Current Events > I decided to give Touhou another shot. (No pun intended.)

(+) Yeah! (+)

And this time, I'm getting more into it. I've been trying to start with Embodiment of The Scarlet Devil, and I infinite continued my way through Easy. However, it seems you can only get the 6th stage if you play on Normal or higher. If you want to unlock Extra, you have to beat Normal or higher without using a continue.

I can get as far as the second stage, but Cirno starts messing me up way too hard. ;_; I usually die at least once or twice to her, and then Meiling finishes me off in the third stage. I never even get to stage 4. And yes, I'm aware that Meiling gives a 1-up halfway through stage 3, but that's how bad it is for me. It doesn't help at all.
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Well, that was my best run yet. I actually managed to make it to stage 3 without getting hit.



I managed to finally beat Meiling, but then I died to Patchouli.



Which isn't all that surprising, actually. I'm amazed I even made it to stage 4 at all.
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Nice! If it's any consolation, EoSD is supposed to be one of the harder ones because a lot of stuff that become standard in later games like being able to collect power ups at the top at any time instead of only at max power aren't present. And the hitbox thing. Have you tried installing the patch that lets you see your hitbox?
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Goddamnit. I'm right back to losing all my lives to Cirno again...

GiftedACIII posted...

Have you tried installing the patch that lets you see your hitbox?

Oh, I've seen that patch, but I feel like if I download it, it would be a little bit like cheating. ;_; I suppose I could just download it anyway, though...

like being able to collect power ups at the top at any time instead of only at max power aren't present.

Hm? What do you mean by that?
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lol the only pattern I have trouble with Cirno is the one where she shoots fast balls and then freezes them. The rest are pretty easy if you keep an eye on where the bullets are going to land. Which attacks are giving you the most trouble?
The patch makes it up to date with the rest of the touhou games since every single one after has the hitbox. Honestly, I feel without the patch it just makes it a bit more fake difficulty.
Oh you didn't know? In every touhou game after 2 every item will automatically get sucked to you if you move to the top of the screen. In EoSD you need to be at max power to do that while in later games you can do it at anytime. It's really helpful in EoSD since you get extra lives whenever you hit certain score checkpoints
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lol the only pattern I have trouble with Cirno is the one where she shoots fast balls and then freezes them. The rest are pretty easy if you keep an eye on where the bullets are going to land. Which attacks are giving you the most trouble?
The patch makes it up to date with the rest of the touhou games since every single one after has the hitbox. Honestly, I feel without the patch it just makes it a bit more fake difficulty.
Oh you didn't know? In every touhou game after 2 every item will automatically get sucked to you if you move to the top of the screen. In EoSD you need to be at max power to do that while in later games you can do it at anytime. It's really helpful in EoSD since you get extra lives whenever you hit certain score checkpoints
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Kisai posted...

Oh, I've seen that patch, but I feel like if I download it, it would be a little bit like cheating. ;_; I suppose I could just download it anyway, though...

Not really, it's just a missing feature not a cheat if you consider every other game has it later on.

I recommend imperishable night if you're just starting, game is the right balance between not too easy and not too hard when it comes to touhous IMO, probably only one i 1cc'd on normal in a timely manner AND cleared Extra.
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Cookie Bag posted...

Extra.

Already surpassing me lol. Furthest I ever got was like Flandre's 3rd last spell.
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GiftedACIII posted...

Which attacks are giving you the most trouble?

I suppose I should start with this bullshit from Cirno.



Are these groups of bullets supposed to be guiding me off to the side of the stage? Because it feels like they are. Sometimes I'll try moving to the side, and then back to the middle in-between those groups of bullets, but it doesn't always work out. Safest method seems to be to just let myself get pushed away from Cirno, but I'm not sure if that's what I'm even supposed to do, or if there's some smarter way.



I had trouble with this, and would have asked about it, but I managed to figure out a way to get past it well enough by dumb luck. Just "side step" through a gap in the bullets once, then twice, and then go back the other way. Just "side step", nothing else.

Cookie Bag posted...

Not really, it's just a missing feature not a cheat if you consider every other game has it later on.

I mean, Gundemonium Recollection doesn't let you see your hit box at all times, and I managed to 1 credit that on Normal well enough... I feel like I should be able to handle Scarlet Devil without a visible hit box as well. ;_; But yeah, I was talking with a friend tonight and he made that same arguement. Touhou 6 doesn't let you see that, but the later ones do. Maybe I'll get it...

GiftedACIII posted...

Already surpassing me lol. Furthest I ever got was like Flandre's 3rd last spell.

Flandre is in Imperishable Night? I thought she was in Embodiment of Scarlet Devil.

Also, I managed to get the most recent Touhou and tried that out for a bit, and it was pretty neat. I'm kind of bothered that my ice fairy represents Summer, though, but I like Marisa, so I guess I don't mind her repping my favorite season. Glad to see Aya as a playable character though, and Fall is fitting for her.

And for anyone who's gotten far enough in the newest game, was the "back door" thing an intentional pun?

Anyway, if I can't manage to beat EoSD on Normal, I just might resort to the dirty pausing trick to get past Patchouli and her stupid goddamn stage. Goddamn Patchouli, I hate you.
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make sure you use your bombs. I feel like this is probably the biggest thing for newer players. if you manage to use every single one before dying, it's almost like you have three times as many lives. after all, you respawn back at 3 bombs but any you didn't use are just totally wasted.

other more general tips: get an idea of how scoring works since you get extra lives at certain score breakpoints. Also you can increase the number of starting lives a little bit in the options menu
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I think the issue is that you're not using focus shots. Holding the shift key will make your character move slowly, which will help you dodge.

I'd recommend playing Perfect Cherry Blossom over EoSD. It's a lot easier. I can easily get to the end although I always die once or twice.

With EoSD, Sakuya always kills me :(
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I've beaten Flandre thrice, took me over 5 years. I find that playing 14.5 is the best way of getting your danmaku dodging up to level.




Cirno's opener is best avoided with Marisa. She's fast enough to sidestep them (except in Lunatic where there's extra stuff). Try Illusion Laser Marisa, I know homing shots are practical but piercing lasers + 10 second bomb beats everything.


For Icicle Fall, I believe up to Normal you can be right in front of her since there's a safespot there.
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kirbymuncher posted...

make sure you use your bombs. I feel like this is probably the biggest thing for newer players. if you manage to use every single one before dying, it's almost like you have three times as many lives. after all, you respawn back at 3 bombs but any you didn't use are just totally wasted.

other more general tips: get an idea of how scoring works since you get extra lives at certain score breakpoints. Also you can increase the number of starting lives a little bit in the options menu

Oh yeah... I keep forgetting to use bombs... Mostly because I think, "Well, what if there's an even more, dire situation I'll need to use this? What if I can get past this part just fine, and using a bomb is a waste?"

snesmaster40 posted...

I think the issue is that you're not using focus shots. Holding the shift key will make your character move slowly, which will help you dodge.

I'd recommend playing Perfect Cherry Blossom over EoSD. It's a lot easier. I can easily get to the end although I always die once or twice.

With EoSD, Sakuya always kills me :(

I can't even get to Sakuya. ;_; And I'm definitely using focus shots, as often as I can.

ArchangelBaruch posted...

For Icicle Fall, I believe up to Normal you can be right in front of her since there's a safespot there.

Wait, what? Really? I'm gonna have to investigate that later...
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Kisai posted...

And for anyone who's gotten far enough in the newest game, was the "back door" thing an intentional pun?

Probably, not sure, but it sure as hell gonna take a turn for the worse in the upcoming weeks... Okina's backdoor...
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It may be in Easy only. But it's long since become a meme.


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The pun was intended. You noticed it, and you had every opportunity to use the word 'chance' instead.
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Oh. Well it's about patterns. Looking at the Cirno screenshot, shows that you're a bit too close. I think I've fallen for that attack a few times too, because I wasn't prepared.

I think you should install the hitbox patch anyway, since it's a feature the games after EoSD have had since then.

The icicle fall thing is definitely only on easy modo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iY_e-WoVIqU
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That Icicle Fall thing is pretty neat. Shame it only applies to Easy, though. ;_; Sukiya has something similar to that though, even on Lunatic.

Cookie Bag posted...

Kisai posted...

And for anyone who's gotten far enough in the newest game, was the "back door" thing an intentional pun?

Probably, not sure, but it sure as hell gonna take a turn for the worse in the upcoming weeks... Okina's backdoor...

Well, "back door" alone isn't that much of an innuendo... But the fan-translation of that one stage... "back door of the rear"?

Also, I know it's not Embodiment of Scarlet Devil, but I was playing a little more of 4 Seasons, and I just have to complain about this bullshit:



A giant bullet that chases you, all while shooting out bullets on the sides. You have to try and dodge that, while also dodging the bullets it's shooting. I hate this thing so damn much.
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This reminds me I have one of the Touhou games sitting on my laptop, but I have yet to play it. Definitely should fix that one of these days.
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Kisai posted...

A giant bullet that chases you, all while shooting out bullets on the sides. You have to try and dodge that, while also dodging the bullets it's shooting. I hate this thing so damn much.

You have to spin around it and use your judgement to get between the small red shots at the best moment. Then when you hear the sound of the blue shots charging, move away from it and if possible behind it relative to its movement.
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Kisai posted...

I suppose I should start with this bulls*** from Cirno.



Are these groups of bullets supposed to be guiding me off to the side of the stage? Because it feels like they are. Sometimes I'll try moving to the side, and then back to the middle in-between those groups of bullets, but it doesn't always work out. Safest method seems to be to just let myself get pushed away from Cirno, but I'm not sure if that's what I'm even supposed to do, or if there's some smarter way.



I had trouble with this, and would have asked about it, but I managed to figure out a way to get past it well enough by dumb luck. Just "side step" through a gap in the bullets once, then twice, and then go back the other way. Just "side step", nothing else.

Just do what this guy did
https://youtu.be/o5DRWx7sGEw?t=263
You can see, it's actually not too difficult once you get the image of what you're supposed to do.
Kisai posted...

Flandre is in Imperishable Night? I thought she was in Embodiment of Scarlet Devil.

Also, I managed to get the most recent Touhou and tried that out for a bit, and it was pretty neat. I'm kind of bothered that my ice fairy represents Summer, though, but I like Marisa, so I guess I don't mind her repping my favorite season. Glad to see Aya as a playable character though, and Fall is fitting for her.

And for anyone who's gotten far enough in the newest game, was the "back door" thing an intentional pun?

Anyway, if I can't manage to beat EoSD on Normal, I just might resort to the dirty pausing trick to get past Patchouli and her stupid goddamn stage. Goddamn Patchouli, I hate you.

I meant in EoSD lol. I've actually never 1cced IN because my computer broke before I did. Didn't help I was using the hardest pair, sakuya/remilia.
Also, I myself haven't tried out the newest one yet. I'm waiting for everything to be patched including an english version first. Never heard of a pause trick though. I managed to 1cc EoSD quite a few times but it took me a month lol
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GiftedACIII posted...

Just do what this guy did
https://youtu.be/o5DRWx7sGEw?t=263
You can see, it's actually not too difficult once you get the image of what you're supposed to do.

It looked like he was trying to do what I did... Just, like others said, it's easier with Marisa, it seems.

Also, I myself haven't tried out the newest one yet. I'm waiting for everything to be patched including an english version first.

The newest one does have an English patch...

Never heard of a pause trick though.

There's no trick to "hear about", it's just... pausing... to dodge the bullets.

I managed to 1cc EoSD quite a few times but it took me a month lol

Regardless of difficulty, that practically sounds impossible to me.

Didn't help I was using the hardest pair, sakuya/remilia.

What makes them the hardest pair in IN?
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Kisai posted...

Oh yeah... I keep forgetting to use bombs... Mostly because I think, "Well, what if there's an even more, dire situation I'll need to use this? What if I can get past this part just fine, and using a bomb is a waste?"

It's better to die having used all your bombs than to die having some left. That way your probably going to go longer which means you get more time to practice which means you'll get better faster.
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is sakya/remilia really the hardest pair? remilia's shot type is amazing

TC also remember that if you clear a stage once (even with continues) it unlocks it in stage practice so you can practice it individually without needing to do all the stages before it
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kirbymuncher posted...

is sakya/remilia really the hardest pair? remilia's shot type is amazing

TC also remember that if you clear a stage once (even with continues) it unlocks it in stage practice so you can practice it individually without needing to do all the stages before it

I think MariAli is worse, mainly because Alice is useless. I prefer doing Marisa solo runs.
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Kisai posted...

It looked like he was trying to do what I did... Just, like others said, it's easier with Marisa, it seems.

That's interesting, since Marisa is usually touted as the harder routes. There are plenty with Reimu too.
https://youtu.be/mBEc028gGpI?t=263
Kisai posted...

The newest one does have an English patch...

Guess I'll get up to it then.

And I Sakuya/Remilia's bullets are streamlined so it's harder to hit multiple enemies. I guess Alice might be worse though since I've never tried that.
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Touhou is like one of the best things ever:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lNZ_Rnr7Jc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQwGgZXSvaU
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GiftedACIII posted...

That's interesting, since Marisa is usually touted as the harder routes. There are plenty with Reimu too.

I figured Marisa was for more "advanced" players. You sacrifice precision movement and homing shots, but the increased speed could help dodge bullets, and her shot type is more powerful, even if it has a much smaller range.

And I Sakuya/Remilia's bullets are streamlined so it's harder to hit multiple enemies. I guess Alice might be worse though since I've never tried that.

So they're kind of the Marisa of Imperishable Night?
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GiftedACIII posted...

And I Sakuya/Remilia's bullets are streamlined so it's harder to hit multiple enemies.

remilia can place a thing on one side of the screen to shoot bullets while standing on the opposite side of the screen shooting some herself as well. Basically the only reason I ever 1cc'd lunatic, in sections where enemies come simultaneously from both sides of the screen you can kill all of them before they really do anything

alice's shot is a piercing straight laser that's barely wider than her sprite
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Kisai posted...

I figured Marisa was for more "advanced" players. You sacrifice precision movement and homing shots, but the increased speed could help dodge bullets, and her shot type is more powerful, even if it has a much smaller range.

idk. I'm definitely not one can call an "advanced player" lol. I have trouble just 1ccing stuff on normal.
kirbymuncher posted...

GiftedACIII posted...

And I Sakuya/Remilia's bullets are streamlined so it's harder to hit multiple enemies.

remilia can place a thing on one side of the screen to shoot bullets while standing on the opposite side of the screen shooting some herself as well. Basically the only reason I ever 1cc'd lunatic, in sections where enemies come simultaneously from both sides of the screen you can kill all of them before they really do anything

alice's shot is a piercing straight laser that's barely wider than her sprite

I had no idea how that place thing mechanic worked. I guess that's part of the reason.
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nump
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Did you get any further TC, or are you taking a break?
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GiftedACIII posted...

Did you get any further TC, or are you taking a break?

I haven't had much time lately since I've been working these past few days. I have been in the mood to play something, I just haven't figured out what. I wonder if I should go back to Scarlet Devil, or continue Four Seasons...
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