doesn't count as a doujinshi, but still. But if Touhou and its fandom lasts for at least several more years, my goal is definitely to be a renowned Touhou doujin artist.
S-syogo, an artist known for his fabulous skill in coloring, already uploaded a few solo artworks of Ten Desires characters, and they're looking very good. I can't wait to see how the new characters are going to be integrated into the doujin pool.
_cf said: I mean, actual malicious villains? We could have another phantasmagoria game only to put a stop on their schemes.
They are not exactly malicious villains. What they might do from their hostility against Buddhists like the Myouren Temple folks is a bit worrying, and their backstory certainly doesn't make them good people, but they're gentlemanly all right. (Forgive my usage of that adjective to describe female characters.) They kind of have different values, if I understood their characters properly.
(Spoiler of Ten Desires ending) In the epilogue, Miko visits the Hakurei Shrine and invites Reimu to her new house, a place accessible only to hermits. According to her, she was very drowsy from waking up after centuries when she faced Reimu and acted irrationally. Now she recognizes that Reimu has infinite potentials and treats her in apology.
Seeing all this, they aren't exactly the typical villains, and I don't think they're going to make much trouble in Gensokyo except possible fight with the Myouren Temple. But we all know what a good person Byakuren is, don't we?
Lick_King said: They are not exactly malicious villains. What they might do from their hostility against Buddhists like the Myouren Temple folks is a bit worrying, and their backstory certainly doesn't make them good people, but they're gentlemanly all right. (Forgive my usage of that adjective to describe female characters.) They kind of have different values, if I understood their characters properly.
(Spoiler of Ten Desires ending) In the epilogue, Miko visits the Hakurei Shrine and invites Reimu to her new house, a place accessible only to hermits. According to her, she was very drowsy from waking up after centuries when she faced Reimu and acted irrationally. Now she recognizes that Reimu has infinite potentials and treats her in apology.
Seeing all this, they aren't exactly the typical villains, and I don't think they're going to make much trouble in Gensokyo except possible fight with the Myouren Temple. But we all know what a good person Byakuren is, don't we?
Miko only treats Reimu and the others with respect due to the fact that they are human, or part so. It's stated by Seiga that Miko will surely destroy all youkai.
While Hijiri wants to protect them, Miko and her group are out to destroy the youkai. Which make sense since in Touhou, hermits are delicious to youkai.
Yup. Cue the fireworks. There's no way this can end well. Especially once the other bigshots of the youkai side of the games realize they have a stake in this. Wonder if a war would count as an incident Reimu would have to put a stop to.
And then there's the fact that The Youkai side is preparing for war. Mamizou was brought in by Nue as a trump card for the Youkai side, and who knows who else may be brought in. Under Byakuren's leadership, they could do amazing, horrible things.
If ZUN continues this tradition where the new game is slightly related to the previous game, wait a few years, Touhou 14 is gonna be some crazy danmaku war, I hope
I don't remember Miko wanting to eliminate the youkai, but if that's the case, this is indeed ominous.
Enlong said: And then there's the fact that The Youkai side is preparing for war. Mamizou was brought in by Nue as a trump card for the Youkai side, and who knows who else may be brought in. Under Byakuren's leadership, they could do amazing, horrible things.
Preparing for a war? I don't know about that part, but Mamizou was brought in simply because Nue wanted to repay Byakuren for her kindness by bringing reinforcements against the Taoists (i.e. Ten Desires quintet), not the humans. And Mamizou might have been meant as a trump card, but she has very little combative powers, so her help was mostly useless. And Byakuren is canonically not an asshole who forsakes humanity to support the youkai like Stripe Pattern infamously depicted her as.
Well, but unless ZUN wants to end Touhou by laying waste to Gensokyo and destroying his own paradise, I don't think it even possible for something too serious to happen. At least not in the long run. No, not even in the short run. Don't you know ZUN's intense distaste for sad endings? He refuses to even punish any last bosses beyond being defeated in danmaku duels. It's very unlikely that anything so serious as a war will ever happen in Touhou, and even if it does it's probably going to be another happy ending.
Lick_King said: I don't remember Miko wanting to eliminate the youkai, but if that's the case, this is indeed ominous.
Preparing for a war? I don't know about that part, but Mamizou was brought in simply because Nue wanted to repay Byakuren for her kindness by bringing reinforcements against the Taoists (i.e. Ten Desires quintet), not the humans. And Mamizou might have been meant as a trump card, but she has very little combative powers, so her help was mostly useless. And Byakuren is canonically not an asshole who forsakes humanity to support the youkai like Stripe Pattern infamously depicted her as.
Well, but unless ZUN wants to end Touhou by laying waste to Gensokyo and destroying his own paradise, I don't think it even possible for something too serious to happen. At least not in the long run. No, not even in the short run. Don't you know ZUN's intense distaste for sad endings? He refuses to even punish any last bosses beyond being defeated in danmaku duels. It's very unlikely that anything so serious as a war will ever happen in Touhou, and even if it does it's probably going to be another happy ending.
Well in the Extra Story it is actually stated that this might br the begining of a Holy war and in Reimu scenario Seiga says to her Byakuren is the true evil ruler.She built a temple to protect youkai while Miko is a sage on whose back the future lies and that She will surely destroy all youkai so prety much things are getting intence in Gensokyo
aselus1111 said: Well in the Extra Story it is actually stated that this might br the begining of a Holy war and in Reimu scenario Seiga says to her Byakuren is the true evil ruler.She built a temple to protect youkai while Miko is a sage on whose back the future lies and that She will surely destroy all youkai so prety much things are getting intence in Gensokyo
Technically the "war" that happened back when they were all mortal was a Political war. I don't think any serious bloodshed happened. If anything, the "war" that might happen here would be a Danmaku contest. Like Flower View, or maybe a new installment of Scarlet Weather Rhapsody.
I'm not sure how seriously the "destroy all youkai" and such strong speeches are supposed to be taken. Seiga calls Byakuren an evil ruler simply because they're in opposition. But if a non-danmaku war is really sparked, then it won't be dealt with by a Touhou game any more. Danmaku is a game, no more and no less, so that humans and youkai satisfy their want for fight and so that their battle skill doesn't die out in peace. The war won't be resolved with danmaku, but with cold weapon. I'm quite confident that we don't need to take things too seriously unless ZUN is really trying to do something radical to Touhou, be it in a positive or negative sense. Perhaps it will be dealt in Wild and Horned Hermit?
Of course I could very well be proven wrong when the next game is announced/released. I won't be making any definite claims, since no one knows what ZUN is planning.
lastsinz said: I would think ZUN is trying to get the fanbase to do more serious stories than ero or comedy with this group of characters.
This and no I'm not talking about the war that happened in the past but Reimu and Marisa dialogue in the extra story Reimu "I know. Byakuren's on the youkai's side, after all." Marisa "So, why did she..." Reimu "Miko is the very picture of a saint. They probably figured she'd definitely be an enemy of youkai. Plus, Futo was an anti-Buddhist. She might end up starting a holy war
That and remember that not everything was "perfect" before the spell card rules and I actually like that there is a group that actually pose a treat to Gensokyo peace .
Lick_King said: I'm not sure how seriously the "destroy all youkai" and such strong speeches are supposed to be taken. Seiga calls Byakuren an evil ruler simply because they're in opposition. But if a non-danmaku war is really sparked, then it won't be dealt with by a Touhou game any more. Danmaku is a game, no more and no less, so that humans and youkai satisfy their want for fight and so that their battle skill doesn't die out in peace. The war won't be resolved with danmaku, but with cold weapon. I'm quite confident that we don't need to take things too seriously unless ZUN is really trying to do something radical to Touhou, be it in a positive or negative sense. Perhaps it will be dealt in Wild and Horned Hermit?
Of course I could very well be proven wrong when the next game is announced/released. I won't be making any definite claims, since no one knows what ZUN is planning.
I seriously doubt Reimu and the elder Yokai, much less Sikieiki would allow that to happen.
What does it matter to Eiki-sama? After all, her job is to judge the dead-and sometimes to lecture people. I think a war between Miko's lot and the Youkai of Gensokyo falls outside of her purview.
Reimu and the others...that's something else. Also, the Moriya shrine would be siding with the youkai for obvious reasons. Still, I think starting a war would end badly for Miko. Either because the gloves come off on the youkai side, or because her starting it provokes Reimu, Sanae and likely Sakuya (seeing as her master is a devil) to end it early. Given the games, I'm betting on option #2.
"Destroy all youkai" does not mean kill them that is one rule of the spell card battle but there is no rule that can stop someone from sealing the YoukaiIf I remember Nue begs Marisa not to seal her after the battle but since Marisa was just curious she let her go and told her to go and meet Byakuren in Ufo extra Now (This is my crazy idea) If I were Miko and co I would start sealing all Youkai of course after a spell card battle (since they can't use their full power) and in the case I lost they can`t kill me so nothing can stop me to try again resulting in a very one sided battle.
If things actually got serious enough for a war the Youkai Sages, who pledged an oath on their very existence to maintain eternal peace, would probably act quickly to crush both sides without mercy. And if they didn't Miko would have to face Gensokyo's highest god - the dragon. Which couldn't even be considered a battle but an execution.
I think most of the 'serious' talk was just incident talk and that in time the Taoist group will settle into the flow of things being YET another competitor to Reimu. That and Miko and Co. would get over their head very fast if the major powers got involved, such as the SDM which has its own WMD: Flandre.
