Game:

Highly Responsive to Prayers (1996)

Duration: 4:31

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Oh boy... the very first official Touhou game that started it all. No disrespect to the Touhou addicts, but if this was the title that would've introduced me to the Touhou franchise, I'd probably shrug my shoulders at the entire franchise. It's not bad, but it's nothing to brag about and there are better PC-98 games-- at least the game is rather unique; I've heard it classified as being similar to Arkanoid or Breakout, but that doesn't really do it justice. This game is more or less in a league of its own and with the possible exception of hitting a round object into the air, I don't really get the connection.

While simple, the game does offer a good challenge (although you can sort of faux 1CC the game by tossing the ball and setting off bombs to get tons of lives, esentially making the game much easier regardless of difficulty-- your call) and it sports multiple paths, stages, and endings. As Reimu Hakurei, the object of Touhou Rei'iden is to use the Hakurei Shrine's powerful Yin-Yang Orb to punish those believed to have wrecked the shrine which she protects. The Hakurei Shrine is a gateway to another land, the world of the youkai, Gensokyo, where Reimu travels to settle the score. The thing is; she never learned how to properly use the Yin-Yang Orb, so she has her work cut out for her.

Once the game starts, your mission is to flip all the cards on a level while avoiding bullets and obstacles. Reimu is defeated if she's hit by a bullet, touched by an enemy, or crushed by the Yin-Yang Orb. While she fights with the Ying-Yang Orb, she has other means of defending herself and getting the orb around. Reimu has such manuevers as sliding, flip kicking, shooting, swinging her gohei, and setting off bombs. The strength in which the orb is hit is determined by how she hits it, but honestly, it also has a mind of its own, especially when shot out of a portal, so always be alert. Items can be earned sometimes from cards (extra bombs and point additions) and there are various methods of earning points. The game still features various difficulties (most importantly the symbolic "Lunatic" mode). Every fifth stage, you fight a boss, and then you get to choose a path which has different stages and threats depending on where you go. When time runs out, a mini bullet-hell/danmaku session ensues and you should finish the stage quickly.

The game has very simple graphics and a decent soundtrack that was only made better in later entries to the series. I tried my hand at Lunatic difficulty and showed the various aspects of the game from her sliding to bombs (even though you don't need them at all for the first few stages) and so you could hear some of the music. Enjoy.