Concealed the Conclusion: Phantasm Stage
19"One more fight, for old times' sake."
High Definition (An alternative truth)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=apO1BdJxqkQ&fmt=22
High Quality (An old fantasy)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=apO1BdJxqkQ&fmt=18
A video of me weaving my way through the Phantasm stage of the fangame Concealed the Conclusion.
First of all, sorry for the waiting. Real life happened. More or less. More like I could not find my inspiration. but I'm back on track.
Ever since Perfect Cherry Blossom, Phantasm has been for the fans that one more step, that last chapter in the book where all emotions and experiences come together into one last moment of truth. The world disappears and the only thing left is you and the narrative. It isn't simply the extra boss, is what comes after, the end of the end. And the stage is the prologue of the end. You feel like you're approaching the end of the book. You don't know what lies ahead in the unknown, but you still push forward, confident on your judgment.
Concealed the Conclusion is not the exception to this (MoF's Phantasm is). You already defeated Suika Ibuki and, if the Wiki is trustworthy in this aspect, after an absurd amount of work that quite frankly it just isn't worth it, you are greeted with the Phantasm stage, that last visage in your journey. Luckily, that's why hackers and smart people exist, to work around those BS situations. No, seriously, just look at the requirements to unlock Phantasm, under the "Basic Gameplay" section:
http://touhou.wikia.com/wiki/Concealed_the_Conclusion:_Gameplay
Not only is that hardly basic, it is just plain ridiculous. Take notes Danmakufu's users: we don't want to play a 1cc through an over twenty minutes danmaku game... 9 times, plus Extra mode, and 308 spellcards. Do all that just to play a -15 minutes stage that's just an upgraded version of the aforementioned Extra mode. Just no.
The stage itself is pretty unspectacular. Like it is expected, is just a ramped version of the Extra stage. However, the danmaku and the music make it feel more frantic. You get a sense of anxiety as you progress, hoping to finally arrive to the Phantasm Boss. Overall, a pretty fun stage with many areas to do some cool tricks (like the first area). Just nothing spectacular.
But unto other subjects: Did you did your homework and read the translated script for Concealed the Conclusion? I figured that you didn't. So, a little summary of the story behind CtC: One day, famous monochromatic witch Marisa Kirisame goes to the Hakurei shrine per usual. But little did she know that usual was far from what that day will become. Upon arrival, Reimu was nowhere to be found. From here, Marisa start her search for Reimu, but she begans to uncover more than what she bargained for. The closer she drew towards Reimu, the closer she came to uncover Gensokyo's most frightening secret: What is Gensokyo? A nightmarish land where the most fearsome creatures in existence where secluded? A paradisiacal world that actively repulses the problems that plague our mankind? Was it even reality, or was it a mere dream, an illusion not meant to exist? As Marisa got closer to Reimu, she got closer to the truth, fearing what the truth would mean when she finds Reimu.
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