SHoSS Sea of Petroleum Theme: Depths of the Earth, Ocean of Avarice @zenryaku5142

Zenryaku Wait, so that "former hell of blood pools" Koishi mentioned in ULiL wasn't a one-off line? And it's related to the oil because "oil is the blood of the earth"? Talk about a long setup.
I like how everyone talks about oil as a "cursed liquid" and something that can bring great wealth but will bring great misfortune. Between AFiEU, WBaWC, and this, ZUN has really been getting to take potshots at issues in the real world.

Also that is a great reprise of the title theme.

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The soundtrack comes from 東方剛欲異聞　～水没した沈愁地獄 (Touhou Gouyoku Ibun ~ Submerged Hell of Sunken Sorrow), the 17.5th Touhou game. Instead of a fighting game, the game is a single-player beat-'em-up based around fighting enemies while collecting water to perform hyper attacks.

Song: Depths of the Earth, Ocean of Avarice (大地の底、剛欲の海)
Composer: ziki_7
Image artist: Naufaldreamer
Image source: pixiv.net/en/artworks/93662746

updated 4 years ago

SHoSS Sea of Petroleum Theme: Depths of the Earth, Ocean of Avarice

Zenryaku 2021-11-04 | Wait, so that "former hell of blood pools" Koishi mentioned in ULiL wasn't a one-off line? And it's related to the oil because "oil is the blood of the earth"? Talk about a long setup.
I like how everyone talks about oil as a "cursed liquid" and something that can bring great wealth but will bring great misfortune. Between AFiEU, WBaWC, and this, ZUN has really been getting to take potshots at issues in the real world.

Also that is a great reprise of the title theme.

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The soundtrack comes from 東方剛欲異聞　～水没した沈愁地獄 (Touhou Gouyoku Ibun ~ Submerged Hell of Sunken Sorrow), the 17.5th Touhou game. Instead of a fighting game, the game is a single-player beat-'em-up based around fighting enemies while collecting water to perform hyper attacks.

Song: Depths of the Earth, Ocean of Avarice (大地の底、剛欲の海)
Composer: ziki_7
Image artist: Naufaldreamer
Image source: pixiv.net/en/artworks/93662746

HBM Stage Theme 3: The Hundredth Black Market

Zenryaku 2022-08-22 | You know, despite all the stages consisting of random enemy waves (and even having them stack together), a lot of the combinations were surprisingly... reasonable. I was admittedly scared the game would be a hot mess. It's fun being able to purchase cards much more often, and having a card power limit when picking your initial deck makes a lot of sense balance-wise. And if the game is ever feeling too easy, there's always the julie fan.

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The soundtrack comes from バレットフィリア達の闇市場　〜 100th Black Market, the 18.5th Touhou game. Building on the "Ability Card" system from Unconnected Marketeers, this game revolves around adventuring through randomly generated stages while collecting money to purchase and eventually permanently unlock ability cards.

Song: The Hundredth Black Market (100回目のブラックマーケット)
Composer: ZUN
Image artist: 無名之妖
Image source: pixiv.net/en/artworks/96293940

HBM Boss Theme 2: Take Thy Danmaku in Hand, O Bulletphiles

Zenryaku 2022-08-22 | Despite seeming serious at first, ultimately this song sounds like "check out my cool spells, let's fight!!". Maybe it's more hot-blooded?
I was going to complain about Sanae doing that thing she does, but in the end I think Suika gave me the most trouble because I couldn't figure out her last spell for the life of me. At least a decent chunk of the spells in this game are new.

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The soundtrack comes from バレットフィリア達の闇市場　〜 100th Black Market, the 18.5th Touhou game. Building on the "Ability Card" system from Unconnected Marketeers, this game revolves around adventuring through randomly generated stages while collecting money to purchase and eventually permanently unlock ability cards.

Song: Take Thy Danmaku in Hand, O Bulletphiles (弾幕を持て、パレッドフィリア達よ)
Composer: ZUN
Image artist: 藤原あおい
Image source: pixiv.net/en/artworks/98395155

HBM Stage Theme 2: Black Markets Can Happen Anywhere, Anytime

Zenryaku 2022-08-21 | Following last video's comment, I would consider this song to be in the "stage 3" genre. It feels like the game is picking up the pace and about to get to the cool part, just in time for the trial to end. Despite playing at the Sai no Kawara, it's light and speedy and perfect backing music for onibi to sadly drop to.

Also, it was around this point in the game I got distracted and started farming the big fairies for lots of money. The magic circle really brings out the power of the mallet.

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The soundtrack comes from バレットフィリア達の闇市場　〜 100th Black Market, the 18.5th Touhou game. Building on the "Ability Card" system from Unconnected Marketeers, this game revolves around adventuring through randomly generated stages while collecting money to purchase and eventually permanently unlock ability cards.

Song: Black Markets Can Happen Anywhere, Anytime (闇市場は場所を選ばない)
Composer: ZUN
Image artist: たったに
Image source: pixiv.net/en/artworks/89094000

HBM Boss Theme 1: Youkai Hook-On

Zenryaku 2022-08-21 | This is a very "stage 1 boss" genre of song. That's a genre now.
It's kind of short, but granted you probably won't listen to these songs very long because all the bosses at this point only use one spell card. At least, unless you've found a way to grind for money. (Hi, Minoriko.)

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The soundtrack comes from バレットフィリア達の闇市場　〜 100th Black Market, the 18.5th Touhou game. Building on the "Ability Card" system from Unconnected Marketeers, this game revolves around adventuring through randomly generated stages while collecting money to purchase and eventually permanently unlock ability cards.

Song: Youkai Hook-On (妖怪フックオン)
Composer: ZUN
Image artist: 安德小骸
Image source: pixiv.net/en/artworks/99934467

HBM Stage Theme 1: An Exciting and Familiar Gensokyo

Zenryaku 2022-08-20 | One thing I've noticed with the music in this game is that since none of it is tied to a specific location or boss, it ends up giving off a "general-purpose Touhou song" vibe, kind of like how some fan-made Touhou songs don't have the luxury of having a specific stage or boss to work off of.

I'm not saying the music is bad or anything—I just find it funny how that used to be mainly a fan problem until now. If anything, I think it's cool how even with so little to work with, you can still accurately place songs as belonging to early-, mid-, or late-game stages or bosses.

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The soundtrack comes from バレットフィリア達の闇市場　〜 100th Black Market, the 18.5th Touhou game. Building on the "Ability Card" system from Unconnected Marketeers, this game revolves around adventuring through randomly generated stages while collecting money to purchase and eventually permanently unlock ability cards.

Song: An Exciting and Familiar Gensokyo (ワクワクする見慣れた幻想郷)
Composer: ZUN
Image artist: PPP怪
Image source: pixiv.net/en/artworks/94613382

HBM Title Theme: The Collectors Melancholy Afternoon

Zenryaku 2022-08-20 | Expansion deck for Unconnected Marketeers! Or something like that. I've never played trading card games before.
I know it's a bit of a reach, but this title theme feels like it shares some vibes with Magician's Melancholy. Like, musically, and not just because they both have "melancholy" in the title.
Either way, it's a very laid-back theme to listen to while deciding what cards you want to equip.

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The soundtrack comes from バレットフィリア達の闇市場　〜 100th Black Market, the 18.5th Touhou game. Building on the "Ability Card" system from Unconnected Marketeers, this game revolves around adventuring through randomly generated stages while collecting money to purchase and eventually permanently unlock ability cards.

Song: The Collector's Melancholy Afternoon (コレクターの憂鬱な午後)
Composer: ZUN
Image artist: Sheya
Image source: twitter.com/dingkuang1/status/1313088804182355970

SHoSS Staff Roll Theme: Eastern Strange Tale of Avarice

Zenryaku 2021-11-06 | A very ending-like theme. It reminds me of the Eternal Steam Engine arrange from AoCF. Both in terms of atmosphere, and how it didn't loop so I had to do weird stuff to extend it. Speaking of atmosphere, if there's one thing this game nailed, it's the presentation. I especially love the art style, and really hope this comes back in the next decimal game.

...And with that, I've finally caught up with everything that needs to be uploaded. I still need to re-add artist name attributions to all the images from AoCF, VD, and WBaWC, though... I'll get to that some day. But aside from all that, see you next dream!

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The soundtrack comes from 東方剛欲異聞　～水没した沈愁地獄 (Touhou Gouyoku Ibun ~ Submerged Hell of Sunken Sorrow), the 17.5th Touhou game. Instead of a fighting game, the game is a single-player beat-'em-up based around fighting enemies while collecting water to perform hyper attacks.

Song: Eastern Strange Tale of Avarice (東方剛欲異聞)
Composer: ziki_7
Image artist: 牛土
Image source: pixiv.net/en/artworks/86459961

SHoSS Ending Theme: The Laws of Heaven and the Desires of Man

Zenryaku 2021-11-05 | Looks like we've got to update the incident explanation chart to include "Okina is playing 4D chess". She's been quite prominent lately. Not that that's a bad thing or anything, it's nice to see characters from previous games take serious roles like she's been doing.
I suppose taking control of the oil to hide it away from... whatever is going on in the real world... counts under some definition of a noble cause.

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The soundtrack comes from 東方剛欲異聞　～水没した沈愁地獄 (Touhou Gouyoku Ibun ~ Submerged Hell of Sunken Sorrow), the 17.5th Touhou game. Instead of a fighting game, the game is a single-player beat-'em-up based around fighting enemies while collecting water to perform hyper attacks.

Song: The Laws of Heaven and the Desires of Man (天理人欲)
Composer: ziki_7
Image artist: ON
Image source: twitter.com/______l0_______/status/1253396602426986496

SHoSS Yuumas Second Theme: Memento of All Organisms ~ Memory of Fossil Energy

Zenryaku 2021-11-05 | I heard people say this was a last spell theme; it really doesn't sound that way to me, because it goes through way more of the song than just building up on one bit over and over. It's more like cranking up the temperature as the hands of blood reach out from the pool of actually-that-oil-is-also-blood.

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The soundtrack comes from 東方剛欲異聞　～水没した沈愁地獄 (Touhou Gouyoku Ibun ~ Submerged Hell of Sunken Sorrow), the 17.5th Touhou game. Instead of a fighting game, the game is a single-player beat-'em-up based around fighting enemies while collecting water to perform hyper attacks.

Song: Memento of All Organisms ~ Memory of Fossil Energy (有機体全てのメメント　～ Memory of Fossil Energy)
Composer: ZUN
Image artist: Sachisu
Image source: pixiv.net/en/artworks/93696149

SHoSS Yuumas First Theme: Memento of an Avaricious Beast

Zenryaku 2021-11-04 | I know that this game is kind of a side story to the Wily Beast Incident, but even with that knowledge this theme sounds strikingly at home with the rest of WBaWC's music. I hear a bunch of callbacks to various songs from that game, like Unlocated Hell and Tortoise Dragon and Prince Shoutoku's Pegasus.

Since I still can't quite get used to the controls of this game, I'm holding out hope for a Phantasm-style Danmakufu script with her as the boss...

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The soundtrack comes from 東方剛欲異聞　～水没した沈愁地獄 (Touhou Gouyoku Ibun ~ Submerged Hell of Sunken Sorrow), the 17.5th Touhou game. Instead of a fighting game, the game is a single-player beat-'em-up based around fighting enemies while collecting water to perform hyper attacks.

Song: Memento of an Avaricious Beast (強欲な獣のメメント)
Composer: ZUN
Image artist: 依末
Image source: pixiv.net/en/artworks/93668380

SHoSS Joon and Shions Theme: Tonight Stars an Easygoing Egoist ~ Egoistic Flowers

Zenryaku 2021-11-03 | To make up for not being a live version held at a concert, this song seems to linger more and add extra bits. It's more graceful and soft and sophisticated, unlike the high-energy AoCF one. Joon and Shion are really trying to redefine themselves as oil barons instead of concert thieves.

Also, strangely this is the only returning theme that didn't lose the English part of its title.

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The soundtrack comes from 東方剛欲異聞　～水没した沈愁地獄 (Touhou Gouyoku Ibun ~ Submerged Hell of Sunken Sorrow), the 17.5th Touhou game. Instead of a fighting game, the game is a single-player beat-'em-up based around fighting enemies while collecting water to perform hyper attacks.

Song: Tonight Stars an Easygoing Egoist ~ Egoistic Flowers (今宵は飄逸なエゴイスト　～ Egoistic Flowers)
Arranger: ziki_7
Image artist: カタケイ
Image source: pixiv.net/en/artworks/85027011

SHoSS Flandres Theme: U.N. Owen was Her?

Zenryaku 2021-11-03 | Did anyone have "Flandre becomes playable" on their Gouyoku Ibun bingo card? Because I sure didn't, especially with ZUN's track record of not pandering to fans.
Interestingly, she seems to only be a part of this story because Okina started opening a bunch of doors to essentially sic her on whoever she felt like, which... I guess is a valid strategy? Of course Okina of all people would deal with her problems like this.

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The soundtrack comes from 東方剛欲異聞　～水没した沈愁地獄 (Touhou Gouyoku Ibun ~ Submerged Hell of Sunken Sorrow), the 17.5th Touhou game. Instead of a fighting game, the game is a single-player beat-'em-up based around fighting enemies while collecting water to perform hyper attacks.

Song: U.N. Owen was Her? (U.N.オーエンは彼女なのか？)
Arranger: ziki_7
Image artist: calpis126
Image source: pixiv.net/en/artworks/93539173

SHoSS Scarlet Devil Mansion Theme: The Centennial Festival for Magical Girls

Zenryaku 2021-11-02 | The waltz-y time and "creepy mansion" feeling really makes this song feel fresh and very different from its EoSD version, despite being literally the same thing. I do really like the part that begins about 1:44 in, where the chorus of the original song finally gets to show up.

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The soundtrack comes from 東方剛欲異聞　～水没した沈愁地獄 (Touhou Gouyoku Ibun ~ Submerged Hell of Sunken Sorrow), the 17.5th Touhou game. Instead of a fighting game, the game is a single-player beat-'em-up based around fighting enemies while collecting water to perform hyper attacks.

Song: The Centennial Festival for Magical Girls (魔法少女達の百年祭)
Arranger: ziki_7
Image artist: Tonan
Image source: pixiv.net/en/artworks/86682951

SHoSS Kutakas Theme: Seraphic Chicken

Zenryaku 2021-11-02 | Oh my goodness this is definitely on a time signature. It definitely feels more chaotic than the original because of this; the main part suddenly slowing down keeps catching me off-guard.

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The soundtrack comes from 東方剛欲異聞　～水没した沈愁地獄 (Touhou Gouyoku Ibun ~ Submerged Hell of Sunken Sorrow), the 17.5th Touhou game. Instead of a fighting game, the game is a single-player beat-'em-up based around fighting enemies while collecting water to perform hyper attacks.

Song: Seraphic Chicken (セラフィックチキン)
Arranger: ziki_7
Image artist: 糸麦くん
Image source: twitter.com/AKI_kikumugi/status/1397950214317559811

SHoSS Former Hell of Blazing Fires (Flooded) Theme: Everlasting Red Spider Lily

Zenryaku 2021-11-01 | I kinda had to strain myself to hear the original song in here. But it's definitely there. I like how soft this sounds in comparison to when the Hell of Blazing Fires isn't submerged; it really sells how the lack of fire completely transformed the place.

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The soundtrack comes from 東方剛欲異聞　～水没した沈愁地獄 (Touhou Gouyoku Ibun ~ Submerged Hell of Sunken Sorrow), the 17.5th Touhou game. Instead of a fighting game, the game is a single-player beat-'em-up based around fighting enemies while collecting water to perform hyper attacks.

Song: Everlasting Red Spider Lily (不朽の曼珠沙華)
Arranger: ziki_7
Image artist: ひそな
Image source: twitter.com/Hisona_/status/1202551078849433601

SHoSS Murasas Theme: Captain Murasa

Zenryaku 2021-11-01 | The Captain is here! And with a cool cape, too. Her theme also sounds more carefree crusing-y... which isn't really an adjective. Considering she busted a hole in the middle of the Sanzu River to get down to Hell, she really doesn't seem like she's going to let anything get in the way of the Murasa Cruise Boat™.

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The soundtrack comes from 東方剛欲異聞　～水没した沈愁地獄 (Touhou Gouyoku Ibun ~ Submerged Hell of Sunken Sorrow), the 17.5th Touhou game. Instead of a fighting game, the game is a single-player beat-'em-up based around fighting enemies while collecting water to perform hyper attacks.

Song: Captain Murasa (キャプテンムラサ)
Arranger: ziki_7
Image artist: 餅千歳あぐり
Image source: pixiv.net/en/artworks/92108578

SHoSS Kanakos Theme: The Venerable Ancient Battlefield

Zenryaku 2021-10-31 | Kanako's theme has to be imposing and grand; it's just a rule. Even when remixed into a more causal sidegame style, it's still got traces of the imposing atmosphere from the MoF original. Because no matter how you look at it, a god is still a god.

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The soundtrack comes from 東方剛欲異聞　～水没した沈愁地獄 (Touhou Gouyoku Ibun ~ Submerged Hell of Sunken Sorrow), the 17.5th Touhou game. Instead of a fighting game, the game is a single-player beat-'em-up based around fighting enemies while collecting water to perform hyper attacks.

Song: The Venerable Ancient Battlefield (神さびた古戦場)
Arranger: ziki_7
Image artist: 山中梅
Image source: pixiv.net/en/artworks/86655426

SHoSS Underground Fusion Reactor Theme: Cemetery of Onbashira

Zenryaku 2021-10-31 | Even underground, the nuclear fusion reactor has a bunch of onbashira standing about. Props to Kanako for staying on-brand, at least. (Picture unrelated because this game just came out.)
Thankfully Gensokyo isn't going to be running on fossil fuels anytime soon. Probably.

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The soundtrack comes from 東方剛欲異聞　～水没した沈愁地獄 (Touhou Gouyoku Ibun ~ Submerged Hell of Sunken Sorrow), the 17.5th Touhou game. Instead of a fighting game, the game is a single-player beat-'em-up based around fighting enemies while collecting water to perform hyper attacks.

Song: Cemetery of Onbashira (御柱の墓場)
Arranger: ziki_7
Image artist: 狸猫子
Image source: pixiv.net/en/artworks/54989036

SHoSS Utsuhos Theme: Solar Sect of Mystic Wisdom

Zenryaku 2021-10-30 | This remix is a lot more energetic and casual than the one in Hisoutensoku/UNL/(what are you supposed to call 12.3). It really feels like a theme to stylishly fling mini-suns to. Now we're playing with fire!

(Also yes, the entire reason I call 17.5 "SHoSS" is because all of my videos have started with a game acronym and it felt weird to break that pattern. Sue me.)

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The soundtrack comes from 東方剛欲異聞　～水没した沈愁地獄 (Touhou Gouyoku Ibun ~ Submerged Hell of Sunken Sorrow), the 17.5th Touhou game. Instead of a fighting game, the game is a single-player beat-'em-up based around fighting enemies while collecting water to perform hyper attacks.

Song: Solar Sect of Mystic Wisdom (霊知の太陽信仰)
Arranger: ziki_7
Image artist: Rached
Image source: pixiv.net/en/artworks/69102668

SHoSS Former Hell of Blazing Fires Theme: Hellfire Mantle

Zenryaku 2021-10-30 | Coming back to finish up UM was only the first step of my plan. Now that this is finally up on Steam and brliron has updated the extraction toolkit, I can finally get my hands on a direct rip of the music!

Anyway, the music. It's a lot more suspenseful and dramatic than the original, which was more on the loud and intense side of things. It's no longer got that "final confrontation" feel, which makes sense because this really isn't the final confrontation. We still get a nice soft piano part, though.

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The soundtrack comes from 東方剛欲異聞　～水没した沈愁地獄 (Touhou Gouyoku Ibun ~ Submerged Hell of Sunken Sorrow), the 17.5th Touhou game. Instead of a fighting game, the game is a single-player beat-'em-up based around fighting enemies while collecting water to perform hyper attacks.

Song: Hellfire Mantle (業火マントル)
Arranger: ziki_7
Image artist: Zuomerika
Image source: pixiv.net/en/artworks/93161682

UM Staff Roll Theme: A Rainbow-Colored World

Zenryaku 2021-10-29 | As per usual, this is a remix of a theme in the game. Surprisingly, it's the final boss theme instead of the stage 4 theme. Stage 4 in this game seems more tied to the extra stage than the main plot, anyway, so it's alright.

I wish this was longer...

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The soundtrack comes from 東方虹龍洞　～ Unconnected Marketeers, the 18th Touhou game. Featuring Reimu, Marisa, Sakuya, and Sanae, the game centers around "Ability Cards" that can be purchased over multiple playthroughs and equipped onto your character to grant various skills.

Song: A Rainbow-Colored World (虹色の世界)
Composer: ZUN
Image artist: 柚木
Image source: pixiv.net/en/artworks/92251160

UM Ending Theme: The Sunday After the Storm

Zenryaku 2021-10-29 | We started stage 1 with a drizzle, saw the resulting rainbow in stage 6, and now the storm is over. It's subtle, but it really does make the whole story feel cohesive. And now we get to sit back after the storm is clear. At least, until you decide to take on the extra stage.

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The soundtrack comes from 東方虹龍洞　～ Unconnected Marketeers, the 18th Touhou game. Featuring Reimu, Marisa, Sakuya, and Sanae, the game centers around "Ability Cards" that can be purchased over multiple playthroughs and equipped onto your character to grant various skills.

Song: The Sunday After the Storm (嵐の後の日曜日)
Composer: ZUN
Image artist: べにしゃけ
Image source: twitter.com/benisyakedon/status/1440279092025126915

UM Momoyos Theme: The Princess Who Slays Dragon Kings

Zenryaku 2021-10-29 | That's weird, I don't remember centipedes being a part of the Minecraft update. But she has a very fun and extra boss-y theme, so all is forgiven. When was the last time we had an extra boss who was mainly around because "Yeah! Let's Fight!"?

I'm a bit confused, though. I know this is an anoxic zone and the protagonists have a magatama card to use as an oxygen tank. But how is Momoyo doing fine here without that card? Does she not need oxygen? Do magatamas just have oxygen tank powers? Can I stick one in a spacesuit and be fine?

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The soundtrack comes from 東方虹龍洞　～ Unconnected Marketeers, the 18th Touhou game. Featuring Reimu, Marisa, Sakuya, and Sanae, the game centers around "Ability Cards" that can be purchased over multiple playthroughs and equipped onto your character to grant various skills.

Song: The Princess Who Slays Dragon Kings (龍王殺しのプリンセス)
Composer: ZUN
Image artist: 友部キヌコ
Image source: twitter.com/kinuk/status/1451976193884839940

UM Extra Stage Theme: The Great Fantastic Underground Network

Zenryaku 2021-10-28 | This is definitely an interesting stage. Since you only buy one card in this stage, you essentially know which cards you're coming into this run with, which makes for a whole different experience than how you'd sort of roll with what you got in the main game. Great atmosphere, too; I like how you get to visit the mines for real this time now that you conveniently got an oxygen tank card.

Then Tsukasa comes in no longer trying to act nice. "Die like the pitiful human you are!"

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The soundtrack comes from 東方虹龍洞　～ Unconnected Marketeers, the 18th Touhou game. Featuring Reimu, Marisa, Sakuya, and Sanae, the game centers around "Ability Cards" that can be purchased over multiple playthroughs and equipped onto your character to grant various skills.

Song: The Great Fantastic Underground Network (幻想の地下大線路網)
Composer: ZUN
Image artist: Sachisu
Image source: pixiv.net/en/artworks/90130576

UM Chimatas Theme: Where Is That Bustling Marketplace Now ~ Immemorial Marketeers

Zenryaku 2021-10-28 | So turns out this whole trading card game also played into the hands of Chimata, who used the "ritual" of buying and selling as worship to regain her power. That's definitely one of the more clever things I've seen. What are the limits of doing that, though? Like, at what point is an action no longer able to count as a ritual and is just a thing you do?

Also, the song feels like it doesn't have a single climax, instead continuously mini-climaxing and building up forever. Continuous growth, just like the marketplace demands! Ability cards to the moon! Yeah!!! (It does fit her well, though. I like it!)

...Why do so many of the recent maingame bosses have fire auras, anyway?

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The soundtrack comes from 東方虹龍洞　～ Unconnected Marketeers, the 18th Touhou game. Featuring Reimu, Marisa, Sakuya, and Sanae, the game centers around "Ability Cards" that can be purchased over multiple playthroughs and equipped onto your character to grant various skills.

Song: Where Is That Bustling Marketplace Now ~ Immemorial Marketeers (あの賑やかな市場は今どこに　～ Immemorial Marketeers)
Composer: ZUN
Image artist: 鮪丼
Image source: twitter.com/2013__0812/status/1425429469053865984

UM Stage 6 Theme: Lunar Rainbow

Zenryaku 2021-10-27 | The piano gives it a very glittery rainbow-y feel. It's fitting for a night where a rainbow circles the moon. Considering the first night the trading cards began also had a moon like this, it really does give a sense of closure.
Also Tsukasa is somehow even more rude here than she was last stage. Meanie.

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The soundtrack comes from 東方虹龍洞　～ Unconnected Marketeers, the 18th Touhou game. Featuring Reimu, Marisa, Sakuya, and Sanae, the game centers around "Ability Cards" that can be purchased over multiple playthroughs and equipped onto your character to grant various skills.

Song: Lunar Rainbow (ルナレインボー)
Composer: ZUN
Image artist: はマる
Image source: pixiv.net/en/artworks/90897738

UM Megumus Theme: Starry Mountain of Tenma

Zenryaku 2021-10-27 | The music description was right. This really does sound video game-y, in a Touhou kind of way.
So this whole thing happened because she wanted to profit off of a magatama-powered trading card game? Sounds about right for the course.

Her laser spell is really scary for me because I have basically no trust when it comes to Touhou hitboxes. I've been scammed too many times while playing as Marisa.

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The soundtrack comes from 東方虹龍洞　～ Unconnected Marketeers, the 18th Touhou game. Featuring Reimu, Marisa, Sakuya, and Sanae, the game centers around "Ability Cards" that can be purchased over multiple playthroughs and equipped onto your character to grant various skills.

Song: Starry Mountain of Tenma (星降る天魔の山)
Composer: ZUN
Image artist: Gaff
Image source: pixiv.net/en/artworks/90940444

UM Stage 5 Theme: The Long-Awaited Oumagatoki

Zenryaku 2021-10-26 | Leaving the mine where there's no oxygen, we head off to go climb a mountain... which tends to have less oxygen the farther you go up. Huh.
That's one thing, but the other thing is Tsukasa. I can't deal with that kind of sweeping pattern in her nonspells for the life of me. And to think it only gets worse from here... she really is a jerk, isn't she?

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The soundtrack comes from 東方虹龍洞　～ Unconnected Marketeers, the 18th Touhou game. Featuring Reimu, Marisa, Sakuya, and Sanae, the game centers around "Ability Cards" that can be purchased over multiple playthroughs and equipped onto your character to grant various skills.

Song: The Long-Awaited Oumagatoki (待ちわびた逢魔が時)
Composer: ZUN
Image artist: ゾウノセ
Image source: twitter.com/zounose/status/1389886183606349828

UM Stage 4 Theme: The Obsolescent Industrial Remains

Zenryaku 2021-10-26 | So this is the mine that the gems have been coming from. I like how a bunch of the enemies here are yin-yangs; not quite a 100% yin-yang rate like LoLK stage 4, but enough to show something's up with them.
We don't talk about the Jumbo Indestructible Menacing Bully Orb, though. At least that's what I think it stands for.

Also, I'm back! Okay so I was busy for maybe more than a few weeks and miiiiight have forgotten about this. Shotcut is way better than DaVinci Resolve, the file sizes are no longer ridiculously huge for doing the same thing. I went down from 800ish MB to 50 MB.

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The soundtrack comes from 東方虹龍洞　～ Unconnected Marketeers, the 18th Touhou game. Featuring Reimu, Marisa, Sakuya, and Sanae, the game centers around "Ability Cards" that can be purchased over multiple playthroughs and equipped onto your character to grant various skills.

Song: The Obsolescent Industrial Remains (廃れゆく産業遺構)
Composer: ZUN
Image artist: O絃
Image source: twitter.com/bowstringsmall/status/1402595213474885642

UM Misumarus Theme: Ore from the Age of the Gods

Zenryaku 2021-10-26 | Finally, the creator of Reimu's yin-yang orbs is revealed! Between that, knowing everyone by name, specifically calling these gems "Izanagi objects", and working with the protagonist in the extra stage, she seems really built up to be important. I wonder if she'll appear in any of the print works.

Also come on Sakuya. The girl who knows about thorium decay products doesn't know what oxygen is?

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The soundtrack comes from 東方虹龍洞　～ Unconnected Marketeers, the 18th Touhou game. Featuring Reimu, Marisa, Sakuya, and Sanae, the game centers around "Ability Cards" that can be purchased over multiple playthroughs and equipped onto your character to grant various skills.

Song: Ore from the Age of the Gods (神代鉱石)
Composer: ZUN
Image artist: はマる
Image source: pixiv.net/en/artworks/90154292

UM Sannyos Theme: Smoking Dragon

Zenryaku 2021-03-25 | Now this theme is spicy. It's all tough and cool and intimidating. She's even got fancy tobacco smoke dragons coming out of her pipe.
Her trading card is pretty good too, by the way. I don't seem to get many lives in this game; having the dragon smoke card really helps cover that. Although you kind of have to beat the trial for it, so you only get it when you prove you don't need it.

Also what even are those nonspells they give me anxiety.

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The soundtrack comes from 東方虹龍洞　～ Unconnected Marketeers, the 18th Touhou game. Featuring Reimu, Marisa, Sakuya, and Sanae, the game centers around "Ability Cards" that can be purchased over multiple playthroughs and equipped onto your character to grant various skills.

Song: Smoking Dragon (スモーキングドラゴン)
Composer: ZUN
Image artist: cheeseroll
Image source: pixiv.net/en/artworks/88606673

UM Stage 3 Theme: The Perpetual Snow of Komakusa Blossoms

Zenryaku 2021-03-25 | I love the environment in this stage! It's really calm and romantic and peaceful. The bright green grass and mountain-solitude-ish feeling almost makes you feel like you're right there and breathing in that crisp post-rain air.
...This pandemic is doing things to me, isn't it.

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The soundtrack comes from 東方虹龍洞　～ Unconnected Marketeers, the 18th Touhou game. Featuring Reimu, Marisa, Sakuya, and Sanae, the game centers around "Ability Cards" that can be purchased over multiple playthroughs and equipped onto your character to grant various skills.

Song: The Perpetual Snow of Komakusa Blossoms (駒草咲くパーペチュアルスノー)
Composer: ZUN
Image artist: DanGo
Image source: pixiv.net/en/artworks/56935727

UM Takanes Theme: Banditry Technology

Zenryaku 2021-03-25 | Huh, so she's a yamawaro and not a kappa. The two are related in lore, though, so that's interesting. Her theme is interesting, too. It's like she's toying around.
I know the lore says you're supposed to only buy one card at a time... so naturally, there's a bug that lets you purchase more than one card by pausing at the right time. Ah, the struggles of programming. I think it'll be fixed, though.

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The soundtrack comes from 東方虹龍洞　～ Unconnected Marketeers, the 18th Touhou game. Featuring Reimu, Marisa, Sakuya, and Sanae, the game centers around "Ability Cards" that can be purchased over multiple playthroughs and equipped onto your character to grant various skills.

Song: Banditry Technology (バンデットリィテクノロジー)
Composer: ZUN
Image artist: Naufaldreamer
Image source: pixiv.net/en/artworks/88609407

UM Stage 2 Theme: The Cliff Hidden in Deep Green

Zenryaku 2021-03-25 | I like reading ZUN's music comments. He talks about some interesting stuff there that really helps you picture a scene to go with the music.
I've never gone hiking to mountains before, so it really is kind of an otherworld. It's something I'd like to try someday. But I'm lazy. More importantly, though, there's still a pandemic going around as I upload this. Let's all stay safe!

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The soundtrack comes from 東方虹龍洞　～ Unconnected Marketeers, the 18th Touhou game. Featuring Reimu, Marisa, Sakuya, and Sanae, the game centers around "Ability Cards" that can be purchased over multiple playthroughs and equipped onto your character to grant various skills.

Song: The Cliff Hidden in Deep Green (深緑に隠された断崖)
Composer: ZUN
Image artist: velocitron
Image source: pixiv.net/en/artworks/51179276

UM Mikes Theme: Kitten of Great Fortune

Zenryaku 2021-03-25 | Oh jeez, so all of the bosses are really out here selling cards and raking in the cash.
When the game was announced, I couldn't help but think about those news articles talking about how everyone's been buying Pokémon cards and driving up the prices.
Also, Mike's lore is great. She's living her best life in the mountains as a calico maneki-neko.

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The soundtrack comes from 東方虹龍洞　～ Unconnected Marketeers, the 18th Touhou game. Featuring Reimu, Marisa, Sakuya, and Sanae, the game centers around "Ability Cards" that can be purchased over multiple playthroughs and equipped onto your character to grant various skills.

Song: Kitten of Great Fortune (大吉キトゥン)
Composer: ZUN
Image artist: 羽々斬 / u_u_zan
Image source: twitter.com/u_u_zan/status/1373119272759685122

UM Stage 1 Theme: A Shower of Strange Occurrences

Zenryaku 2021-03-25 | It's stage 1, so we've got a very stage 1-like theme to go with it. The usual "start of an adventure" feeling, with a light shower to go along with it.
I like the rainbow appearing after the rain at the end of the stage; it's a really cool touch and plays off of the rainbow theming right off of the bat.

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The soundtrack comes from 東方虹龍洞　～ Unconnected Marketeers, the 18th Touhou game. Featuring Reimu, Marisa, Sakuya, and Sanae, the game centers around "Ability Cards" that can be purchased over multiple playthroughs and equipped onto your character to grant various skills.

Song: A Shower of Strange Occurrences (妖異達の通り雨)
Composer: ZUN
Image artist: ReA
Image source: pixiv.net/en/artworks/72764504

UM Title Theme: A Rainbow Spanning Gensokyo

Zenryaku 2021-03-25 | My grandma's deck contains no pathetic cards. But it does contain the unstoppable Hisoutensoku!

...Okay, seriously now: new Touhou, now with a deck building system! It's really cool seeing all sorts of characters and in-series items show up again through these trading cards.
Do get yourself the wolf card as soon as you can, though. The enemies are *really* tanky this time around. Overall the game seems balanced around making good use of the cards.
Also, music! It's a really laid-back, lazy sort of theme. It's really like that post-rainfall laziness that ZUN mentioned in the comments.

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The soundtrack comes from 東方虹龍洞　～ Unconnected Marketeers, the 18th Touhou game. Featuring Reimu, Marisa, Sakuya, and Sanae, the game centers around "Ability Cards" that can be purchased over multiple playthroughs and equipped onto your character to grant various skills.

Song: A Rainbow Spanning Gensokyo (虹の架かる幻想郷)
Composer: ZUN
Image artist: Naufaldreamer
Image source: pixiv.net/en/artworks/88120508

IBP Megumus Theme: Meridian-Splitting Reverse Scale ~ Dragons Dream

Zenryaku 2021-03-22 | And continuing the tradition of this game getting sniped by official ZUN works, we have a dragon with rainbows. Dragon larva, but still. I haven't read through the profiles and stuff yet, but I *think* her deal is that she bumped into Shuuu and Magura while sorta vibing her way through the underground. What luck.

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The soundtrack comes from 東方鬼葬剣　～ Infinite Blade Pavilion, a Touhou fangame by Kaisendo (海鮮堂).
You can download the game here:
freem.ne.jp/win/game/20533

Song: Meridian-Splitting Reverse Scale ~ Dragon's Dream (子午線を割る逆鱗　～ Dragon's Dream)
Composer: Ichita (壱太)
Portrait: ANMITA

IBP Extra Stage Theme: Ley Lines of the Underworld

Zenryaku 2021-03-22 | Ooh, foreboding. This song really nails the "extra stage" feel, with all the suspense you'd possibly want when exploring a mysterious blue cave. It's complete with super evil fairies that shoot walls of those flashing arrowhead bullets. Also, speaking of fairies, Snow Cordie is back... run.

Seriously. Her Overdrive spell is so ridiculous that my knuckles actually hurt from capturing it.

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The soundtrack comes from 東方鬼葬剣　～ Infinite Blade Pavilion, a Touhou fangame by Kaisendo (海鮮堂).
You can download the game here:
freem.ne.jp/win/game/20533

Song: Ley Lines of the Underworld (根の国のレイライン)
Composer: Mace (めいす)
Portrait: ANMITA

SHoSS Yamames Theme: The Sealed-Away Youkai

Zenryaku 2020-11-01 | Yamame is here! It's great to see ZUN and Tasofro aren't forgetting about early-game characters.
Speaking of which, it's nice to see some characters from the MoF-UFO era pop up again. Not all hope is lost for the characters who weren't part of the religious wars!

...My bets are on Murasa.

2021/10/24 Edit: HEY GUESS WHAT (AGAIN)

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The soundtrack comes from 東方剛欲異聞　～水没した沈愁地獄 (Touhou Gouyoku Ibun ~ Submerged Hell of Sunken Sorrow), the 17.5th Touhou game. Instead of a fighting game, the game is a single-player beat-'em-up based around fighting enemies while collecting water to perform hyper attacks.

Song: The Sealed-Away Youkai (封じられた妖怪)
Arranger: ziki_7
Image artist: SunnySideUp / サニーサイドアップ
Image source: pixiv.net/en/artworks/85320745

SHoSS Reimus Theme: Maidens Capriccio

Zenryaku 2020-11-01 | It took me a while to get these files but we're back with more fresh uploads. I haven't even had time to play the game.
I did hear they added a tutorial system but removed the water healing thing, so... I might have a tough time at this.
At least we're getting some nice remixes out of it, though.

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The soundtrack comes from 東方剛欲異聞　～水没した沈愁地獄 (Touhou Gouyoku Ibun ~ Submerged Hell of Sunken Sorrow), the 17.5th Touhou game. Instead of a fighting game, the game is a single-player beat-'em-up based around fighting enemies while collecting water to perform hyper attacks.

Song: Maiden's Capriccio (少女綺想曲)
Arranger: ziki_7
Image artist: ZIHO
Image source: pixiv.net/en/artworks/84419129

IBP Game Over Theme: Players Score

Zenryaku 2020-09-08 | I really like this take on the game over theme; it mixes in a little bit of Rebellion God Force and Tatara the Furnace, practically becoming its own song instead of just a repeat of the recurring Kanako leitmotif.

Also, no more obake! Please! I can't handle the three-frame deathbombs!

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The soundtrack comes from 東方鬼葬剣　～ Infinite Blade Pavilion, a Touhou fangame by Kaisendo (海鮮堂).
You can download the game here:
freem.ne.jp/win/game/20533

Song: Player's Score (プレイヤーズスコア)
Composer: NED
Portrait: ANMITA

IBP Staff Roll Theme: Oktoberfest in Naraka

Zenryaku 2020-09-08 | I suppose hell is a place to party with beer to your heart's content, so an Oktoberfest in Naraka would be... interesting, to say the least.
I like the reprise of the stage 4 theme; are credits themes in these fangames going to start doing that, just like they do in the mainline Touhou games? I wish this theme could have a proper loop though...

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The soundtrack comes from 東方鬼葬剣　～ Infinite Blade Pavilion, a Touhou fangame by Kaisendo (海鮮堂).
You can download the game here:
freem.ne.jp/win/game/20533

Song: Oktoberfest in Naraka (奈落のオクトーバーフェスト)
Composer: khirio (古山智之)
Portrait: ANMITA

IBP Ending Theme: Fortune Arrives With an Oni In, Too!

Zenryaku 2020-09-08 | This theme is very laid-back and feels autumn-y, in heavy contrast to the rest of the game which is all about ruining your day with aggressive danmaku (and also collecting the leaves of autumn). In the end, no matter how many misses Reimu takes, danmaku is still just a game.

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The soundtrack comes from 東方鬼葬剣　～ Infinite Blade Pavilion, a Touhou fangame by Kaisendo (海鮮堂).
You can download the game here:
freem.ne.jp/win/game/20533

Song: Fortune Arrives With an "Oni In, Too!" (鬼も内よで福来たる)
Composer: Hishimottie (緋子望)
Portrait: ANMITA

IBP Shuuus Theme: Rebel of the War Gods Five Weapons ~ REBELLION God Force

Zenryaku 2020-09-08 | Shuuu here is based on Chiyou, who according to Chinese mythology is the original creator of weapons as a concept. The theme follows that motif a little bit, but ultimately it's a Touhou theme so the Touhou-ness shines through most.

I still can't figure out how to consistently clear her final spell on the higher difficulties without clipping into the icicle bullets. 10/10, great theme to die repeatedly to in spell practice.

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The soundtrack comes from 東方鬼葬剣　～ Infinite Blade Pavilion, a Touhou fangame by Kaisendo (海鮮堂).
You can download the game here:
freem.ne.jp/win/game/20533

Song: Rebel of the War God's Five Weapons ~ REBELLION God Force (軍神五兵の反逆者　～ REBELLION God Force)
Composer: Wanwan
Portrait: ANMITA

IBP Stage 6 Theme: Steel is Born from Flame, and Returns to the Earth

Zenryaku 2020-09-08 | Wow, talk about climactic; this theme really fits the whole "descending onto an ominous platform littered with weapons, amidst a sea of fire" thing. It's an... infinite blade pavilion, if you will.

Also many sacrifices were made to make the image here. You don't want to know what I used to mockup the platform.

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The soundtrack comes from 東方鬼葬剣　～ Infinite Blade Pavilion, a Touhou fangame by Kaisendo (海鮮堂).
You can download the game here:
freem.ne.jp/win/game/20533

Song: Steel is Born from Flame, and Returns to the Earth (鋼は炎より生じて大地に還る)
Composer: Yoko Yasha (夜狐夜叉)
Portrait: ANMITA

IBP Kikyous Theme: Legend of Kikyouzuka ~ Black Ventus

Zenryaku 2020-09-08 | It's Masakado! She appeared in the endings of Mystical Power Plant if you were looking closely, and fittingly enough her theme sounds as if it came straight from that game. She's tagging along with the plan to revive the final boss mostly out of the kindness of her heart.

Apparently at one point she was intended as the final boss of Tri Focuser, along with the body of a seto-taisho?

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The soundtrack comes from 東方鬼葬剣　～ Infinite Blade Pavilion, a Touhou fangame by Kaisendo (海鮮堂).
You can download the game here:
freem.ne.jp/win/game/20533

Song: Legend of Kikyouzuka ~ Black Ventus (桔梗塚伝説　～ Black Ventus)
Composer: Wanwan
Portrait: ANMITA

IBP Stage 5 Theme: Tatara the Furnace

Zenryaku 2020-09-08 | A very spicy theme to get you pumped for the lategame. The stage locations in this game resemble SA a lot, I notice.

Also it was at around this point that I put a little bit too much effort into trying to make these images. The walls you see here were actually concrete pillars on a sky backdrop.

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The soundtrack comes from 東方鬼葬剣　～ Infinite Blade Pavilion, a Touhou fangame by Kaisendo (海鮮堂).
You can download the game here:
freem.ne.jp/win/game/20533

Song: Tatara the Furnace (タタラ・ザ・ファーネース)
Composer: NED
Portrait: ANMITA

IBP Maguras Theme: Starve Calamity

Zenryaku 2020-09-07 | We have a Taotie! With a cool theme that gives me Tortoise Dragon vibes. Also, Magura is completely unrelated to the taotie that will probably be in SHoSS. And she's... able to devour anything perceived as evil. So that's why nobody in the underground could deal with her.

Not that I can, either. What on earth is that final spell, and how am I supposed to shoot anything when the hands block all my bullets?

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The soundtrack comes from 東方鬼葬剣　～ Infinite Blade Pavilion, a Touhou fangame by Kaisendo (海鮮堂).
You can download the game here:
freem.ne.jp/win/game/20533

Song: Starve Calamity (スターヴカラミティー)
Composer: NED
Portrait: ANMITA