I don’t 100% games often, but this one motivated me to try that for once. As of the 1.0 patch in April 2024, I have all achievements, and look forward to more content in the future.


I would describe this game as a “2D / side-scrolling / boss-battler / bullet hell”. Normally, I’m not into bullet hells, but this one has “no micro-dodging” and plenty of i-frames via dashes & flying. While the game is quite challenging, I’d consider it “fair” for the most part, and gives you plenty of tools to work with to help you win.

Your loadout options include:

• 4 items (1 of which is usually your weapon of choice)
  
  
• 2 activated spells
  
  
• 1 badge (minor bonus)

You unlock these spells / items / badges as you accomplish more things in the game, such as beating boss encounters (both on normal and challenge mode), and even a mini-game arcade cabinet. This gave me plenty of motivation to do the encounters & challenges, as getting rewarded with an item is pretty cool. Not only that, but in the spirit of the mainline Touhou games, to unlock the final boss battle, you have to beat all the other bosses’ challenge mode.


It’s surprisingly well-written, given that official Touhou games & Touhou fangames tend to be quite simplistic in their narratives. For veterans of the series, there’s enough breadcrumbs and hints to guess “what’s going on”. For those new or less-familiar with the characters already, it does a good job portraying the characters and setting so you won’t feel too lost in the mystery of this incident.

The art & animations are top-notch, pretty to look at, and help the overall enjoyment of the game. I very much enjoy their unique take on the Touhou characters, since they’re a bit “different” in this game…you’ll have to play to find out why.

The music is a mixture of remixes / differing arrangements of existing Touhou songs and some original tracks. Just like in the mainline games, each boss has their own theme, which adds to the excitement and tension while battling against them. You can also customize the hub area with a jukebox to play whatever tune you like to create the desired vibe while you prep between encounters. My personal favorite is “Bunny Time”, and always have it set to that.

All the songs, portraits, and bonus art are available in the supporter pack DLC. With a base price of $2, I’d recommend getting that as well, if you like having that readily available.

• If you’re looking for a simple game you can pick up & play casually – this isn’t it. The game is tough, and you have to bring your A-game to proceed. Granted, there is an “assist mode”, but it puts Cirno in a chicken suit to show you’re asking for help…
  
  
• The English translation has some small typos and weird phrasing at times, but it’s never been a huge impediment. Mentioning this in case you expect perfection there.
  
  
• Some of the items & spells are poorly balanced. After playing awhile, you’ll find out which things are actually going to help you out, and which things you’ll probably never equip again. Again, this hasn’t been a major issue, but it does potentially stifle a certain amount of loadout creativity. As always though: personal playstyle is king, so do what you want – it’s really your skill which matters most.
  
  
• If you’re not that keen on fanservice...be warned that the artists here are kind of “horny on main”. After beating bosses, their portraits change to a battle-torn version of their appearance for a scene. This may not be an issue for some, but I want to make it clear for people who are considering this game so they don’t come in with improper expectations.
  
  
• As of the 1.0 version (April 2024), while the story has an “ending”, there are still some questions which haven’t been answered about the plot. Based on the devs’ announcement of more content to come at a later time, I’m hoping they’ll address those subjects in the future.

• For those who desire a challenging, but fair, game – this is it, and highly recommended.
  
  
• The soundtrack and small amounts of voice acting are pleasant and enhance the experience greatly.
  
  
• Imperfect balance aside, I still really like the variety in loadout choices. Yes, some may not be optimal, but doing things YOUR way, even if not meta, is fun. Seeing Cirno toss snowballs, shoot lasers, or even slice with a sword is just the right mixture of power fantasy and absurdity.
  
  
• Fanservice aside, playing games which look good is a big plus in my book.
  
  
• The amount of content and its quality is insane for how cheap the game’s base price is. I’m not saying you’ll get 100 hours out of this, but it’s totally worth it.

Huge thumbs-up from me, I cannot emphasize how much this game snuck up on me, and impressed me. This is the perfect choice for someone who enjoys a difficult bullet hell game, but doesn’t like dealing with micro-dodging.

Important reminder! Make sure to start by playing the free Prologue game, as the content contained in it (fights vs Remilia, then Flandere) are NOT INCLUDED IN THE MAIN GAME, so, start here:


https://store.steampowered.com/app/1715460/Touhou_Hero_of_Ice_Fairy_Prologue/