[PS4] Review of Touhou Danmaku Kagura Phantasia Lost

Touhou Danmaku Kagura Phantasia Lost, developed by UnknownX and Alliance Arts, brings a unique blend of rhythm game and bullet hell action to the PlayStation 4. In this exciting new title, you’ll embark on an urgent quest. Playing as Reimu Hakurei, the shrine maiden, you’ll team up with other Touhou heroines to unravel the mysteries surrounding Gensokyo and restore it before time runs out.

One of the game’s standout features is its dual-mode system. In Kagura Mode, your focus will be on keeping up with the music by pressing the corresponding buttons in time with the notes cascading to the bottom of the screen. Success depends on nailing sequences without a mistake to build your combo and boost your score, ultimately affecting your final grade for each song.

Switching gears, Danmaku Mode takes you to the bullet hell aspect of the game. Here, you’ll guide your character along the bottom of the screen, deftly avoiding attacks while shooting at enemies and bosses. Maneuver with the left analog stick while firing automatically, and when things get overwhelming, unleash a powerful bomb with the X button to clear enemy fire.

As you navigate through shoot ’em up levels, every bullet that hits decreases your HP, and losing it all means losing a life. Grabbing power-ups from defeated enemies can significantly aid your battles, enhancing your attack power, speed, or bomb supply. It’s crucial to manage these resources carefully, especially when the musical segments demand attention with notes on either side of the screen.

In Kagura Mode levels, a series of buttons—leftward, upward, and rightward arrows, along with the Square, Triangle, and Circle—are at your disposal to strike notes in time as they descend. Achieving Great ratings or better increases your Groove Gauge, while lower ratings diminish it. Completing a level requires maintaining this gauge above a certain threshold. Look out for tap notes as well as hold notes that extend the challenge.

The game offers a robust trophy system, crowned by a coveted Platinum trophy. You’ll find yourself chasing various achievements, such as collecting Mitama Cards, recruiting heroines, completing game modes, and mastering song maps. Conquering these challenges will keep trophy hunters engaged for hours.

Though it’s an exhilarating journey, Touhou Danmaku Kagura Phantasia Lost has its quirks. Unlike Guitar Hero or Rock Band, the game offers only two note colors per skin, which can be confusing when trying to hit every note. Additionally, the button layout might remind you of the art of rubbing your belly while patting your head due to its complexity. Plastic instruments in classic rhythm games used to make such tasks easier by comparison.

Priced at $29.99 for the standard PlayStation 4 version, there’s also the Digital Deluxe Edition for $64.99, which includes extra song packs. If you desire even more content, consider the $119.99 Memorial Digital Archive, which features a digital art book and sound archive, or the PLUS version with additional packs.

Lastly, a shout-out to Alliance Arts for providing the PlayStation 4 copy that formed the basis of this review.