In the world of gaming, gaming legends are born when titles capture the hearts of players worldwide. One such title that has recently taken the gaming community by storm is Touhou: New World.
Developed by Ankake Spa, a small team of developers based in Japan, it is the newest edition to the popular Touhou Project series, known for its bullethell gameplay and colorful cast of characters.
Here, I am going to present a completely detailed and unbiased review from my side on this game. If you are free now, you can start reading instantly. But if you are in a hurry, just bookmark this in your browser to read it later.
Let’s get started.
Image Source: XSEED Games
Table of Contents
Touhou: New World – Key Features And Innovations
Do you know why gamers can’t stop cheering this game? I am telling you. It is because of its awesome features and pack of unique ideas that you will find inside this game.
Because of these features and ideas, this game stands out from all the other games in the Touhou Project series. Let’s have a look at these features.
- Variety Of Weapons: Here in this game, you will encounter a variety of weapons and spells, each with its own unique abilities.
- Powerful Gear: Players can level up their characters and equip powerful gear to become stronger. It’s an action RPG gameplay where you will find Bullet Hell elements to use.
- Colorful Characters: I will not be wrong if I say that this game is like a treasure chest of characters. They are colorful and vibrant with their own special skills and abilities..
- More Open-Ended World to Explore: The world of Gensokyo is not congested. It’s open-ended and players are free to explore the world at their own pace. Many hidden secrets lie there to be unfolded.
- More Challenging Combat System: The combat system introduced in this game is fast-paced and challenging. Players require to dodge waves of enemy projectiles while attacking them.
- More Customizable Character: This is an awesome feature indeed. Players can customize their character’s appearance, abilities, and equipment as per their preference.
Image Source: RP Gamer
Release Date And Download Link
Touhou: New World was published by Xseed Games, an American video game company that later became a subsidiary of the Japanese game company Marvelous.
On July 13, 2023, the game was released for PC, Nintendo Switch, and PlayStation 4. It is also now available for download on PlayStation 5, Steam and the Nintendo eShop.
Now, when we talk about downloading this game, there are two options before you- Official Sources and Alternative Sources. Of course, you should pick up the first option.
Visit the official website of the developer. There, you will be provided instructions on how to download it. You will also get to know about the system requirements for various platforms.
What System Is Required To Play The Game?
It’s a fact that your gaming performance depends greatly on your gaming system. Your system needs to meet the game’s minimum system requirements so that you can play it.
But, if you want to join the ranks of Gensokyo explorers, you may require the recommended system specifications. Thus, you will be one step ahead of the other players.
Let’s check the system requirements.
Minimum System Requirements
Below is the list of minimum system requirements.
- Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
- OS: Windows 10
- Processor: Intel Core i3-3220 @ 3.3GHz
- Memory: 8 GB RAM
- Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 750Ti
- DirectX: Version 10
- Storage: 7 GB available space
Recommended System Requirements
Below is the list of minimum system requirements.
- Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
- OS: Windows 10
- Processor: Intel Core i7-6700@ 3.4 GHz
- Memory: 16 GB RAM
- Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060
- DirectX: Version 10
- Storage: 7 GB available space
Game Graphics And Art Style
Touhou: New World features stunning graphics and art style. You will experience a significant improvement over previous games in the series. Here they are-
Detailed And Expressive Models
The character models are highly detailed and expressive. They are well-animated to bring them to life. Choose a character type that suits your personality and move on.
Vibrant And Alive Environment
The setup of the environment is vibrant and alive. It is full of details. You will feel as if you are roaming about in the world of Touhou in real life.
The developers have thought of the environment in such a way that it is really impressive who have done this amazing job.
Special Effects
You’ll find plenty of special effects inside this game. You will encounter sparkly particles and vibrant blooms every now and then.
Let me tell you that these effects not only assist you in your journey but also It’s like a feast for your eyes.
Art Style
To talk about the art style, it is a mix of traditional Japanese and anime styles. If you have played this sort of game previously, you will be able to connect with this style of art, as shown in this game.
It makes the game’s outlook much more impressive and much more engaging.
Image Source: Stem
Gameplay Elements: Action RPG & Bullet Hell Elements
Touhou: New World is an action RPG game with bullet hell elements. The game’s like a delicious blend of exploration, epic battles, and leveling up your characters. Yes, it’s challenging yet satisfying.
Action RPG Elements
You will find many occasions during your journey in the game where you will have to implement action RPG elements for your success.
Whether you are engaged in real-time combat or trying to level up your skill, you need these. Even in the case of itemization and exploration, these elements will assist you.
Bullet Hell Elements
The bullet hell elements in the game require players to dodge waves of enemy projectiles. Survival in the game depends on using your skills and abilities effectively.
The game’s challenge mainly comes from the intense bullet-dodging parts, so you’ll need fast reflexes and superb timing to succeed.
Image Credit: Player One
Plot and Key Characters Of The Game
The plot of this game centers around a whimsical world called Gensokyo. This is the world where humans and magical creatures live together. The plot begins when Reimu and Marisa notice some strange phenomena in Gensokyo.
Image Source: Noisy Pixel
While talking about the characters, I must say that the characters aren’t just pretty faces; they’ve got abilities and personalities that are like the secret sauce of this epic tale. Let’s get you introduced to the key characters of this game.
- Reimu Hakurei: The main protagonist and the shrine maiden of the Hakurei Shrine. She is responsible for maintaining the balance between Gensokyo and the outside world and often resolves incidents involving youkai. She is brave, optimistic, and easygoing but also lazy and careless.
Image Source: touhou-newworld.com
- Marisa Kirisame: The secondary protagonist and a human magician who lives in the Forest of Magic. She is curious, energetic, and greedy and uses a magic broom and a Mini-Hakkero as her weapons.
Image Source: touhou-newworld.com
- Sumireko Usami: A human girl who lives in the outside world. She belongs to the Secret Sealing Club, which is a bunch of people who love mysterious stuff in Gensokyo. She can do cool things with her mind, like move stuff with her thoughts and make fire appear.
Image Source: touhou-newworld.com
- Yukari Yakumo: A youkai who has the power to manipulate boundaries. She looks out for and guides Reimu like a mentor and protector. She is also very mysterious, manipulative, and lazy. She uses gaps and shikigami as her weapons.
Image Source: Touhou Wiki
- Remilia Scarlet: A vampire who is the mistress of the Scarlet Devil Mansion. She can control destiny, but she doesn’t do it much because it has some restrictions. She is arrogant, prideful, and confident but also childish and loyal to her friends. She uses a spear called Gungnir as her weapon.
Image Source: Touhou Wiki
Visuals and Audio Of The Game
This game is well known for its stunning audio and visuals. In the midst of a vivid environment, the gorgeous character designs will carry you away to an unknown mysterious world where 2D and 3D graphics are perfectly mixed.
Traditional Japanese and anime aesthetics are combined very neatly. The visuals and audio together create an imaginary world which is also challenging.. You will feel like you are truly part of the game world while playing it.
To speak about the soundtrack, it is excellent. You can hear everything from electronic music to traditional Japanese music here.
Gameplay Mechanics and Controls
Touhou: New World features a variety of gameplay mechanics and controls. The core gameplay mechanics include certain things that decide the player’s fate in his journey.
- Movement & Shooting: Players in this game can move their characters using the WASD keys and they can shoot projectiles at enemies using the mouse. Now if you can move as the situation demands and shoot at your target perfectly, there is your chance. Just learn to use your gaming mouse perfectly as required.
- Dodging & Use of Skills: Here, players can dodge enemy projectiles by moving their characters around. You have to practice this skill to bypass it so that you encounter no harm. Just dodge and save yourself. You can use your powerful tricks to attack enemies or defend themselves.
- Leveling up & Equipping Gear: Defeat your enemy ahead of you and up your level. Yes, you as a player can up your level by defeating your enemies and completing quests. So, be alert and do not let your focus be vague while doing so. You can equip gear to boost your stats in respect of other players.
Image Source: Siliconera
Pros and Cons of Touhou: New World
Touhou: New World is a well-made game but it is not without flaws. Here are some of the pros and cons of the game. Let’s look at these with the help of a table.
| Pros | Cons |
| * Stunning graphics and art style * Engaging gameplay * Diverse cast of characters * Multiple endings * Active and supportive community | * It can be challenging for beginners * Some technical issues * Lack of voice acting |
Wrapping Up On Touhou: New World
Well, after all this, we can say that the game may not be the best game but it is definitely a good game to try. If you are a fan of the Touhou Project or bullet hell games in general, there is a higher probability that you will enjoy this game.
You can make progress by keeping three things in your mind and they include- choosing your character wisely, exploring the world carefully and fighting the enemies bravely. If you can remember these three simple things, it is your day.
I hope I have satisfied you with this detailed unbiased review of Touhou: New World. But still you have anything in your mind that is bothering you, you are always welcome to use the comment section.
FAQ: Touhou- New World
Here are some common but significant questions that people are hunting for answers on the internet. Go through these for better clarity and understanding.
Q 1: Are There Any Risks Associated with Downloading the Game from Unofficial Sources?
Ans: Yes, there are some risks associated with downloading Touhou: New World from unofficial sources. The game may be infected with malware or viruses, and may not be the latest version and hence, may not work properly.
Q 2: How Do I Get Involved in The Touhou Community or Explore Modding Options for the Game?
Ans: There are a few ways to get involved in the Touhou community or explore modding options for the game. Join the Touhou Project subreddit, visit the Touhou Wiki, join the Touhou Project Discord server and search for Touhou mods on the Steam Workshop.
Q 3: What Are Some of the Standout Features of the Game that Make it Unique in the Series?
Ans: Touhou: New World has a number of standout features that make it unique in the series. They include- a more open-ended world to explore, a more challenging combat system, more customizable characters and multiple endings and an active and supportive community.
