Let's Play Touhouvania II
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Click to viewLET'S PLAY
TOUHOUVANIA II: STRANGER'S REQUIEM
Touhouvania II: Strangers Requiem, a.k.a. Koumajou Densetsu II, is a Touhou doujin action game in the style of Castlevania. It is a sequel, but I'm not interested in playing, let alone LPing, the first game, so here's a summary of the plot:
-The Scarlet Devil Castle showed up.
-Reimu went in and beat up Remilia.
-The castle was destroyed.
Good? Good! I will be playing on easy, because LPing distracts me from actually playing well.
LET'S GO
Enter our protagonist...
Sakuya Izayoi
Voice: Miyuku Sawashiro
I'm back, Milady.
I brought the books you requested...
...Milady?
(...Strange. My mistress isn't here, and there's no sign of Meiling or Patchouli, either.)
Where did everyone go?
Where did everyone go, indeed?
Well met, Sakuya.
Yukari... Yakumo.
Yukari Yakumo
Voice: Aya Endo
It would seem that I missed something fun, didn't I? Regarding your mistress.
I won't deny that she was involved.
As was I, in my own way.
Weren't you sleeping through it, as usual?
I won't deny it.
What brings Miss Sleepyhead here tonight, then?
Hmm... I came to give my regards to the vampire of the house.
......
But she seems to be elsewhere at the moment, so I took it upon myself to look after the place until her return.
How forward of you. You're saying that you have something to do with their disappearance, aren't you?
Oh my, is that what you heard?
......
Heh heh... you put on a good show of composure, but inside, it's a little different, isn't it?
Why, you...
Calm down, calm down. You'll spoil that pretty face of yours.
I don't know what you're going on about.
That's my line. Won't you cool your head a bit?
...!
Foolish human. It seems you haven't noticed, so I'll give you a hint.
Wh... What?
Spring has yet to come... I think that's all I should say on the matter.
Spring has...?
Isn't this fun? Well, I'm afraid my hint ends there.
W.. Wait!
Who has stolen the spring? For what purpose? And so on. Well, I'll be going now.
Gh!
(Spring has yet to come?)
Indeed, this isn't normal weather for spring...
(Is this connected to milady's disappearance?)
Milady...
And we're off!
Before the game can start properly, though, the weapon select screen!
Normally, we can pick up to three sub-weapons to take with us on each stage. However, at this point, we only have two - throwing knives, and Sakuya's World. I'll take them both and be off!
STAGE 1: Pitch Black Forest
Before we get into things, let's see what all Sakuya can do.
X button to jump!
X again in midair to hover!
While hovering, I can slowly float in all directions. However, this gradually depletes mana (blue bar), which recovers while I'm not using it. With a full charge, I can hover for about six seconds.
Square for basic attack!
Sakuya is a knife wielder, but this looks more like a sword... necessary, for any kind of respectable reach. Can be used in the air or when crouching, but not while hovering.
Up+Square for Soul Scupture!
This special attack drains mana to use as well. Damage is low, but it strikes rapidly and covers a large area. It's useful here and there, but not huge. Can be used while hovering.
L1 to cycle subweapons, and R1 to use them!
These are my rapid-fire basic knives. Damage is low (six knives are equivalent to one basic attack), but it's ranged, very fast, and I can throw three for the cost of one orb (top left corner).
I'll save Sakuya's World for a more dangerous situation.
Down+X to backstep!
Useful as a quick evasion maneuver, but also useful because it can combo into...
Down+Square during a backstep for a flip attack!
Sakuya backflips into the air and throws a pair of knives that bounce off the ground. Another handy little technique, useful both as a light attack and as a way to give the backstep some extra distance.
All right, enough faffing around...
LET'S GO
This first area is very easy - it's mostly to give you a chance to get used to the game. This first enemy will grow a vine out towards you if you let it, but it dies in a single hit.
This flower monster is the first thing resembling a legitimate threat in the game!
It takes a few slashes to defeat, and launches vines out of the ground. A quick backstep to dodge the vines, then...
Defeated!
Enemies, when slain, drop more of the orbs required to use sub-weapon attacks.
Birds! Huge chasms!
I think it's possible to make that jump with great timing, but...
I'll just fly, thank you.
Another scary monster!
It is notable, though, for not really having any attacks at all. This is, after all, stage 1. Six hits and down it goes.
Next area!
Now we start getting some weird enemies. Like this, uh... skeleton head bird carrying a frong? It's basically harmless.
Some ruins! The most generic castlevania monster of all time!
Could this mean we're getting close to our destination?
There are pots all over the stages of the game! Most just contain orbs, but some contain special items, like these sandwiches, which restore 25% of my health.
Useless here, as I have taken no damage so far.
Third area!
Here's another example of that vine enemy I mentioned before.
Oh man, THESE things. Anyone who's played Castlevania knows what I mean. They float around, attached to the wall, breathing fireballs pretty rapidly. Can be quiet a pain in the right circumstances.
These, however, are not the right circumstances.
Onward!
Oh hey, I forgot one attack I can do. Down+X in the air to drop kick!
Damage is low, but you can bounce. Very situational.
And what Castlevania clone would be complete without this greatest of traditions: MEAT IN THE WALLS.
This hidden item is a Steak, which restores 100% health.
What's this? It appears to be some sort of drawbridge!
With this, we have reached the climax of the first stage...
This is... the Scarlet Devil Castle?
(But how? That time, the Scarlet Devil Castle was definitely...)
The shape isn't the same as before, though...
(But there's no mistaking this ominous feeling... it must be the same castle.)
Could this be milady's doing again?
......
(...no, not with Yukari's hand in play. Also, I can't imagine her doing something like this without telling me beforehand.)
So, then, who on Earth...
Mmph!
...?
Mmph, mmmmph mmmff!
That voice...
Meiling?
Hong Meiling
Voice: Satomi Satou
Mmmmffph!
What on Earth? What's the meaning of this?
Mmm, mmMmmMmmf mmphphh! Mmfph, mmfph!
"We'll talk later, please untie me."
Is that what you meant to say?
MmmMmmpPFPffmfph!
Yes, yes, I get the picture.
I expect you want these off right away.
...!
Alice Margatroid
Voice: Haruka Tomatsu
Ah!
You are... Alice?
Oh, it's Remilia's maid.
Care to explain any of this?
Eh? Explain what?
I don't recall leaving our gatekeeper in your possession.
Mmmf! Mmmph!
Huh? Meiling? What are you doing here... wait, you think I did this?
Do you see anyone else around here?
I-I don't know anything about this!
It's n-none of my business!
Mmmmmph!
Eeeehhh?! It wasn't me, I'm serious!
......
I... I...
"Come at me with everything you've got."
Is that what you're trying to say?
Aah... no fair...
BOSS BATTLE
Sakuya VS Alice
First boss! I'm not too worried.
Most bosses in this game use simplified variations on their danmaku patterns from the source material - much simplified, because I have neither the hitbox nor the control precision to deal with the real thing right now.
Alice's basic attack is these dual pairs of arcs of blue shots, easy enough to weave between.
So I'll dodge in between the gaps to get close enough to attack!
After a couple normal attacks, Alice busts out this slightly more dense pattern, before revealing her true power...!
Every boss has one Spell Card attack, indicated by a pink glow before they begin to attack. On some bosses, this can be used as a chance to get some damage in, but I wasn't fast enough...
Alice's spell card! She summons a group of dolls that spin around her, firing bullets to the sides.
How can I deal with these quickly?
With Soul Sculpture!
Damage isn't great, but it only takes one hit to neutralize a doll, and the wider attack area means I can take out several with one hit, while hurting Alice as well.
That's really about all there is to fighting Alice! Her pattern is short and to the point.
I have a nasty tendency to jump too high and end up in the line of fire of her dolls... fortunately, they don't do too much damage, and health isn't carried over between stages.
Just a little further!
If I'm on the ground, I can also use the knives to quickly dispatch dolls...
And Alice is down!
Owww...
So, do you feel like talking yet?
I already told you that I don't know anything about this!
You still want to put up a fight, do you?
Eeehh?! W-Wait! Why don't we ask the gatekeeper herself?
I suppose we might as well.
Uwah! Thank you!
Meiling. Who was it who did this to you?
Er, well... I was in the garden at the Scarlet Devil Mansion, taking a, uh... you know, a nap...
......
Y-You know, a... some shuteye?
That's the same thing.
I'm sorry...
And then?
While I was napping, someone suddenly came up behind me and...
...I see. In other words, it could have been anybody.
Eeh?! Wh-Why is everyone looking at me? ...Ah!
Wait, I have one! A, uh, what do you call it... Alibe...
Alibi.
That's right, an alibi! Just before coming here, I saw Sakuya at Kourindou!
So you're saying that since you know this, you couldn't have been the one who captured Meiling?
That's right. I was just coming this way because I felt something ominous...
I see... very well.
Oh, good, you understand. I was worried that you were getting a little too much like Remilia there...
What?
N-No, nothing! Nothing at all!
Come along, Meiling. We're going into the castle.
Y-Yes ma'am!
Scary...
Meiling has joined your team.
STAGE 1 COMPLETE
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