Qwiki

The Touhou Project Series

The Touhou Project (Japanese: 東方Project, Hepburn: Tōhō Purojekuto), also simply known as Touhou (東方; meaning "Eastern" or "Oriental"), is a distinguished bullet hell shoot 'em up video game series. It was conceptualized and developed by the independent Japanese doujin soft developer Team Shanghai Alice, led by the enigmatic designer known as ZUN.

Origins and Development

The series made its debut with Highly Responsive to Prayers, released in August 1997, specially developed for the Japanese PC-98 computer. With the second entry, Story of Eastern Wonderland, the series introduced its signature danmaku mechanics, translating to "bullet curtain," a hallmark of its gameplay.

This initial arc of games ran until the fifth installment, after which Embodiment of Scarlet Devil, released in August 2002, marked a significant transition to Microsoft Windows. This shift opened the floodgates for numerous sequels and spin-offs, some diverging from the traditional shoot 'em up formula.

Setting and Characters

The Touhou Project is set within the fictional realm of Gensokyo, a mystic land separate from the outside world. This land is predominantly populated by humans and yōkai, legendary creatures from Japanese folklore often depicted in an anthropomorphic moe style.

Reimu Hakurei, the miko of the Hakurei Shrine, serves as the main protagonist throughout the series. Her role involves solving supernatural "incidents" that threaten the balance of Gensokyo. She is frequently accompanied by Marisa Kirisame, who first appears in the second game, forming a dynamic duo.

Cultural Impact and Fan Works

The Touhou Project has carved a niche as a cornerstone of Japanese doujin culture, inspiring an extensive array of fan-made works. These include artwork, music, print works, additional video games, and a plethora of Internet memes.

The series' influence is further manifested through official and unofficial spin-offs like Touhou Spell Bubble, a puzzle game akin to Puzzle Bobble, and Touhou Hisoutensoku, a fighting game collaboration with Twilight Frontier. Moreover, fan games such as Touhou Luna Nights continue to expand the universe, adopting various gaming genres like Metroidvania.

Related Topics

The Touhou Project stands as a testament to the vibrant and imaginative world of indie game development, maintaining a dynamic equilibrium between its rich lore, challenging gameplay, and the creative contributions of its passionate fan base.