Line #53 VideoGame/TouhouFuumarokuTheStoryOfEasternWonderland


1	[[quoteright:287:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/touhou2boxart.jpg]]
2	[[caption-width-right:287:A major change, even if it wouldn't take off immediately.]]
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4	''Touhou Fuumaroku[[note]]"Demon Sealing Record"[[/note]] ~ the Story of Eastern Wonderland'' is a video game developed by ZUN Soft and published by Amusement Makers for the Platform/PC98 in 1997. It's the second installment in the ''Franchise/TouhouProject'' franchise.
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6	Returning from a ([[BrilliantButLazy half-hearted]]) training session, the [[{{Miko}} shrine maiden]] Reimu Hakurei finds her shrine overrun by {{youkai}}, seemingly on orders from someone else. After defeating them, she heads back to Makai, where one of her enemies from [[VideoGame/TouhouReiidenHighlyResponsiveToPrayers the first game]] has returned.
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8	The game begins the classic vertical ShootEmUp format later games would follow, playing somewhat like ''[[VideoGame/{{Darius}} Darius Gaiden]]''. Reimu is the only playable character but she can choose between three shot types, each with their own [[SmartBomb bomb]].
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10	!!This game provides examples of:
11	* AbnormalAmmo: The Stage 2 midboss attacks with ''kanji'' of all things. Specifically, the kanji 呪, meaning curse.
12	* BreakingTheFourthWall:
13	** Reimu and Rika talk about the latter being the stage 1 boss during the extra stage.
14	** If you have used a continue, Marisa will take notice of it.
15	* BrutalBonusLevel: This game introduces the concept of the Extra Stage to the series, unlocked by completing the game without continues (here, it must be done with all shot types; in subsequent games, it's unlocked individually for each shot type[[note]]The exception is [[VideoGame/TouhouKaeidzukaPhantasmagoriaofFlowerView the ninth game]], which has its own gimmick for unlocking Extra. However, that game's Extra isn't a stage, but a full [[ArrangeMode game mode]][[/note]]). And sure enough, the first ever Extra Stage pulls no punches, requiring you to study it well and come up with consistent routes. While most Extra stages simply reduce the amount of extra lives you can earn to account for its length relative to the full game, the first Extra Stage goes beyond that and forces you to play it in "3 lives 1 bomb per life" setting, in a game that otherwise defaults to 3 bombs per life (and boy will the player miss all those extra bombs). This, combined with how weird the difficulty levels in this game are, means that unlike how typical Extra Stage is usually somewhere between Normal and Hard clear in terms of accomplishments, clearing [=SoEW=]'s Extra Stage is far past clearing it on the Hard difficulty.
16	* BulletHell: In the manual, ZUN boasts that ''[=SoEW=]'''s [[HitboxDissonance tiny hitbox]] and huge numbers of bullets surpasses even ''VideoGame/DoDonPachi''.
17	* ButtonMashing: Pressing the shot key as fast as you can gives you a faster rate of fire than simply holding the key. This isn't present in later games.
18	* CuttingOffTheBranches:
19	** [[ImpliedTrope Implied]]. When Reimu encounters Mima in this game, they seem to already know each other (Mima says "It's been a while", and they both say each other's names without needing to introduce themselves). This suggests Hell as the canon scenario of [[VideoGame/TouhouReiidenHighlyResponsiveToPrayers the previous game]], as that's the route where Mima appears.
20	** The Extra Stage does this to ''itself''. After the boss is defeated, Genjii says it's thanks to the yin-yang orb's power, [[GameplayAndStorySegregation even if you play as Mobile Type (which doesn't use the orb)]]; which Reimu denies, even if you play as Offensive Type (which relies heavily on the orb). While Reimu could be too full of herself to admit she relied on the orb, Genjii has no reason to lie, so this at least suggests Mobile Type isn't the canon shot type.
21	* DefensiveFeintTrap: {{Defied\|Trope}}. In Stage 1, Rika retreats after being defeated. Genjii suggests going after her, but Reimu decides against it because she thinks it's a trap, and is proven right when Rika complains. Sure enough, [[BrutalBonusLevel the Extra Stage]] shows that Reimu made the right call by not chasing down Rika immediately.
22	* DeflectorShields: Over the course of her fight, Marisa will repeatedly put up her orreries. She can only be damaged once all of them are destroyed.
23	* EarlyInstallmentCharacterDesignDifference: Marisa debuts in this game, but she is a redhead and wears purple. She becomes blonde from the next game onwards, and starts wearing black in the Windows games. She also rides a giant flower instead of a broom; she would get her broom as a playable character from the next game onwards, while her boss appearances would continue to use either the flower or illusionary wings until the end of the PC-98 Era.
24	* EarlyInstallmentWeirdness: Even though this is the first ''Touhou'' game to be a proper VerticalScrollingShooter, it still has several differences from the rest of the main series:
25	** Reimu is shown flying on top of her turtle Genji. Said turtle [[ChuckCunninghamSyndrome disappears from the series]] in the Windows games, where Reimu just flies by herself. He also has plenty of dialogue in this game, whereas in his three subsequent appearances he's completely silent.
26	** Reimu is the only playable character. All subsequent main series games went on to have playable Marisa as well, with most of them having one or more other playable characters on top of that.
27	** Marisa is introduced in this game, but she's a boss instead of playable, is TheDragon to Mima instead of acting on her own and being the series {{Deuteragonist}}, and lacks her brash attitude from later on in the series. Her name is also spelled "魔'''梨'''沙" here while later installments changed it to "魔'''理'''沙".
28	** Being the first proper shmup game, a lot of distinct features are missing, even compared to ''VideoGame/TouhouGensokyoLotusLandStory''. There is no focus, there are no deathbombs, bosses do not show their health bars (even though the first game had this feature), you get very few resources between boss phases, ButtonMashing is a valid tactic, there's only five stages in main game (and last one is there mostly to feed you power items for the FinalBoss so it's more like four), and the bullet patterns are nowhere as flashy.
29	** Defensive Type has Reimu's iconic homing shots, but only when you're at max power.
30	** The [[PowerupMagnet item border]], the Spell Card system, practice mode and replays don't exist yet. Those features will be introduced in the Windows games.
31	** You must get the good ending with all shot types before you can go into the Extra Stage, unlike later games where the Extra Stage is unlocked individually for each shot type. This is the only Extra Stage without a midboss, and the Extra Boss takes damage from bombs, unlike later games where they get ContractualBossImmunity.
32	* FaceFault: Reimu does this when Rika takes offense to being called suspicious by Genjii and [[NotHelpingYourCase replies that she created the bakebake]], as demonstrated by her dialogue portrait showing her legs upside down.
33	-->'''Reimu:''' How is that not suspicious!?
34	* FakeDifficulty: Your hitbox is rather large compared to later games, and if you die it becomes offset slightly -- enough to make some previous safe spots no longer safe.
35	* FighterMageThief: The three playable shot types. Offensive Type is the fighter, specializing in shot damage; Defensive Type specializes in bombing, with the manual referring to bombs as a "spiritual attack", thus making it the mage; Mobile Type is the thief, with its speed enabling it to maneuver and dodge attacks with ease as well as giving it an easier time collecting items and scoring.
36	* GameplayAndStorySegregation: The menu claims the different shot types vary in how much they rely on the yin-yang orb, with Mobile Type not using it, Defensive Type moderately relying on it and Offensive Type heavily relying on it. But after defeating the Extra Boss, Genjii says it's thanks to the yin-yang orb's power, even if you play as Mobile Type, which Reimu denies, even if you play as Offensive Type. While Reimu could be too full of herself to admit she relied on the orb, Genjii has no reason to lie.
37	* IAlwaysWantedToSayThat: When Mima shows up, Reimu says "Mima! Just as I thought!", but when pressed by Genjii, she admits she didn't know it would be her, but that she "just always wanted to say that".
38	* IconicSequelCharacter: The stage 4 boss, Marisa Kirisame, would go on to become the {{Deuteragonist}} of the series (as well as the icon for the game executables).
39	* InconsistentSpelling: Marisa's name is spelled 魔梨沙 in the game, but 魔理沙 in the omake. All subsequent works have consistently used the latter spelling.
40	* InstantWinCondition: Even if it was your last life, as long as Mima's last phase is defeated in the short span it takes the game to process your death, you win and get the good ending.
41	* MacGuffin: The antagonists seek "The Power of the Hakurei", meaning either the Yin-Yang Orbs or Reimu's ability to use them.
42	* MundaneUtility: In the good endings, the yin-yang orb's powers are given mundane applications, not related in any way to combat, youkai extermination, spiritual matters or shrine maiden duties. Depending on your shot type, they're producing one's favorite smell, letting one eat sweets without getting fat or the orb itself transforming into a cat.
43	* PentUpPowerPeril: {{Exploited}}. The Hakurei clan's Yin-Yang Orbs slowly fill up with their users' powerful spiritual energies over time, then release it all at once. Mima seeks to be there when it happens so that she can take that power for herself.
44	* NoFinalBossForYou: [[DownplayedTrope Downplayed]]. If you've used any continues, Mima will end the fight early and skip her final phase. The game then proceeds to the bad ending.
45	* OneHitPolykill: Mobile Type and Offensive Type gain piercing shots when at max power.
46	* OnlyTheChosenMayWield: Mima explains how the Yin-Yang Orb works before her fight, and points out that only a Hakurei can draw its powers.
47	* RareRandomDrop: In this game only, stage enemies that do not have fixed drops have a 1/512 chance to instead drop a bomb item (though the actual chance is smaller due to how the game checks for it).
48	* RecurringBoss:
49	** Stage 1 boss Rika returns for the Extra Stage with [[{{Superboss}} her new "tank", Evil Eye Sigma]]. She and Reimu then BreakTheFourthWall to point out that if Reimu had pursued Rika in their first fight, Stage 2 would be "way too hard".
50	** The angel-like midboss in Stage 4 is encountered twice during the level.
51	* ScrewThisImOuttaHere: After defeating the Stage 3 boss, Reimu is genuinely scared and makes haste to move on immediately.
52	* SealedEvilInACan: In the ending, Reimu seals Mima away behind the shrine, but she escapes within a month.
53	* StrategyGuide: The [[https://en.touhouwiki.net/wiki/Story_of_Eastern_Wonderland/Translation/Other omake]] is a strategy guide with the survival section narrated by Marisa, and the scoring section narrated by Reimu.
54	* TakeThatAudience: Like other PC-98 games, this game rates your skill at the end of the game, with the lowest range referencing a line from ''VideoGame/DevilSummoner'' that basically tells the player to kill themselves. Also counts as EasyModeMockery, as the [[https://rec98.nmlgc.net/blog/2024-04-11#verdict-2024-04-11 specific way]] it's calculated means it's impossible to see on any difficulty other than Easy.
55	* TakingYouWithMe:
56	** Lunatic difficulty has all enemies fire revenge bullets when defeated, which are aimed at your position.
57	** Evil Eye Sigma self-destructs when defeated, which will kill you if you don't get away from the explosion.
58	* TookALevelInBadass: Mima went from second boss in the previous game to FinalBoss here.
59	* TrainingFromHell: In the bad endings, Marisa shows up to help Reimu train... with the slight detail that her idea of training seems to be brutally over the top, involving such things as attaching her to a burning cross or trapping her under a magical waterfall.
60	* TrialAndErrorGameplay: When Mima flashes in it means she's about to ram you. Moving to the side is recommended.
61	* VillainExitStageLeft: If you've used any continues, Mima will end the fight early and retreat, telling you to come back when you're stronger. The game then proceeds to the bad ending.
62	* WhatKindOfLamePowerIsHeartAnyway: In the ending Genji reveals to Reimu the "true power" of the Yin-Yang Orbs, [[MultipleEndings which varies depending on the player's selected shot type]]. Respectively, they can [[MundaneUtility turn into a cat, produce any smell, or allow the user to eat sweets without gaining weight]]. Reimu is disappointed to say the least, though in time she comes to enjoy using it.

Context VideoGame / TouhouFuumarokuTheStoryOfEasternWonderland