Let's Play Touhouvania II
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Weapon loadout!
In addition to the same two weapons as before, I now have a third subweapon I can choose: Meiling. This is how all allies who join my party will be represented.
STAGE 2: Scarlet Devil Castle - Reception Hall
Right off the bat, it's another Castlevania classic! ZOMBIES.
I can take out a zombie in a single slash, but more will keep rising from the ground indefinitely. Gotta push forward!
And pushing forward has its risks, too!
As I step under these chandeliers, some of them fall from the ceiling, forcing a quick reaction.
All in all, child's play for a perfect and elegant maid.
This stage introduces a lot of new enemies!
These warrior skeletons take two hits to kill, making them marginally more dangerous than everything else I've encountered thus far.
Much more immediately dangerous are these archers - they only take two hits to kill, but those arrows are carefully aimed to hit me, and do a LOT of damage if they succeed. These will be something of a foil of mine for a lot of the game.
And here, a distinctly more Touhou-esque flavor of enemy, but still a recognizeable classic - remember Axe Armors? Same idea. Repeated boomerang axes coming my way.
Not EVERYTHING in here has a Castlevania equivalent, though - there are various breeds of fairies that just shoot some simple danmaku patterns.
While it's not up to official Touhou standards, my hitbox IS deceptively small - as long as I crouch, those bullets will go clean over my head.
WHOA, it's a big one. Not too dangerous, since they just sort of drift towards you, but the swords can move through walls, which can lead to some nasty surprises.
Ominous, shadowy tunnel!
Where does it lead?
TREASURE, that's where.
There's even some food in here, which I can use to restore all my health.
Wrong color, but another enemy right out of Dracula's stomping grounds!
One hit downs it, but it'll just revive a couple seconds later. Best to move on.
WHOA, hugeass knightmonster.
This thing takes a lot to kill.
Some quick reflexes to avoid his sword...
And we're good to go.
Onwards!
Oh right, I got a new toy, didn't I?
Calling Meiling takes the place of the axe subweapon - she leaps upwards, then kicks down in front of and above you. It's a very useful attack, doing about one and a half slashes of damage.
Okay, this place is dangerous. Spikes above, spikes below, and platforms that flip over a couple seconds after you step on them, dumping you onto said spikes.
It's time to pull out my secret weapon!
Sakuya's World
After all, how would a Sakuya-themed Castlevania clone be complete without the time stop?
And again, for the rest of the area!
I don't know of any food between here and the next boss, so it's best to play it safe.
Oh lord, I hate this room. I always mess up in it.
What awaits to the right is a series of moving platforms, with danmaku-shooting fairies above and spear-wielding fairies below. The spear fairies can stab to the sides or straight up, making it very easy to get hit... and there are spikes waiting below if you mess up. The spear fairies are even too powerful to be fully time-stopped.
My paranoid strategy: Painstakingly lure all the spear fairies to the left wall, and abuse their slightly too-large hitbox to attack safely from the edge.
And safe!
A few close calls, but the hover ability kept me intact.
Man, I just know that thing's gonna start chasing me as soon as I get past it.
I don't want to deal with that!
ZA WARUDO
...which I just use to clear out the enemies on the right side of the room.
Thusly securing my flank, I engage the collossus in a battle of knives and superfists.
I'm not paying you to sleep, Meiling!
Go kick a giant rock monster in the face.
You know, I've never actually turned back and tried to fight this thing before.
I'm starting to think it can't be killed.
ONWARD TO BOSSTOWN
Chen
Voice: Ryoko Shitani
Meow!
Ah.
Aaaah! It's the maid from the scarlet devil mansion! What're you doing here?!
I assume that your presence here suggests Yukari has a vested interest in this castle, yes?
Answer the question!
Did your mistress create this castle? If so...
And stop asking your own questions!
Well, I suppose it doesn't make much of a difference. Stand aside, if you would be so kind.
No way! I was told to stop all those scarlet devil mansion guys if they come by.
Meiling, do you have any catnip?
Why would I be carrying something that convenient?
S-So you think you can bribe me, huh?
You're drooling.
Wha-- Stop making fun of me!
I guess there's not much use in talking to cats.
BOSS BATTLE
Chen
Time to beat up a cat with a maddeningly grating voice! This fight is significantly harder than Alice was.
This opening attack is deceptively nasty - it spreads out as it goes, filling up most of the stage if you let it. It can only be avoided by being very close to or very far away from Chen.
I choose the former, because it makes attacking easier.
Being too close, however, puts one in contact with this followup - and you need space to slip between those bullets. This battle is all about managing distances.
Not giving me time to relax, Chen springs into her strong suit - melee attacks! She bounces of the floor and ceiling, doing heavy damage to anything in her way.
Spell card time! A great chance to sneak in a hit or two, before...
Chen bounces in a five-pointed star pattern, catching me on the foot with one bullet!
In terms of health, that puts us almost equal...
...of course, right after her spellcard I can take control of the momentum of the fight, tearing her apart.
The battle is quickly turning in my favor!
Be useful for once, Meiling!
And one cycle later, she's defeated!
Ugwah!
Please don't make me waste any more of my time.
This is so not fair!
We'll be on our way, now.
I can't let you! If I do, I won't be able to show my face in front of Ran!
I'd really prefer not to have to get serious...
Sakuya.
Yes?
I don't have any catnip, but...
What's this? Another bribe?
How do you like cattails, kitty?
This is... this is...!
Heh heh... I wonder how long you can resist?
Nnngghhh... stop moving around! I'll get you! Meoowwww!
Let's go, Meiling.
STAGE 2 COMPLETE
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