I already really like the PC-98 soundtracks, especially Mystic Square's, but the Windows era of Touhou elevated the music to an entirely new level. Pretty much every soundtrack from here to Legacy Of Lunatic Kingdom is phenomenal across the board (I have my gripes with 16's music onward but I'll cross that bridge when I get to it). Being the series' defining game, Embodiment Of Scarlet Devil has a lot of incredibly iconic melodies. And while yes, those melodies are fantastic, what really gets me about this soundtrack is how it sounds. EoSD has a super distinct soundfont, likely the result of ZUN playing around with new hardware, and it gives the whole score a uniquely dark and haunting vibe to it.
Scarlet Beyond A Crimson Dream
From this game onward, the title themes would be far more laid-back remixes of Theme Of Eastern Story. While I do like a lot of the Windows era title themes, I will say that I do prefer the more unnecessarily intense title themes of the PC-98. Scarlet Beyond A Crimson Dream has a pretty great and iconic chorus, but the build-up isn't too much to write home about.
3/5 Stars
A Soul As Red As The Ground Cherry
Really everything you'd want from a good first stage theme. It's nice and bouncy, with a super catchy main melody, all the while having a slightly eerie undertone that fits EoSD pretty well. The highlight is easily that piano solo that caps off the track.
4/5 Stars
Apparitions Stalk The Night
Similarly to the stage theme it follows, Apparitions Stalk The Night is pretty light-hearted, but with a bouncy tempo, it's a real head-banger. I'm not sure if I prefer the pretty chime-heavy verse or the catchy flute chorus. My only gripe is that this track is a bit short, but otherwise it's great.
4/5 Stars
Lunate Elf
Lunate Elf is such a pretty theme, mostly comprised of twinkly pianos and lovely woodwinds. The main chorus melody is simple but incredibly memorable, especially in its reprisal at the end of the song. This is one of the least popular themes which is a real shame, because I always had a soft spot for it.
4/5 Stars
Beloved Tomboyish Girl
You don't need me to tell you that Cirno's theme is truly iconic. While not my favorite version, I love how icy the EoSD soundfont makes the verse sound. The elegant and tender chorus is easily the best part of the song, such an instantly recognizable melody that hints at there being more to Cirno than meets the eye.
5/5 Stars
Shanghai Teahouse - Chinese Tea
Hands down the best song of the game. Shanghai Teahouse just gets so much stuff right. ZUN uses every single instrument in his arsenal to perfect effect. The piano being used for a perfectly timed breather, the fantastic flute counterpoint, and of course, that utterly godly ZUNpet usage. The main melody is fast-paced enough to be thrilling yet elegant enough to be truly beautiful and mesmerizing, wowing pretty much everyone who's made it to Stage 3 for the first time.
5/5 Stars
Shanghai Alice Of Meiji 17
As much as I love Shanghai Teahouse, it's a real shame it's overshadowed theme because wow, does it slap. EoSD's soundtrack always had an elegant vibe to it, but this one is especially so. From the brilliant piano riff that kicks off the song, to the wonderful flourishes in the verse and chorus, this theme just exudes grace. And yet, an intense and driving percussion track keeps this theme still feeling like a boss theme.
5/5 Stars
Voile, The Magic Library
Talk about underrated, this is another one of my favorite themes in the game hands down. It's lengthy, complex, and does a masterful job at creating an eerie atmosphere through EoSD's unique soundfont, while once again maintaining the drive that a good stage theme should have by this point. There's a lot of great moments here like the dramatic intro and the way the gothic chorus speeds up near the end, but the highlight is easily that godly piano solo near the start of the song. In a series filled with brilliant piano solos, this is one of my favorites.
5/5 Stars
Locked Girl - The Girl's Secret Room
Keeping the streak going, Locked Girl is yet another phenomenal theme. It's so grandoise yet bleak, the main melody feels so hopeless yet powerful. A perfect fit for a sickly magician like Patchouli. The whole song is fantastic but special mention goes to the fantastic ZUNpet chorus that caps off the track.
5/5 Stars
The Maid And The Pocket Watch Of Blood
This is one of the most underrated themes in the entire series and it pains me that it's not as beloved as much of the rest of this soundtrack. It's long, complex, fast-paced, and undeniably badass. ZUN stated he wanted to go in a rock direction with Sakuya's themes and it really shows in that chilling guitar riff in the pre-chorus. But everything else is on-point too, from the dramatic intro, to the energetic piano verse, to that fantastic chorus.
5/5 Stars
Lunar Clock - Luna Dial
Compared to Sakuya's stage theme which feels like it could be a rock opera, Lunar Clock tries to go for more of a power-metal route and doesn't fully pull it off. It can sound a bit busy, but the sheer energy it exudes still shines through nonetheless. The varying time signatures, driving percussion, and badass chorus (that would proceed to be used for Nights Of Nights) still make for a fun boss theme, even if I feel it could've been even better with some more refinement.
4/5 Stars
The Young Descendent Of Tepes
Okay, this is a song I find a bit overrated. As far as Stage 6 themes go, it's a real fan-favorite, but I never got the hype that much. It's a good theme and the chorus is great, super catchy and exciting, but it's just too short! It's less than a minute long!
3/5 Stars
Septette For The Dead Princess
Remilia's theme is a stellar final boss theme and similarly to Shinki's theme, it's a great culmination of everything the game has been building up to musically. Like the rest of EoSD's soundtrack, the verse of Septette is elegent, regal, and gothic, perfect for Remilia. But the song really gets good in the upbeat chorus that feels like it fits Reimu more, almost as if she's even overpowering Remilia in the song itself. And of course, the track ends on a good old-fashioned piano solo, you love to see it.
5/5 Stars
The Centennial Festival For Magical Girls
The Centennial Festival For Magical Girls has a lot of moving parts to it and a lengthy build-up featuring a beautifully twinkly piano intro, a slightly eerie pre-chorus, and a pretty clever repurposing of the infamous "oriental riff". But once again, the highlight is that catchy and energetic ZUNpet chorus. It takes a while to get there, but the payoff is very much worth it.
5/5 Stars
UN Owen Was Her
Ah, UN Owen Was Her. Quite possibly the most iconic Touhou theme, Top 3 at the very least. It definitely deserves its praise, with a terror-inducing intro, a memorable and triumphant chorus, and an eerie and ominous vibe throughout. It really is an amazing theme... but it's also one I find a tad overrated. Not the song in general, just the EoSD version, whose sharp synths can sound a bit grating on a bad day. I think every official remix is an improvement, from DIPP's better instruments to the surprisingly natural mashup with Sunny Milk's theme to the fun time signature play in the 17.5 version. UN Owen Was Her is still a fantastic theme, but in EoSD, it's probably the weakest official version of it.
5/5 Stars
An Eternity That Is More Transient Than Scarlet
This is a solid ending theme, a pretty comfy Theme Of Eastern Story iteration with a very pleasing chorus. Similarly to the title theme, it has a bit of a build-up and isn't very long, but it's a nice listen.
3/5 Stars
Crimson Tower - Eastern Dream
Now this is a credits theme. From the dramatic and sweeping opening, to the catchy and nostalgic main melody, Crimson Tower just screams finality in the best way possible. It's impossible not to feel accomplished when you hear this song.
5/5 Stars
*characters*
Rumia
Rumia used to terrify me. The concept of this pale cannibal with darkness powers that floats to you in an ominous T-pose just really freaked me out. Once I learned that Rumia is either too lazy or too incompetent to actually eat people, she became a bit more adorkable.
3/5 Stars
Daiyousei
I like Daiyousei, even if we don't know too much about her. All we can really surmise is that she's Cirno's friend and she's a lot kinder and more sensitive than she is, which opens the door to a pretty cute dynamic.
3/5 Stars
Cirno
I've really warmed up to the Touhou fairies in general. With the exception of Daiyousei, many of the named fairy characters often tend to be headstrong ambitious types that want to rise above their status. Cirno may be a dolt and not actually that strong, but her sheer commitment to forging her own legend makes her an endlessly fun character to follow along.
5/5 Stars
Hong Meiling
Poor Meiling, often written off by the fanbase as a lazy bum of a gatekeeper. While I do find her laid-back personality appealing, people tend to forget that she's one of the best hand-to-hand fighters in Gensokyo. Like with most of the Scarlet Devil Mansion, I think Meiling's a very likable character with some fun banter with her colleagues and masters.
4/5 Stars
Koakuma
Yet another miniboss, Koakuma doesn't have much in terms of depth, probably even less than Daiyousei does. And that's a real shame because her design is pretty sick, a devil wearing a formal suit is a very striking contrast.
3/5 Stars
Patchouli Knowledge
Patchouli is one of my favorite characters in the entire series. Her purple-heavy design is striking, she's an absolute badass with one of my favorite fights in the series, her sickly nature makes her very sympathetic, and her introverted personality is something I find decently relatable. She's also surprisingly multi-faceted too. Withdrawn, solemn, and snarky on the surface, but also a genuinely great friend to Remilia and really passionate about magic, science, and learning. She also got one of my favorite moments in a Touhou comic when she manages to hold her own in a battle of wits with Eirin in SSiB.
5/5 Stars
Sakuya Izayoi
Where Patchouli is Top 3, Sakuya is like Top 5. Despite still being a human, Sakuya remains of the coolest and most badass characters in the series, being a knife-throwing time-stopping maid who never ever lets up her elegant appearance. It's pretty much impossible to make Sakuya uncool, whether it's in a fanime, manga, or game, she is always a highlight.
5/5 Stars
Remilia Scarlet
There are several sister duos in the Windows games, and for some reason, I always tend to prefer the older one. I guess the whole creepy child concept doesn't really do much for me. Then again, it's not like Remilia is that much more mature than Flandre. While she is outwardly super elegant and polite, in reality, she's still just a bratty, spoiled kid. There's a really fun dynamic there, and the fact that she's almost always scheming something makes for a very fun villain/anti-villain to follow.
5/5 Stars
Flandre Scarlet
While super popular for her status, even after all these years, Flandre is still kind of an enigma. While the internet likes to act as if she's a sadistic force of nature who's locked inside for everyone's safety, in reality, it feels like her personality changes in all of her appearances. In some cases, she is a terrifying force of nature who needs to be contained, in other cases, she's polite, in others she's a mischievous kid, in others she's borderline incoherent. While I think Flandre is a cool character, the fact that we still don't really know much about her holds me back from flat-out loving her as much as many fans seem to.
4/5 Stars
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