Concealed the Conclusion: Phantasm Boss
226"When we are dreaming alone it is only a dream. When we are dreaming with others, it is the beginning of reality. "
-Dom Helder Camara
High Definition (It was all real)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6U2PWNUY5_U&fmt=22
High Quality (It was nothing but a dream)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6U2PWNUY5_U&fmt=18
WARNING: EVERYTHING IN THIS POST IS A MASSIVE SPOILER (Even more than the other videos). YOU'VE BEEN WARNED
A video of me fighting against the Goddess of Gensokyo and Shrine Maiden of Paradise, Reimu Hakurei.
Reimu Hakurei (A-grade badass material) is the Phantasm Boss of the game Concealed the Conclusion, a fangame of the Touhou series made by Danmaq. Concealed the Conclusion, made under the limitations of the Danmakufu game maker, is living proof that you don't need to be a corporation or ZUN to create a masterpiece in gaming. It is a game of great hindsight that explores the difference between dreams and reality in a battle between radical and conventional ideals.
This is one of my favorite boss fights in the entire Touhou series. Yes, I mean both official and fangames. Not only is it challenging, but it has the emotional impact to stand as one of the most dramatic battles in game. If you read the game's story, you should know, and I will spoil, this is a nostalgic fight; a fight between two old friends, to relive old times. The fight against the goddess Hakurei Reimu was a battle to settle a score at the verge of Gensokyo's death. Gensokyo was nothing but a girl's dream, a land of illusions made by Reimu and dreamt by Marisa. But dreams are nothing more than the preamble to reality; and Gensokyo, a land of dreams, a real paradise. Now that Marisa stands in front of the Shrine Maiden of Paradise, Reimu Hakurei, they can battle once more, for old times' sake.
"Dream Express ~ Red/White" is an arrange of both "Dream Express" and "Dichromatic Lotus Butterfly ~ Red and White", the latter which is an arrange of "Dichromatic Lotus Butterfly ~ Ancients". Ancients is, without hesitation, my favorite of Reimu's theme, followed by Colored Path. Danmaq (or みょん, not sure) truly outdid themselves in this arrangement, being able to mix STAGE 1 song and a Extra (tending to PHANTASM) into this amazing arrangement. Two polar opposites together in an arrangement that lacks words for its grandiosity. You can't help but smirk as you fight Reimu at the rhythm of Ancients, be it either in Seihou, UNL, or CtC. I said Witches' Ball is Marisa's deviousness. Ancients is Reimu's stone-faced and unflinching morality. She serves as the judge, the balance between humans and youkai. Whenever this balance is broken, this song plays as Reimu fights for this balance, for Gensokyo's will. In other words, this is the song that you hear when Reimu puts on her "apathy bordering disdain" face and you're about to fight her and her ideals. This is, in lame terms, the song you'll hear when an epic battle against Reimu as a boss is about to happen. You will also hear it when she just get serious and as a turnaround battle song.
The fight is one of my favorites in the series. While the spells are basically the same as Suika's, which is not a bad thing, they have more glamour and elegance. They are not rough like Suika's oni powers. They are very delicate, keeping Reimu's theme of calm and serene overbearing power. They act with the slyness expected of Reimu. Marisa has always been a foil to Reimu. Marisa is rough, hardworking, loud spoken, believes on strong actions, etc. On the other hand, Reimu is gentle (albeit cold), serene (read: lazy), collected, and prefers to approach problems in a more... devious manner, albeit still by fighting. It is only to be expected that Reimu's power contrast Marisa's. In my opinion, these spells were made while thinking of Reimu rather than Suika. In the end, Suika was the one with spells similar to Reimu's, not the other way.
Overall, I love this fight and Concealed the Conclusion is a game I could easily explore its meaning, interpolating and extrapolating meanings out of it and ultimately make a monograph out of it. It is pretty deep. Maybe I am looking too much into it. Who knows? Case is that it is one of my favorite fangames in the series and even the less spectacular fights are still very intense and worthy of mention. Suika might not be Reimu, but it still is a pretty good fight. Reimu is just Reimu, and is a spectacular and powerful fight full of meaning. Hope you enjoy it. Personally, can't wait for the day a Lunatic run of this game becomes feasible to me.
As for the artwork at the end. This guy loves his Reimu x Marisa. Not my pairing, but very helpful to my ends.
http://www.pixiv.net/member.php?id=111793
I encourage you give a check to the translated script of the game in Touhou Wikia:
http://touhou.wikia.com/wiki/Concealed_the_Conclusion:_Translation
For more info on the series, check the wiki:
http://touhou.wikia.com