Touhou Music Reviews: Wily Beast And Wicked Creature

As far as the mainline soundtracks go, Wily Beast And Wicked Creature has my personal least favorite in the entire franchise. It has its good songs and a unique sound to call its own, but it's so experimental that its tracks wildly range in quality. The instrumentation is also even more all over the place than in HSiFS. The Elementic drums are still around and the electric guitars sound way crustier than they used to, but on the other hand, the synth stuff is phenomenal. ZUN's techno game from 13-15 is still on point and does a lot to carry this score.

Unspeaking Beast Spirits
Solid title theme that definitely fits the game in how aggressive it is, with heavy guitars and a menacing central riff. The hard-hitting chorus really makes this song for me.
4/5 Stars

The Lamentations Known Only By Jizo
Once again, a pretty great first stage theme. With a ghostly-sounding lead synth, melancholic melody, and acoustic guitars and chimes all over the place, this is an unusually haunting track that fits the game's tone super well. It also uses the Elementic drums as a trap beat, which as I've mentioned, is probably the best way to use that soundfont.
Update: Bumped up to a 5/5 after listening to its recent remix.
5/5 Stars

Jelly Stone
Jelly Stone has a lot of problems. The combination of the loud and crusty acoustic guitars and the Elementic spam make for a track that is super busy-sounding, but thankfully, the Spooky Lead chorus sounds great and manages to save the track.
3/5 Stars

Lost River
I like this recent trend of Stage 2 themes being super atmospheric and spacey, with Lost River employing an ominous, smooth, and slightly swingy synth melody that really hooks you in. And that's not even getting into the super powerful chorus, which sounds almost EoSD-esque in how its distorts its instruments to heighten the eerieness. Still not a fan of the percussion, but the synths really elevate Lost River for me.
5/5 Stars

The Stone Baby And The Submerged Bovine
And now, we have hands down my least favorite theme in the series, by a long shot at that. It's the only piece of Touhou music I genuinely dislike. The moo-sounding synths sound awful, the melody is all over the place and not catchy at all, and it sounds like the tune falls apart in the second half. Sorry, ZUN, this one was a pretty big miss.
0/5 Stars

Everlasting Red Spider Lily
That's better. WBaWC has way better stage themes than I remembered. Everlasting Red Spider Lily is such a unique-sounding theme, with its twinkly and slightly disonnant riff, heavy use of bass drum, catchy yet off-kilter melody, heavy ZUNpets, and actually good usage of the moo-sounding soundfont.
5/5 Stars

Seraphic Chicken
Like with Jelly Stone, the Elementic drums come in a bit too hard this time, which is a shame because the rest of the track is wonderful. The wonky time signatures, repetitive melody, and intense guitars work surprisingly well, and the energetic ZUNpet chorus is absolutely fantastic. It's a heavy and exhilirating boss theme, even if the 17.5 version far surpasses it.
4/5 Stars

Unlocated Hell
What a banger! For someone who claims to suck at making metal, ZUN did a pretty great job here. Bursting out of the gate with an addictingly heavy guitar riff, Unlocated Hell is a relentless track with breezy piano, booming ZUNpets, and an absolutely phenomenal chorus. Once again, the Stage 4 theme is a big highlight.
5/5 Stars

Tortoise Dragon
Tortoise Dragon is yet another unique track carried hard by its synths. They're so pleasing and fun to listen to, and the addition of choirs only increases the intensity. The whole song is composed of melodies that interrupt themselves, and yet it's all so slick and smooth. 
5/5 Stars

Beast Metropolis
Befitting a metropolis, Beast Metropolis is a standout track for how it keeps building on itself, increasing the intensity, tempo, and instruments every time it repeats its addictingly melancholic main melody. There are so many instruments too, from the UFO saxes, to the ZUNpets, to a distinct twinkling synth, to piano, to choirs. Better percussion would've made this one perfect.
5/5 Stars

Joutounin Of Ceramics
While I said the second half of WBaWC's soundtrack is good, that comes with the exception of this theme. Sadly, it doesn't really do much for me, and it's not even an instrumentation thing. So much of the track is just a (decently ominous) build-up, and the actual payoff in the chorus is kinda weak. The electric guitars are especially off, their counter-melody just doesn't mesh well with the rest of the song.
2/5 Stars

Electric Heritage
Ah, that's better. Like in TH14 & TH15, Electric Heritage is a bit of an appetizer for the final boss theme, and does a pretty great job at that. It's pretty much the best part of Idolatrize World but given a hard techno remix, and it does a fantastic job at hyping you up for the final boss.
5/5 Stars

Idolatrize World
Yeah, this theme is great, definitely deserved of the praise it has. From the grandiose intro, to the beautiful piano solo in the verse, to the beautiful ZUNpet chorus, to the frantic guitar solo, to the Theme Of Eastern Story reprisal, this is as final boss-y as it gets and stands up right alongside some of the best of the series in terms of composition. Still wish we had better drums but I probably sound like a broken record at this point. Good song.
5/5 Stars

The Shining Law Of The Strong Eating The Weak
Probably the most disappointing thing about WBaWC's soundtrack is how eh the extra themes are. The Shining Law has a nice western vibe and some decent melodies, but it lacks the intensity or creativity you'd want from an extra stage theme, and the at times off-beat Elementic drums really drag it down.
2/5 Stars 

Dark Pegasus
I keep forgetting this theme exists, which is not a good sign for an extra stage theme. Granted, Dark Pegasus isn't even that bad a song. It's got a stellar intro in how ominous it is, the piano solo in the verse is pretty great, and the chorus is super frantic. However, Dark Pegasus just doesn't really come together for me and lacks the same wow factor that all the other extra boss themes have.
3/5 Stars

The Animals' Rest
This is an alright ending theme, it's bouncy, jazzy, has some fun techno wubs, and the piano melody is pretty fun. It's short to a fault, but for sure better than HSiFS's ending theme.
3/5 Stars

Returning From The Underground
Ehhhhhhhhhh... I love Unlocated Hell, but it might be a bit too hardcore to be a staff roll theme. The saxophones and synths are doing a pretty good job, but then you have the electric guitars overshadowing the whole piece and mitigating what should be a calming sigh of relief.
3/5 Stars

As for the characters, ZUN went a bit more off-the-wall with WBaWC's animal-themed cast. Sadly, most of them don't quite work for me, but there are a few good eggs.

Eika Ebisu
What is up with those earlobes? Like I get it, she's based on Ebisu, but those long earlobes just really creep me out. The rest of her design is fine, I like the jellyfish theming, and the fact that she fights you because you knocked over her rocks is funny, but I just can't look past the ears.
2/5 Stars

Urumi Ushizaki
Maybe it's because of how much I hate her theme, but Urumi is one of my least favorite Touhou characters. For someone based on a cow, her design feels almost a bit too on the nose, between the heavy usage of black and white, and her large chest (thus why ZUN gave her that motherly element too). Apparently, ZUN wanted to make her a fisher since cows are usually herbivores, and that would've been so funny! What a waste...
1/5 Stars

Kutaka Niwatari
Now this is a good animal-themed Touhou. Kutaka has the wings and colors of a chicken, but her design has so many extra creative touches, like the red hair streak, the ribbon by her neck, and the little chick in her hair. 17.5 even gives her a whistle so she can make chicken sounds, I love that! She's also a guardian of hell which is pretty funny considered her unassuming design, and she sits in a comfy middle between Mystia and Utsuho on the birdbrain spectrum.
4/5 Stars

Yachie Kicchou
Dragons are cool. Yachie's design is pretty simple, but it's sleek and intimidating in its own way. Yachie is one of the more manipulative Touhou characters as of late, and it really shows in her role in WBaWC's story. She could've been a neat reoccurring antagonist in the same vein as the Moriyas were in the second generation. (Update: Touhou 19 makes Yachie even better. She tricked Biton into thinking she's Goku, and spent her entire storyline getting outsmarted by everyone including Aunn somehow. She just turned from super intimidating into an absolute dork and I can't get enough of it.)
5/5 Stars

Mayumi Joutouguu
Really? Another character based off a doll/statue a game after Narumi? Well, okay. I'm still not huge on her design and her loyalty powers would be more impressive if she didn't come after Sakuya, Youmu, Shou, Futo, and Mai/Satono, but Mayumi essentially being a military leader is a fun concept that's used pretty well in the story.
2/5 Stars

Keiki Haniyasushin
I don't really have too much to say about Keiki outside of her being pretty cool. She's a god which makes her an intimidating final boss, her design is neat, the artist side of her is really cool, and her rivalry against Yachie and the animal spirits is interesting. Good final boss, just not one of the most noteworthy ones.
4/5 Stars

Saki Kurokoma
Speaking of on the nose designs, Saki is mean to be a horse, so of course, why not just make her a cowgirl? My issues with her theme stem with her character as well, she's just not super memorable for an extra boss. She doesn't have the fascinating lore that the earlier extra bosses (Flandre through Koishi) had, nor the fun designs that the later extra bosses (Nue through Hecatia) had.
2/5 Stars

Touhou Music Reviews: Hidden Star In Four Seasons

Sadly, I think ZUN's music has been kinda getting a bit worse since Legacy Of Lunatic Kingdom. On its own merits, Hidden Star in Four Seasons is still a really solid soundtrack with some great tracks and compositions, but in the context of the series, it's probably the weakest since the PC-98 era. It also introduces the infamous crunchy-sounding Elementic drums that, when used poorly, can sound genuinely bad and drag down an otherwise good song, and they'd only begin to see even more use across the next few games.

The Sky Where Fairy Blossoms Flutter Down
At least the soundtrack gets off to a pretty good start, this is a really solid title theme! It's a pretty ominous synth-heavy track with an eerie opening, wailing melodies, heavy bass, and an intense chorus.
4/5 Stars

A Star Of Hope Rises In The Blue Sky
This is a really cute Stage 1 theme, super upbeat and happy while still being as fast-paced as you'd expect. The highlights are all in the background tracks, like that banging series of piano chords in the chorus and the lovely chiptune that you can hear throughout the song.
4/5 Stars

A Midsummer Fairy's Dream
This is the first track where you can hear the Elementic drums and, yeah, I'm remembering why I'm not a fan. They're so loud that they overshadow what should be a super muted and ominous melody (which by the way is actually pretty good in how much intrigue it generates).
3/5 Stars

The Colorless Wind On Youkai Mountain
The Colorless Wind On Youkai Mountain once again kinda suffers from poorly-placed Elementics, but unlike the last theme, the rest of the track is so good that I can mostly look past it. It's a super melancholic and atmospheric piece with bouncing synth instrumentation, a fun yet intense verse, and a calming flute chorus. 
5/5 Stars

Deep-Mountain Encounter
Deep-Mountain Encounter is a balls-to-the-walls boss theme with a powerful melody and relentless pacing, so the Elementic drums do fit a bit more. I don't find this one super remarkable until that incredibly triumphant chorus.
4/5 Stars

Swim In A Sakura-Colored Sea
Swim In A Sakura-Colored Sea is such a beautifully atmospheric piece with a haunting riff, lovely flute melody, and actually good percussion? The Elementic drums work best when they're cut short and used as trap beats, so they actually sound pretty good in this track and help keep it moving along.
5/5 Stars

A Pair Of Divine Beasts
The first genuinely great boss theme of the game. It's intense, dramatic, and has an incredibly fun and fast-paced chorus. The piano, choir, and UFO saxophones coming in at the second half elevate this one even further. Definitely one of the better early game boss themes out there.
5/5 Stars

Illusionary White Traveler
That opening piano riff is phenomenal, so comfy and entrancing, especially once the UFO saxophones come in. This theme just screams winter, it fits the stage incredibly well. It's also a pretty fast-paced theme with like three different equally amazing choruses that each up the intensity over the previous one. Definitely a highlight in the game.
5/5 Stars

The Magic Straw-Hat Jizo
The Magic Straw-Hat Jizo starts off as a solid but unmemorable boss theme with a pretty eh main melody and some annoying Elementics, but the second half is genuinely fantastic with its ominous piano riff and catchy saxophone chorus.
4/5 Stars

Does The Forbidden World Lead To This World Or The World Beyond
First off, love the overly long name. Second off, this is yet another really good stage theme (I guess this is HSiFS's strong point, huh?). The first third is probably the highlight for its tense synths and ominous main melody, but the exhilirating and triumphant chorus is also pretty fantastic.
4/5 Stars

Crazy Backup Dancers
One of the funnest boss themes in the series. That piano verse with the downward scale is both insanely catchy and really menacing. The whole theme is so chaotic and all over the place, perfectly fitting such a tough and crazy boss fight, while ending on a great triumphant ZUNpet chorus.
5/5 Stars

Into Backdoor
Similarly to Stage 5's theme, Into Backdoor peaks early on with its crisp and eerie trance intro. The whole track uses a lot of trance synths actually, there's a real Ten Desires vibe to it. Like most Stage 6 themes, it's not super long, but it's menacing and tense enough to get you excited for the fight with Okina.

The Concealed Four Seasons
While I do love this boss fight, Okina's first theme isn't super amazing by final boss standards. It starts off pretty boring but keeps getting better, with a fun piano pre-chorus and a stellar and dramatic almost-Necrofantasia-esque chorus that sadly only shows over two minutes in. The Elementics aren't the best here either.
4/5 Stars

No More Going Through Doors
I love this theme. Not even the Elementics can change that. It's so ominous and tense, single-handedly doing so much of the heavy lifting for the extra stage emotion-wise. It's so ominous, intense, and urgent, perfect for what is essentially the player getting revenge on Okina. Even the name fits so damn well! I love the tense intro riff, the way the background piano almost sounds like a more exciting Extend Ash, the dramatic piano pre-chorus complete with haunting choirs, the way the ZUNpets kick in for the second verse, and the upbeat saxophone finale. It's a mix of all the best aspects of all the extra stage themes before it, and even with Last Remote existing, this is my favorite of its kind.
5/5 Stars

Secret God Matara
Funny how Okina's extra fight is worse than her normal fight but her extra theme is way better! It's intense, fast-paced, exciting, and just plain fun. From the catchy sax melody to the frantic piano to the absolute banger that is the chorus, Secret God Matara might just the most Touhou song to ever Touhou, and I wouldn't have it any other way.
5/5 Stars

Unnatural Nature
Look, I get that ZUN wanted to make a more ominous ending theme since you technically lose at the end of HSiFS, but this is just a really short loop. It's creepy for sure, but not something you'd want to listen to for super long.
2/5 Stars

White Traveler
As per the usual by now, White Traveler is a calm remix of the Stage 4 theme, but only the chorus, without any of the buildup, and with worse drums. It's still a fine melody and the opening few seconds are really atmospheric, but this is for all accounts a downgrade.
3/5 Stars 

As far as the characters go, HSiFS's lineup is alright but unremarkable. None of these characters rank up among my favorites but I don't actively dislike many of them either. They're just fine.

Eternity Larva
New fairies are always welcome, but while Eternity Larva is most definitely pretty, there isn't much to her outside of being a butterfly. Her cameo in Visionary Fairies In Shrine was really fun, but otherwise, she's not one of the more memorable characters.
3/5 Stars

Nemuno Sakata
I don't know what it is about Nemuno that rubs me the wrong way. Maybe it's the muted colors of her design, or her secluded nature, or the fact that she's barefoot and likely super dirty, either way, not a fan.
1/5 Stars

Aunn Komano
Aunn is probably the standout fan favorite of the HSiFS cast and I can see why. The way her design uses a curl motif is pretty neat, her boss fight and music are great, and she's adorable. However, my problem with that the cute factor is all she has. Aunn is too simple, especially compared to fellow green haired pup guardian Kyouko.
3/5 Stars

Narumi Yatadera
Like with Aunn, Narumi is a statue (this time a Jizo) turned human. It's a neat design but we still don't know much about her. I'd say it's the consequences of being such a recent game but it's been seven years since HSiFS came out by now.
2/5 Stars

Mai & Satono Teireida
Mai and Satono don't have much of a personality since they're mostly just devoted to Okina, but I don't really care because of how fun these two are. They're so smug for the entirety of HSiFS, and they way they waltz in and single-handedly ratchet up the difficulty will always be one of the most memorable parts of the game for me. It's also nice to see a creepy duo pairing where said duo are actually on equal footing this time. These are two that I hope reappear at same point, even if in it's the manga, because they could totally be two of my favs with a bit more screentime.
4/5 Stars

Okina Matara
Design-wise, Okina isn't anything super special. She's basically just Junko but in a wheelchair. But unlike Junko, I actually really like Okina. Her first fight is one of my favorites in the series and the way she actually wins at the end of the main story is unprecedented for the series. Not to mention her smug, intimidating, and prideful personality make for one of the few genuinely evil antagonists in the series. As shown in Visionaries, Okina is an honest to goodness force of nature who should always be feared.
5/5 Stars

Maho Girls Precure (Series 13)

Maho Girls was one of the series I was most excited about solely for the theme. I think witches and magic schools are cool, and it seemed like a pretty awesome concept to base a Precure season on. What I didn't expect, however, was for Maho Girls to essentially function as a full-on throwback to the good old days of the Washio era, for better or worse.

Maho Girls is about Mirai, a normal human, and Riko, a magician, who run into each other and discover that they share pendants and can both become Cures. So now they have to team up to find the Linkle Stones before the bad guys do, while also having to attend each other's school. It's a unique take on this kind of story, not just shoving Mirai in Riko's magic school for the whole season, but instead jumping between the magic and normal worlds to develop both halves of the series. I'm a bit split on this approach. On one hand, when you make a show about a magic school, you'd expect it to be mostly about said magic school. It is the more interesting setting after all. On the other hand, it basically gets you two different fish out of water stories rather than one, and both towns get super developed and vast side casts to get attached to. That's a really good thing because Maho Girls... kinda has no plot. Similarly to Smile, the main story of Maho Girls is pretty much just a MacGuffin chase with a goalpost that keeps moving until the show ends, and even then it lacks the interesting and fun villains or even the semblance of urgency that show had. As a matter of fact, I'd say these are the worst villains since Futari, if not even worse, only worsened by the decision to split the season into two groups of villains. And that's not even getting into the exhaustingly dull exposition every single time Kouchou shows up, I don't think I've ever flat-out hated a character this much solely for being boring, but I dread every time Kouchou comes on screen. Blue is less of a drag, I swear. So without an engaging plot, it's up to the characters and world to do most of the heavy-lifting.

Similarly to Futari and Smile, Maho Girls mostly focuses on a duo of polar opposite Cures, Mirai and Riko, and they're great. They have stellar chemistry with one another, it's fun to watch them interact and bounce off each other, and their bond grows naturally. I will say that Riko is the more interesting of the two, the concept of a witch who sucks at magic is very fresh and well-executed, but I do love both of these dorks (and also they're very gay, even by Precure standards). A perk of having a pair of Cures is that we also get a wide array of fun and quirky classmates, this time around in both schools. Jun, Emily, and Mayumi are just plain enjoyable characters, and Maho Girls is at its strongest when Mirai and Riko's classmates are around. There's also the two mascots Mofurun and Ha-Chan. Mofurun is a fan favorite, but it took me a while to warm up to her. She seemed a bit too perfect and cloyingly cute, like a discount Hummy, but as the show gives Mofurun more to do and several genuinely great subplots, I did come around to her. Ha-Chan meanwhile is a baby character, but aside from one episode where she cries a lot, I'd call her one of the better ones. Her fairy design is cute, her periodic aging up is a neat gimmick, and halfway through the season, she ages into a teenage girl named Kotoha, who in turn becomes Cure Felice. That's right, Kotoha is essentially the Shiny Luminous of the cast, but unlike in Max Heart where I feel Hikari dragged down the show, I think Maho Girls got noticeably better once Kotoha showed up.

So the first half of Maho Girls, while having the novelty of watching Mirai and Riko bond and adjust to each other's worlds, kinda suffered from trying to act like it had a plot and not fully committing to it. So its episodes tried to be slice of life heavy but also involve the Cures getting the Linkle Stones, so it instead seemed like the duo was making progress without actually doing anything. So to put it simply, it started to feel a lot like Max Heart for a bit there. Once Kotoha showed up and the Cures had gotten all the Linkle Stones, the focus shifting from finding the stones to protecting them. The second half is where Maho Girls fully commits to slice of life and is all the better for it. Without being bogged down by the Linkle Stone hunting, the second half had way more fun, satisfying, and creative standalone episodes that used the show's cast and magic system to greater effect. As a matter of fact, the second half's weakest episodes often involved lore or plot progression (once again, usually because of how much of a bore Kouchou is). And to my utter surprise, Kotoha does a lot to lend the show some extra energy. Compared to Hikari's muted and often boring personality, Kotoha is a joyous ray of sunshine, often causing problems due to her overreliance on her magic, which in turn leads to a pretty solid character arc and several fun standalone episodes. Her daughterly relationship with Mirai and Riko is adorable too, so unlike with Hikari, she feels like a genuine natural part of the gang rather than just the third wheel. They're like a little family, it's so heartwarming. Speaking of which, this is the point where the season shifts focus to the main trio (plus Mofurun) trying to stay together no matter what the cost, which lends the season a more melancholy tone, culminating in one of the most emotionally powerful climaxes in the entire franchise. 

As far as the presentation goes, it's also a bit mixed this time around. The base art is pretty pleasing, with an inventive and beautifully-realized magic world. However, the action is the weakest it's been in a long time, often feeling choppy and uncreative. It's not always bad, there are some good fights in the mid-season and season ending arcs, as well as some exhilirating broom-stick flying scenes, but as a whole, the animation is a big step down especially coming off the heels of Happiness Charge and Go Princess. The one thing I do like about Maho Girls' fights, however, is how forms are implemented. The season takes the form concept from HapCha and expands them into full movesets rather than just one-off attacks, it's just a shame the animation wasn't able to fully do them justice. The music is also fine, not super memorable but this is also the point in a composer's run where 50% of the soundtrack starts to get reused from the last three seasons, as is par for the course with Precure.

Highlights:

A New Magical Tale! Mofuderella is the Star (episode 29): Cindarella episodes in Precure are always some of the funniest, and Maho Girls' interpretation might just be the most surreal, perfectly fitting for the season with canonical magic. You have Mofurun as Cindarella, Kotoha biting into a frozen clementine, nonstop mice puns, Riko being an absolutely awful fairy godmother, a giant turtle evil stepmother, a dance fight, kaijus, Kouchou doing a flip complete with cheesy shojo roses (thus doing the only somewhat interesting thing he would do in this entire season), tiny Cure Felice, and Mofurun turning into a magician. What a trip, I wish more Maho Girls episodes were this off the wall.

Heart Pounding! First Love Tastes Like Strawberry Melon Bread!? (episode 34): If there's one thing Precure nails in regards to romance, it's tackling unrequited crushes, and how utterly crushing it can be to get rejected especially if you're a kid. But even by Precure standards, this one was especially well-done, from. Mayumi's fear and constant procrastination to the heart-sinking moment when her crush's girlfriend comes into frame. It was so nice to see Kana and Mayumi get an episode too, and seeing them become even better friends at the end was very sweet.

Also, the villain showing himself only for the Cures to keep walking was just perfect. Very Futari-esque.

Mirai and Mofurun, and sometimes Chikurun! Wait, Who!? (episode 36): While I found most of the Maho Girls villains to be pretty bad, Chikurun is the sole exception. The concept of an mischievous fairy who spies on the Cures seems so obvious I'm surprised we haven't gotten it until now. In the grand scheme of things, Chikurun's arc isn't that much different from someone like Kiriya, but his fun personality and sweet friendship with Mofurun make for an entertaining episode.

Never Ending Chaos! Deusmast's World!! (episode 48): Now this is a fantastic premise for a final arc. Maho Girls has always been split between two worlds, so why not end the series by merging the two. It's almost like a psuedo AU episode where the Cures are forced to deal with all their friends and family suddenly being fine with magic and the professors having no idea something was off. Given how weak the action is in Maho Girls, I really like how character drama-heavy this final arc is, especially once the Cures learn that splitting the two worlds may mean splitting them for good...

Goodbye...Magical Users! Come Once Again, Miraculous Magic! (episode 49): What an emotional tour de force of a finale. From the moment Deusmast is killed, this is an absolutely brutal episode to watch, as Mirai, Riko, Mofurun, and Kotoha are forced to split up for years. Everything about the time jump was perfectly executed, from the transition itself, to seeing Mirai as a teen, to that heartwrenching "Cure Ra Pa Pa" sequence. The voice acting and animation is on-point throughout, and if the show had ended here, it would've probably been the best season finale to date.

Dishonorable Mention:

Cure Up RaPaPa! Tomorrow Will Become A Good Day Too (episode 50): However, that's not what happened. A denouement after the emotionally intense Episode 49 about the Cures as teens is a neat idea, and it does reveal that Liko became a teacher, their friends achieved their dreams, and the mermaids became students, but man, the execution is weird. The Cures de-aging themselves is a massive disappointment and feels almost regressive, and while I'm fine with Ichika from KiraKira debuting early, the storyline about Dokurukushe's teeth feels like such an awkward way to implement the sweets theming.

Overall, I wouldn't be lying if I said Maho Girls was a bit of a disappointment, especially at the start. It's got such a cool magical setting and likable cast, but with a minimal plot, awful villains, and weak action, it didn't really take advantage of it like I would've hoped. However, once Kotoha shows up and Maho Girls commits to being a breezy magical slice of life about a found family, that's when it becomes genuinely great. So while the season itself may not have been one of the better ones, I can't wait to see Mirai, Riko, and Kotoha return for the sequel series. No Kouchou, though, fuck him.

3/5 Stars

Touhou Music Reviews: Legacy Of Lunatic Kingdom

Legacy Of Lunatic Kingdom is an immensely polarizing game. Its brutal patterns are a ton of fun... until you get to Junko and it goes too far. Its dramatic story is one of the coolest in the series... until you get to Junko and it gets a bit shakier. Its Pointdevice Mode is a super unique take on the series... but it leads to a pretty unbalanced Legacy Mode. But despite its many flaws, it still stands out as one of my favorite entries for how complete a vision it feels, and a big part of that is its uniquely relentlessly intense soundtrack. LoLK is ZUN at his most ambitious and grandiose, almost as if this is some sort of end to an era for Touhou music. Hint, hint.

The Space Shrine Maiden Appears
What a title theme. LoLK wastes no time introducing its main instrument, this beautifully spacey synth that fits the game's setting pretty much perfectly. This is an intense title theme, boasting choirs, heavy percussion, and an absolutely stunning synth solo halfway through. The Theme Of Eastern Story is pushed a bit to the background here and is given a minor tint to really sell the gravitas of this game.
5/5 Stars

Unforgettable, The Nostalgic Greenery
Most Stage 1 themes tend to be breezy but fast-paced, but this theme bursts out of the gate as if it's from Stage 4 or 5. The dramatic melody and intense synths make for a track that just sounds really arcade-y, like it exudes that balls-to-the-walls shoot-em-up energy. Like with the title theme, there's a brief moment to breathe halfway through, but even it is rich with drama and gravitas.
4/5 Stars

The Rabbit Has Landed
A pretty fun first boss theme with a memorable opening riff and breezy piano solo. It's a bit short, but it's got a lot of energy to it.
4/5 Stars

The Lake Reflects The Cleansed Moonlight
The Lake Reflects The Cleansed Moonlight peaks pretty early on with that first 25 seconds, it's so magical and uplifting. The rest of the song is pretty good too, though, super fast-paced and the big ZUNpet ends the track on a strong note.
4/5 Stars

September Pumpkin
September Pumpkin is a super frantic theme with some bonkers piano solos and constant sense of momentum. Like with the first boss theme, it's not super long, but it is a ton of fun to listen to.
4/5 Stars

The Mysterious Shrine Maiden Flying Through Space
As per the usual, the Stage 3 theme is absolutely transcendant. Mysterious Shrine Maiden is such an elegant and triumphant theme that perfectly fits the first space stage in the game, with a lovely central riff, intense bridge, and a dramatic chorus played to perfection by the UFO saxophones.
5/5 Stars

Eternal Spring Dream
Eternal Spring Dream is yet another super frantic-sounding boss theme that's elevated by its phenomenal soundfont. I can't tell what instrument plays the opening riff but it's so satisfying to listen to. The jump from ZUNpet to piano near the end is also pretty stellar.
5/5 Stars

Frozen Capital Of Eternity
Frozen Capital Of Eternity reminds me a lot of DDC's Stage 5 theme, particularly since it uses the same lead synth. It's a bit more chill and less haunting though, with a laid-back trap beat, a heavy emphasis on saxophones, a beautiful piano Theme Of Eastern Story reprisal, and a stunning chorus. Easily my favorite track in the game.
5/5 Stars

The Wheel Of Fortune Turning Over
The Wheel Of Fortune Turning Over is a pretty good boss theme that definitely captures Sagume's chaotic energy but I don't really find to be anything incredibly memorable. The one part of it that really sticks out to me is that chorus with the downward scale which is just absolutely brilliant.
4/5 Stars

Faraway Voyage Of 380000 Kilometers
Faraway Voyage Of 380000 Kilometers puts the LoLK synths back at the forefront for an exhilirating track that definitely feels like a voyage. There's like four different melodies at play and they're all each better than the last. The main melody is super catchy and iconic, the piano solo is super uplifting and happy, the ZUNpet is energetic and adventurous, and the chorus is pretty iconic in its own right. Really just one of the defining Touhou themes for me.
5/5 Stars

Pierrot Of The Star-Spangled Banner
Speaking of defining Touhou themes, man is this one iconic! It's menacing and chaotic in all the right places, while also being surprisingly experimental and ambitious too? The first half is great and boasts a super fun melody but it does feel a bit standard, but then the second half shifts to this incredibly dramatic melody with constant pauses, the percussion gets cranked up to eleven, and the ZUNpets get thrown in for that big final chorus. The way this track builds on itself and evolves is remarkable even by ZUN's standards. Like Clownpiece's fight itself, I mark this as the climax of the soundtrack.
5/5 Stars

The Sea That Reflects One's Home Planet
Now this is an amazing final stage theme, genuinely chill-inducing. The gusts of wind that kick off the track, the heavenly synth lead, the beautifully sorrow melody, surprisingly well-implemented dubstep elements, and that godly chorus all add up to a true emotional powerhouse. It's such a high bar that I kinda overshadows the actual final boss theme for me!
5/5 Stars

Pure Furies - Whereabouts Of The Heart
Pure Furies... Okay, so I like this track, I think it's good, and I have a lot of praises for it, but it might also be my pick for most overrated track in the series. It's just a hit-or-miss final boss theme. It starts off well enough with a great and memorable opening riff, but the electric guitars don't sound all that great and the melodies used for the verse and bridge don't quite do it for me. The highlight is the stellar chorus which takes the Stage 6 leitmotif and amps it up with wailing ZUNpets, heart-pumping percussion, and a climactic synth accompaniment, but that's not the whole track. It's still not a bad theme, but it's disappointing, especially after such a stellar streak of songs. But hey, I guess that's Junko in a nutshell, huh?
4/5 Stars

A World Of Nightmare Never Seen Before
Similarly to the Stage 2 theme, this track peaks at the very start. That opening bass riff is so freaking good and I wish the whole song was like it, but even what we got was still pretty great. It's a tense extra stage theme with a tight melody and some absolutely insane bass and piano solos.
4/5 Stars

Pandemonic Planet
Where Pure Furies let me down, Pandemonic Planet picks up the slack and then some. This is a phenomenal track, straight-up one of my favorite extra boss themes. Most of the boss themes in LoLK are pretty frantic and chaotic, but Pandemonic Planet lives up to its name by being in another world entirely. The melodies at play at so far, the accompaniment is so fast-paced and all over the place, and then there's the drop. You know it, I know it, Pandemonic Planet has probably the best drop in the entire franchise. The way the song keeps building in intensity and volume only to cute out for two whole seconds before the absolute craziest ZUNpet chorus of all time blesses your eardrums. What a theme...
5/5 Stars

The Moon As Seen From The Shrine
This is a fine ending theme with a nice blend of upliftingness and ominousness, but it is pretty short and repetitive as well.
3/5 Stars

The Space Shrine Maiden Returns Home
And as per the new norm, the staff roll is a title theme remix, and a pretty good one at that. It's got all the same great instruments and a similar fast-pace, but it does take a bit of a while to reach the best part of the song this time.
4/5 Stars 

As for the characters, Legacy Of Lunatic Kingdom has some of the wildest character designs in the series. Not everyone works for me (one in particular really doesn't), but there are some standouts as per the usual.

Seiran
Out of the two new bunnies we got in LoLK, I do prefer Seiran a bit more. Her blue design and star patterns are super pretty, and she wields a giant mallet stained with the blood (mochi) of her enemies. I like the Seiran and Ringo food stand rivalry a lot too.
4/5 Stars

Ringo
Since we don't have much on either Seiran or Ringo's personalities, my preference mostly just comes down to design. Thus, I'm not huge on Ringo's design. It's not like I'm anti-bright colors or anything but the pumpkin theming and all-yellow design is a bit of an eye-sore.
2/5 Stars

Doremy Sweet
Doremy is great, I love how smug she is all the time. Being essentially the ruler of dreams makes for a truly fascinating character with a lot of potential to play around with the nature of dreams and reality. Considering ZUN's whole thing is boundaries and that she'd play a decent role in the next few spinoffs, I wouldn't be surprised if he was partial to the character too.
5/5 Stars

Sagume Kishin
Sagume is a neat character for how cunning she is. Willing to go against her ideologies, you can never really know what's going through her head. The one wing design is pretty great too. However, with the power to a reverse a situation with her words, Sagume does kinda suffer from being the shadow of fellow opposite day-er Seija, especially with their debuts so close together.
3/5 Stars 

Clownpiece
Like with most of the other fairies, Clownpiece is a mischievous, childish prankster, but because she's from Hell, she's got a bit more of a mean streak. As far as Stage 5 bosses go, there wasn't really too much to Piece outside of America jokes, so I'm glad she got a lot of focus in Visionary Fairies In Shrine. She meshes with the Three Fairies (+Reimu) pretty well, and adds a nice dose of chaos to their dynamic.
5/5 Stars

Junko
You've probably seen this coming, but I don't like Junko at all. Pretty much everything about her feels like a blemish on a game I otherwise love. Her boss fight is the worst in the series, absolute torture no matter how thematic it might be. I already mentioned how I found her theme underwhelming. The fact that she's not a Lunarian is kind of a let-down in a game about fighting the Lunarians, especially if you're playing as Reisen. And while she has a decently tragic backstory, it's hard for me to feel much sympathy when she tries to commit genocide after she had already gotten her revenge. And that's not even getting into the fanon portrayal. I rarely outright despise the fanon versions of Touhou characters, the only other one I complained about was Shikieiki (and I guess Sanae?), but the depiction of Junko as a creepy stalker who abuses Reisen (as you should know by now, I'm very anti-Reisen abuse) pretty much killed the character for me. It all adds up to Junko probably being my least favorite character in the entire franchise.
0/5 Stars

Hecatia Lapislazuli
And once again, Hecatia picks up the slack as the way more interesting "final boss". The whole three planets concept is super cool especially with the implication that each of her forms gives her a different personality, her political ideology is fascinating, she's remarkably powerful, and her dynamic with Clownpeace in Visionary Fairies is really sweet (especially whenever they fist bump). And of course, there's the divisive element of Hecatia's fashion sense and... I'm sorry, this is one of my favorite designs in the franchise. I love the literal planets hanging around her neck, that "Welcome Hell" shirt is pretty much iconic now, and there's something so charming about a character in a series known for its ornate dresses to just go for a casual look instead. And she's a literal hell goddess, it'd be weirder if she didn't have a punk goth look. Hecatia always had drip and I'm glad more people are coming around to her. Chimata next?
5/5 Stars

Star Wars Visions (Season 2)

Like with the MCU, I've been really falling out of love with Star Wars lately. Chalk up to a mix between oversaturation, some disappointing recent shows, nostalgia baiting, and how little I want anything to do with the discourse surrounding the series. However, I was pretty excited to see the next season of Star Wars Visions because of how much I loved the first one. While it may lack that initial novelty of "Star Wars but anime", the wider variety of animation styles should lead to a pretty unique selection of shorts.

Sith: Like with Season 1, we start things off with a pretty straightforward lightsaber duel episode, though Sith starts off a lot more abstractly than The Duel did. The first five minutes don't really explain what's going on, you just see the main character Lola walking around in what looks like a white void accidentally spreading black paint everywhere. But then the sith hunting her show up, and everything clicks. Lola is an ex-sith trying to run from her past, and she's scared of the darkness still within her. It's impressive how well everything in Sith clicks together. The themes, the way the plot unfolds, the animation style, it all paints a complete picture (pun absolutely intended). And speaking of that animation style, it's pretty amazing. The blend of painterly and 3D animation does look a bit Spider Verse-esque, but as I said, Sith takes things in a more abstract direction, almost like the Eko fight from Arcane extended into a whole short. The lightsaber fight itself isn't as long as the one in The Duel but it's weighty, powerful, and very inventively-shot. Overall, pretty good start.

4/5 Stars

Screecher's Reach: I had high hopes for the Cartoon Saloon episode, and man, did they not let me down. From its sketchy artstyle, to the fluid and expressive characters, to holy shit those backgrounds, Screecher's Reach is a treat for the eyes. I love the direction they chose to go in here, telling a horror story about the cyclic nature of the sith and what would make one join them to begin with. It endears you to Dall and her friends so quickly and efficiently before they enter the titular cave and sith hits the fan. That horror sequence with Dall and the old sith was so fresh and intense, the sith have never been more terrifying, their lightsabers have never felt more dangerous, and the twist ending where Dall willingly replaces that sith as apprentice is such a gut-punch. The way she basically resigns herself to death just feels so Madoka, I love it. This was a phenomenal short, so dense it feels like I had watched an entire movie but never rushed, gripping, tense, tragic, and unmistakably irish (the sith is literally a banshee). It's right under The Village Bride as my favorite short so far.

5/5 Stars

In The Stars: In The Stars tries to do a lot, trying to tell a story about two sisters struggling with the Empire's genocide of the rest of their species, with a bit of environmental themes for good measure. It's an ambitious and dark story that's I think was let-down by the first few minutes. In The Stars starts off with a lengthy exposition as Tichina tells her sister Koten about what happened to their mother, something she already knows. And since they go on their water run immediately afterwards, it doesn't feel like the short actually built up their relationship enough for you to fully care about the two. And that's a real shame because I think In The Stars ends really strong, with a tense finale, some great thematic touches, and a haunting final shot. In The Stars also looks pretty stellar too, with a uniquely gritty stop-motion animation that fits the tone of the short really well. Overall, In The Stars was good but I think the script needed a few more passes to really do its story justice.

3/5 Stars

I Am Your Mother: As a massive Wallace & Gromit fan, I was super excited for Aardman's short, and once again, I wasn't let down. I Am Your Mother feels like the Tatooine Rhapsody of this season as how much you enjoy it will depend on how much you're want something a bit more silly and light-hearted, though I personally found it a bit more fun. It's nothing groud-breaking is a fun and heartwarming "embarrasing mom" story with so charming stop-motion animation and fun racing sequences to boot. It also shows a real love for Star Wars as a franchise, and is chock-full of cute easter eggs (my favorite being the Force Awakens bread). The Wedge Antilles jokes alone are worth the price of admission, this one was a blast.

4/5 Stars

Journey To The Dark Head: Made by the Studio Mir, the folks behind Legend Of Korra, this is the closest thing we have to another anime short. Similarly to The Ninth Jedi and Lop & Ocho, it introduces a unique world and fun characters that I'd totally love to see expanded into a full-on series, though unlike those two, it also feels pretty complete as it is. Journey To The Dark Head is just a fun jedi adventure with some fun banter between the two main leads, yet another well-executed "jedi and sith are two sides of the same coin" message, and some pretty stellar action sequences. Definitely one of the more straightforward shorts of the season but that's by no means a bad thing. My only gripe, though, is that voice acting is a bit on the shakier side, especially with Toul.

4/5 Stars

The Spy Dancer: Like The Village Bride, this was the real sleeper hit of the season for me, an incredibly fun and engaging espionage thriller. This is the first thing I've seen from Studio LaChette but these guys are damn good at generating tension and suspense, I was on the edge of my seat for the whole episode. Loi'e's story was well done especially after that stellar twist about her kid near the end, and as a whole, the short takes the usual setting of the Imperial era in a new direction by exploring how it broke apart families. But most of all, the real highlight here was the visuals. Stunning, fluid 2D lineart with jaw-dropping dance scenes, and hands down the best action sequences of the season. Between Loi'e's dance fighting and just how freaking tense it all was, my eyes were glued to the screen for that entire second half. It does however end on the first real sequel hook of the shorts, which only made me want a whole series' worth of this now.

5/5 Stars

The Bandits Of Golak: After a wide range of animation styles and mediums, The Bandits Of Golak goes for a look akin to Clone Wars, and ultimately kinda makes the least amount of impact. 88 Pictures does do a good job at emulating that style while giving it a bit of extra Indian flavor, but I still feel like they played things too safe here, and that applies to the story too. I totally get why a lot of studios would tackle the Imperial era especially if you're from marginalized groups, but it does start to get a bit samey this late in the season. It also feels like it's split into two stories, one in the train and one in the village, neither segment really meshing well with the other. I will say that Rani and Charuk's sibling relationship feels a bit more believable than Tichina and Koten's, but it's brought down by Rani getting herself in way too much trouble. The Bandits Of Golak definitely isn't a bad short by any means, it looks nice and has some good action, but it feels a bit disjointed and doesn't do much to stand out among the other shorts. The music slaps though.

2/5 Stars

The Pit: This is the other anime short of the bunch, but compared to Mir's offering, The Pit doesn't quite do it for me especially in terms of animation. D'Art Shtaijo has done some amazing work, particularly in the Castlevania anime, but The Pit looks choppy and stiff in the same way Trigger's The Elder did last season. It's got a neat concept where the Empire leaves a bunch of slave miners in the mine once they're done with them, but the execution feels a bit strange. There's the very in-your-face repetition of the phrase "follow the light", and the fact that the pit is so close to the city that you could probably see it from a high rise, but really my biggest issue here is the tone. The first two halves of The Pit is incredibly bleak and depressing, almost to the point of not feeling like Star Wars at all, but then the ending is suddenly super hopeful and idealistic. The final shot with the Force in particular felt so out of left field in what has otherwise been such a gritty story makes it feel like the Star Wars theming was tacked on.

2/5 Stars

Aau's Song: Season 2 feels like a polar opposite of the first in a lot of ways. Where that more light-hearted season ended on its bleakest episode, this relatively darker season ended on its most uplifting. In a word, Aau's Song is beautiful. The animation is so stunning, vibrant, and tactile, those backgrounds are jaw-dropping, and there are so many cool filming tricks and hidden details used here. When I realized how they did that driving sequence, I geeked out, this is damn good filmmaking. The story itself is a slow burn and yet another "child is taken in by jedi" story, but the pay-off is absolutely stunning and makes it all feel worth it. While not one of the most interesting on a storytelling level, Aau's Song is a truly magnificent piece of animation, probably the best-looking Visions short in both seasons. Kudos to Triggerfish.

5/5 Stars

Overall, Season 2 is yet another great season of Visions with some stellar shorts and way more variety in its animation styles than the first one. It's got everything from 2D to 3D to stop-motion to Spider Verse, and yet it feels far more consistent in its quality than the first season. However, I think that's kind of this season's biggest issue too, as the generally depressing tone and abundance of similar narratives can lead it to feel a bit samey by the end. Personally, I do still prefer Season 1 for its higher high-points, more varied tone, and just how cleanly Star Wars and anime blend together, but this was still a great time that solidifies Visions as one of the best things Disney has ever done with Star Wars.

4/5 Stars

Here's my ranking:

1. Screecher's Reach
2. The Spy Dancer
3. Aau's Song
4. I Am Your Mother
5. Journey To The Dark Head
6. Sith
7. In The Stars
8. The Bandits Of Golak
9. The Pit

Touhou Music Reviews: Double Dealing Character

The start of ZUN's third (and current) Touhou generation is often debated, but Double Dealing Character is often considered to be it. Musically, though, I tend to group DDC and its sequel Legacy Of Lunatic Kingdom in with Ten Desires since they all share similar techno musical styles, which as I repeatedly said in my previous review is a style I'm very fond of. DDC's soundtrack doesn't go full-on trance like Ten Desires did, but it keeps a lot of the instrumentation strives that game made while spreading itself into a variety of genres that it manages to execute pretty strongly across the board.

Mysterious Purification Rod
Hands down the best title theme and it's not even close. While the Theme Of Eastern Story motif is there, it's mostly kept to the background allowing for a beautifully calming original melody to take the forefront. With some of the best acoustic guitar in the franchise as well as a fare share of woodwinds and piano, everything adds up to a wonderfully serene and peaceful title theme that's easy to get sucked into.
5/5 Stars

Mist Lake
Taking place at Mist Lake, it's only natural that this game's first stage theme would evoke Lunate Elf, with its calming melody, serene flutes, and icey-sounding background chimes. However, this is still a first stage theme after all, so it's also suitably fast-paced with a badass guitar riff, some driving percussion, and one hell of a high note to cap it off.
4/5 Stars

Mermaid From The Uncharted Land
Time to get into the elephant of the room, Double Dealing Character's lead instrument is the electric guitar. For some, this is a bad thing since ZUN's guitars are usually at their best in the background, but personally, I think he's grown enough as a composer that in DDC's case, the guitars sound pretty good. Mermaid From The Uncharted Land may not have the best riff ZUN's ever made, but it's still a suitably intense first boss with a catchy melody and some fun percussion to it. It's nothing amazing, but nowhere near as bad as its reputation may have suggest.
3/5 Stars

Humans And Youkai Coming And Going Into The Canal
Now this is just straight-up a Ten Desires track in all the best ways, with its tense and fast-paced electronic beat and insanely catchy ZUNpet melody. It's such an elegant track too, especially with its smooth piano bits. Definitely one of my favorite Stage 2 themes.
5/5 Stars

Dullahan Under The Willows
ZUN tries yet another spooky boss theme and personally, I like this one quite a bit more than Rigid Paradise. The main beat is super groovy, the pace is consistently brisk and fun, the choirs and eerie synths create a fun spooky vibe, and the electric guitars are a bit better utilized than in Wakasagihime's theme.
4/5 Stars

Bamboo Forest Of The Full Moon
This is where DDC's soundtrack officially becomes properly stellar, with an honest-to-goodness throwback to Retribution Of The Eternal Night, one of my favorite tracks in the series. It has that same fast-paced and frantic feel, while lending its own unique flavor with its gritty energetic guitars, haunting synths, brisk piano interludes, godly choirs, and head-banging chorus. It's not quite as perfect as its inspiration but it comes dangerously close.
5/5 Stars 

Lonesome Werewolf
The boss themes continue to improve with Kagerou's theme, which takes the spooky vibes and heavy guitars of Sekibanki's theme and adds on a fantastic and lovely ZUNpet chorus making it slightly better.
4/5 Stars

Magical Storm
Believe it or not, this is my least favorite of the Stage 4 themes, not because it's bad but because pretty much all of them are fantastic at worst and godly at best. Magical Storm goes for more of a muted, atmospheric, and heavy vibe with its tense synths, dramatic woodwinds, and at times sparse percussion. It does a stellar job at capturing the feel of a raging storm.
4/5 Stars 

Illusionary Joururi
As a whole, Double Dealing Character is an incredibly dramatic soundtrack and Illusionary Joururi feels especially so, with its booming power chords, tense opening riff, several Theme Of Eastern Story reprisals, and holy crap that chorus. The chorus really makes this track, with a powerful and impactful melody and a top-notch piano/ZUNpet swap.
5/5 Stars

The Shining Needle Castle Sinking In The Air
And here it is, my favorite track in the entire franchise. Solar Sect Of Mystic Wisdom and Fall Of Fall came close but ultimately, I've settled on this one. It's got everything I want from a Touhou song. The ominous and spacey synth riff that opens the track immediately hooks you right before the brisk percussion starts to build towards the song's first big drop. The verse is a calm and melancholic synth riff paired with some piano and acoustic guitar for good measure, before building to its second drop, which kicks off a dramatic, solemn, and powerful ZUNpet chorus. The instruments sound perfect, the composition is complex and striking, and best of all, it fits its stage and character so well. The swaying off-kilter melody perfectly captures the stage's shifting gravity, and the melancholic tone and spacey synth leads create a sense of intense loneliness, perfect for Seija.
6/5 Stars

Reverse Ideology
Speaking of perfectly fitting Seija, Reverse Ideology might be the best a Touhou theme has fit its boss to date. It's chaotic, gritty, intense, and many of its melodies are flipped so it sounds impressively similar when played backwards. But even on its own merits, it's a banger of a boss theme, super hard-hitting, has some of the best electric guitar in the game, and a great ZUNpet chorus.
5/5 Stars

The Exaggerated Castle Keep
The Exaggerated Castle Keep started a bit of a trend where the sixth stage themes would start to act as lite versions of the final boss themes, so I can't quite say much about this track that I won't already say for Sukuna's theme. Still, it's nice and tense and does a good job at hyping you up for the final battle.
4/5 Stars

Kobito Of The Shining Needle - Little Princess
Kobito Of The Shining Needle might be the most shamelessly dramatic piece of Touhou music ZUN has ever made, and it's all the better for it. The main melody is powerful, intense, and just flat-out epic, and the instrumentation runs the gamut from tense synths, to gritty guitars, to brisk pianos, to haunting choirs (especially the choirs, love that part), to powerful ZUNpets. It fits Sukuna's last stand oddly well, and stands tall as one of the finest final boss themes in the franchise.
5/5 Stars

Thunderclouds Of Magical Power
Similarly to Sukuna's themes, this extra stage theme uses Raiko's leitmotif, but I'd argue in a much more creative way. Thunderclouds Of Magical Power blends the atmosphere of Magical Storm and the power of Primordial Beat together making for a theme I think is better than both of them. I love how fast-paced it gets too, from that breezy ZUNpet chorus to the energetic piano bridge to that powerful climax. Easily one of the best extra stage themes, in my opinion.
5/5 Stars

Primordial Beat - Pristine Beat
This is a fun extra boss theme, if for anything because of how unique it is to have a Touhou song almost entirely centered around percussion. You got heavy bass drums, snare drums, taiko drums, drumstick smacks, and one truly legendary drum solo to cap off the track. There is also a bit of piano and the strong main melody is done almost exclusively through ZUNpet, but the drums are the real focus here and make for one of the more inventive tracks in the series. Man, is the second half of the DDC OST pure bliss.
5/5 Stars

Magical Power Of The Mallet
The ending theme is a slower and sparser version of Sukuna's theme, and it works pretty well. It helps that Sukuna's leitmotif is godly regardless, but the usage of the spacey LoLK synth and the way the piano and percussion slowly layers on the track make for a truly haunting track with a vibe all its own.
4/5 Stars

Strange, Strange Instruments
And to end the soundtrack on a high note, how about a triumphant ZUNpet reprisal of Mysterious Purification Rod? I don't have much else to say other than it's fantastic, and incredibly satisfying to hear upon beating the game.
5/5 Stars

But if you think I raved a lot about the music, just wait until you hear what I have to say about the characters. As I've repeatedly said, DDC has my favorite story of any mainline Touhou game, and a decent part of that is because of how absolutely stellar its character roster is. They're all so colorful, varied, and memorable, it could very well be my favorite cast of any entry in the franchise.

Wakasagihime
The Grassroots Youkai Network is one of my favorite subgroups in Touhou. Just the concept of a bunch of classic monsters forming a communication network/friend group is both super cool and kinda wholesome, and I like the plot point that they're usually dolice but were made aggressive by the Miracle Mallet's power. Wakasagihime is my personal favorite of the trio though solely because after all this time, we finally get a mermaid character. And she's just as pretty, elegant, cute, and kind as you'd expect from a character of her species.
5/5 Stars

Sekibanki
Sekibanki is a bit of a fan favorite and yeah, I can kind of see it. A rokurokubi/headless youkai was pretty much inevitable, and the capelet that covers her neck is such a cool design choice. Sekibanki's cynical personality plays off the other Grassroots Youkai pretty well, there really isn't much not to like here. Also obligatory BANG BANG BANKI BANKI.
5/5 Stars 

Kagerou Imaizumi
And once again, after all this time, we finally get a werewolf in Kagerou. While she's more well-known nowadays for Elon Musk falsely calling her a cat girl (a mistake I will never find absolutely hilarious), she is actually a pretty neat take on the werewolf concept. Where werewolfs are often associated with aggression and ferality, Kagerou is unique for instead being one of the calmest and chillest Touhou characters, even in her werewolf form. I'm sorry, I just love this trio so much.
5/5 Stars

Benben & Yatsuhashi Tsukumos
All things considered, the Tsukumos are technically just the Prismrivers again, though I personally actually like them a bit better. Their designs are more pleasing and I like the abstracted musical staffs they play, the fact that there's only two of them allows for a simple but effective hot and cool dynamic, and the whole Tsukumogami lore is pretty interesting.
4/5 Stars

Seija Kijin
It's only fitting that my favorite Touhou track belongs to my favorite Touhou character. Seija is endlessly fascinating, with so much to unpack about her. She's an amanojaku, meaning she's essentially an opposite day youkai. She hates things people like, and likes things people hate. Endless rebellious and counter-culture, and always trying to shake up the status quo, Seija is in-universe one of the most hated characters in the series. Hell, she spends all of DDC manipulating Sukuna into starting a rebellion and using her for her own means, that's borderline Seiga levels of cruel. Unlike Seiga though, Seija remains a very fun antagonist, with an awesomely edgy design, charismatic personality, and a penchant for plotting. She's also kind of an underdog, as her danmaku skills are relatively poor forcing her to cheat to stay alive, particularly in Impossible Spell Card where she flat-out becomes wanted for her actions. All that is already super fun, but I haven't even gotten to the truly interesting aspects of her character yet. 

The moment that really solidifed Seija as my favorite character was the final moment of ISC, after Seija had lost all of her allies, with even Sukuna finally confronting her for all of the manipulation. Seija is alone, and yet the ending text says "You don't need to be sad. Amanojaku can never really make friends anyway." That one line changed everything because despite its insistence that I didn't have to, I did felt bad for Seija. I felt bad that because of her nature that she can't control, she has no idea what she's missing. Seija is fated to spend the rest of her life alone, neglected, hated, pushing everyone away because she's an amanojaku and that's what happens to them, right? But what's even more interesting is that that might not even be the case, because Who's Who reveals that over time, Seija has grown genuinely fond of Sukuna, and they even properly reunite in Grimoire Of Usami. Sukuna had an actual influence on Seija, even if was a small one. And that's why Seija is my favorite character. She's already a fun-as-hell villain with a cool design, badass personality, and creative gimmick, but it's the themes of loneliness, the complexities of an amanojaku's nature, the questions of how much of an influence one can have on another, and the underlying story of someone so misanthropic finding someone she genuinely enjoys spending time with, even if it's against her nature, that make her especially fascinating.
6/5 Stars

Shinmyoumaru Sukuna
Of course, I can't write two paragraphs about how cool I think Seija is without also praising the hell out of Sukuna too. Similarly to with the grassroots network, getting an inchling was a long time coming and the decision to make someone so small the final boss was a pretty bold move on ZUN's part. It works pretty well, though, because she is quite the complex character as well. Sukuna is a super pure and innocent character, a perfect foil for Seija. It makes her manipulation in DDC all the more tragic, her subsequent confrontation with Seija in ISC all the more impactful, and the fact that she somehow managed to get Seija to actually care for someone all the more heartwarming and impressive. But even outside of that dynamic, Sukuna is a bit of an interesting wild card. For the most part, she's a perfectly nice girl who's even super friendly with Reimu, but if an opportunity comes to gain some extra height or show off how powerful she can be, Sukuna goes into full ambitious schemer mode (that being all of Grimoire Of Usami) which is always a blast to watch.
5/5 Stars

Raiko Horikawa
Raiko is such a fun character, everything about her character exudes fun. Her boss fight is fun, her theme song is fun, her laid-back and carefree personality is fun, the sheer concept of a taiko drum-turned human is fun, and her iconic androgynous design is very cool. Between her and Choujuu Gigaku, I guess I'm just really partial to the musicians of the series. Also, am I the only one who finds it funny that Raiko ended up joining in a band with the Prismrivers rather than the Tsukumos from her own game. Talk about a betrayal.
5/5 Stars

Touhou Music Reviews: Ten Desires

Ten Desires's soundtrack is one of ZUN's most experimental, and divisive, in the franchise. It also happens to be one of my absolute favorites. It goes in a more trance-heavy direction that I absolutely love, and paved the way for a more techno-centric feel for the next few installments (which I also happen to be quite partial to). Ten Desires has such a distinctive and comfy soundfont that makes for a unique sounding game in all the right ways.

Spirit Of Avarice
Easily one of the best title themes in the series, only second to one we'll get to very short. It's less intense like the PC-98 ones and more exciting, fast-paced, and catchy. The grumbling bass, groovy piano riffs, and brisk percussion make for a real banger of a track.
5/5 Stars

Night Sakura Of Dead Spirits
At The End Of Spring is a high bar, but Night Sakura Of Dead Spirits comes impressively close to topping it. It's so peaceful and pretty, from the soft piano opening to the comfy saxophone lead to the trance-heavy instrumentation. It's an amazing song already, but Ten Desires's stellar bass elevates it to something truly special. I can't understate how much I love this game's soundfont.
5/5 Stars

Ghost Lead
Ghost Lead is nonstop ZUNpets from start to finish, and I've definitely heard of some finding the track too loud because of it. Personally, I don't really care, this track slaps either way. The melody is catchy and intense, the ZUNpets are powerful, the bass is once again immaculate, and that faint acoustic melody in the background really holds the song together. It makes for my personal favorite of the Stage 1 boss themes.
5/5 Stars

Welcome To Youkai Temple
I love how jumpy and off-kilter this track is. The main verse is bouncing all over the place making for a really atmospheric and tense Stage 2 theme. The ZUNpet/flute chorus is also stellar, super ethereal and enrapting, but the highlight for me has to be those jumpy synths in the background. Once again, Ten Desires' soundfont is so good that it manages to elevate a track all on its own.
5/5 Stars

Youkai Girl At The Gate
This is often regarded as one of the more forgettable boss themes, and yeah, I can kinda see it. It's pretty short, but I do still love the main melody and how dark it is. The pan flutes that pop up every once in a while give the track a lot more flavor, and repeat after me, the bass is really freaking good.
4/5 Stars

Let's Live In A Lovely Cemetary
My second favorite Stage 3 theme behind Gensokyo The Gods Loved, it's so comfy and calming. The piano intro is absolutely ethereal, the main melody is so cheery and catchy, and the decision to use flutes and woodwinds as the lead instrument makes for a track that's just plain pleasant on the ears. But despite that, the fun and bouncy instrumentation keeps the song moving as a brisk pace, especially when the chorus comes around. As I've been saying, I think Ten Desires is the best-sounding Touhou soundtrack, and Let's Live In A Lovely Cemetery is probably the best example of what I mean by that.
5/5 Stars

Rigid Paradise
Despite being considered one of Ten Desires' best tracks, Rigid Paradise has always come across as the sole weak point for me. It goes for a spooky Halloween vibe not unlike Satori Maiden, but it just doesn't feel quite as catchy or well-composed as that one. However, I don't dislike this track either, I can at the very least admit that the chorus is amazing and carries the song quite a lot with its great ZUNpet usage.
3/5 Stars

Desire Drive
The easy fan favorite of TD's soundtrack, Desire Drive is every bit as good as people say it is. There is so much to praise here, from the blisteringly fast pace to the addictingly catchy melody to the echoing percussions to the stellar piano solo. It's an amazing song on its own but it's even better in the stage proper as the background speeds by and enemies show up by the dozens, it's so empowering. Desire Drive is easily one of the best Touhou songs and a track unlike anything else in the franchise.
5/5 Stars

Old Yuanxian
Old Yuanxian always kinda felt like a Pokemon battle theme for some reason? Like it's so frantic and fast-paced, throwing so many instruments into the mix while still sounding perfectly coherent. You got flutes, heavy synth, pounding bass, insane piano, all culminating in one triumphant and intense head-banger of a chorus.
5/5 Stars

The Hall Of Dreams' Great Mausoleum
What a stunning theme, so ethereal and calming. The way Great Mausoleum builds throughout is masterful, starting off with a comfy focus on piano before adding in energetic percussion and UFO saxs to give the track a bit more energy. I also have to give praise to the beautifully echoey trance mix, probably my favorite in the game.
5/5 Stars

Legend Of The Great Gods
While not one of the craziest Stage 5 boss themes, Legend Of The Great Gods sounds suitably rustic and historic due to its usage of violin and almost broken-sounding synth. The main melody is pretty good, but it's the muted instrumentation and brisk background riff that really make it for me.
4/5 Stars

A Small Desire's Starry Sky
The best Stage 6 theme before Voyage 1969, this track takes Ten Desires' unique techno sound and brings it into borderline rave territory. That pulsing beat is so catchy and intense, giving the track so much gravitas befitting a final stage, but on top of that, there's a godly synth-heavy verse with one of the most flat-out epic melodies and a powerful saxophone chorus to cap off the track. It's not super long but I can listen to A Small Desire's Starry Sky for hours, it's criminally underrated.
5/5 Stars 

True Administrator
Speaking of underrated, True Administrator is given a lot of flack for not really having a super powerful ZUNpet chorus to cap it off like all the other final boss themes do, but I think it's great. It may not be as obviously climactic as in some other games, but True Administrator feels powerful and climactic in subtler ways. From the tense and energetic opening riff, to the heavy electric guitars, to the dramatic main violin/sax melody, to, of course, that soaring high note that caps off the track.
5/5 Stars

Youkai Back Shrine Road
Definitely one of my favorite extra stage themes, it's such a bop. It's fast-paced, exciting, those piano chords are immaculate, and that ZUNpet chorus is super catchy and hummable, especially near the end. But on top of that, I love how grimy it sounds, from the icky-sounding instrumentation to the muted synths.
5/5 Stars

Futatasuiwa From Sado
Continuing this hot streak, here's one of my favorite extra boss themes too. Futatsuiwa From Sado fits Mamizou so damn well, it's so carefree and upbeat while still having a hint of menace to it. The instruments are on point too, with a blend of ZUNpets, flute, shamisen, and that lovely Ten Desires bass making for an absolute treat to the ears.
5/5 Stars

A New Wind At The Shrine
Leave it to the Ten Desires soundfont to once again liven up the Theme Of Eastern Story. This would've been your average ending theme if it weren't for that amazing deep bass beat, giving the track way more energy and drive to it.
4/5 Stars

Desire Dream
I mean, it's Desire Drive again but a bit slower and lower-pitched, and with the bouncy synths from Welcome To Youkai Temple thrown in. Did you think I wouldn't love this one?
5/5 Stars

As for the characters in Ten Desires, they're once again pretty alright. Not one of the strongest casts in the series, but like with UFO, it has some of my absolute favorites.

Kyouko Kasodani
You probably saw this coming from my Mystia review, but I adore Kyouko for pretty much the same reasons. On her own merits, she's a fun and memorable second boss with a likable personality, cute design, and fun fight. But it's the fact that she teams up with Mystia to form a punk band that really elevates her for me, it's just such a cool and adorable bit of canon that I can't help but love. I do prefer Mystia for her design, theme, and the lamprey stand, but Kyouko isn't far behind.
5/5 Stars

Yoshika Miyako
I'm not a fan of Yoshika. Sorry, I know she's popular, but it's not that deep. Ultimately, I'm just not really a fan of zombies (even though she's technically a vampire? Jiang Shis are weird). I won't deny Yoshika is a well-designed Jiang Shi, but that doesn't really mean much when I'm not big on the archetype to begin with.
2/5 Stars

Seiga Kaku
I never really found Seiga super memorable outside of one specific aspect: How shamelessly evil she is. Seiga is the cruelest member of the Touhou cast by far, a manipulative hermit who treats Yoshika like a pet and will cross any line to get people to convert. There are no sympathetic sides to Seiga, and she's not even likably evil at that. For some, this makes Seiga repulsive, but for me, it's the one thing keeping her interesting.
3/5 Stars

Soga No Tojiko
Too bad I can't say the same about Soga, as since she's a mini-boss, there isn't really much to her outside of being a ghost, which inevitably means she'll be compared to Mima. I think Soga is okay, her design is solid and the lore of her dynamic with Futo is pretty fascinating, but there really isn't much else to her.
2/5 Stars

Mononobe No Futo
One of the most interesting things about the Taoists in this game is the fact that they were revived after over a millennia, and the differing ways in which they adapt. Where Miko flourishes in her new time period, Futo kinda struggles a lot. Her inability to adapt to modern times means she sticks with a conversative mindset and has a bit of trouble communicating since she's still speaking in archaic Japanese. It's a classic fish out of water scenario, which I do find super endearing. Also, boat.
4/5 Stars

Toyosatomimi No Miko
Miko is a very fun main antagonist with a lot to love. Her design is sick, her rivalry with Byakuren is a ton of fun, her laid-back nature despite her status is likable, and she does a much better job of adapting to her new time period than Futo does. And on top of that, her origin is easily the most fascinating since that of Kaguya since Miko is in fact a gender-swapped reincarnation of the legendary Prince Shoutoku (to put it in perspective, that's like our Joan Of Arc). The hilarious implications of the fact that Miko chose to reincarnate as a girl is just the icing on the cake.
5/5 Stars

Mamizou Futatsuiwa
After thirteen games, we finally get a goddamn tanuki, and holy cow did Mamizou live up to all that hype. Out of all the "prankster-type" characters in Touhou, Mamizou is my favorite (a high bar considering Tewi and Luna Child exist). She's cunning, clever, smug, and immensely likable due to her laid-back nature. You can tell ZUN is partial to her too since she played pretty big roles in both the fighting games and Forbidden Scrollery. On top of that, her design is great, always love to see some glasses rep especially in a series that doesn't have much of it.
5/5 Stars