During the June 9 Nintendo Direct broadcast, the official Touhou Project doujin game circle "Shanghai Alice Reprise" officially announced Touhou Koumakyou: Shinten ~ the Embodiment of Scarlet Devil. This marks the first remake of the 2002 bullet-hell shooter, Touhou Koumakyou ~ the Embodiment of Scarlet Devil., and it's slated for a September 10 release on Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5, and Steam.
Touhou Koumakyou ~ the Embodiment of Scarlet Devil. was a vertical bullet-hell shooter released in 2002 by "Team Shanghai Alice." It was the 6th installment in the Touhou Project and the first in the series to launch on Windows. It also marked ZUN's first game release under the "Team Shanghai Alice" moniker.
One of the biggest highlights of Touhou Koumakyou: Shinten ~ the Embodiment of Scarlet Devil. is that it packs two distinct versions for players to dive into:
New Classic Version
This is the fully re-envisioned remake of Touhou Koumakyou. Not only have the visuals and music been completely revamped, but it also introduces a slew of new features and systems, including 1080p high-resolution support, an infinite continue system for endless challenges, and various fresh gameplay elements.
What's more, all in-game BGM has been personally re-arranged by Touhou Project creator, ZUN himself!
Classic Version
As for the Classic version, it aims to faithfully recreate the original 2002 Touhou Koumakyou experience as much as possible. This lets veteran players relive the pure bullet-hell charm of yesteryear, while giving newcomers a chance to experience the game's initial form.
▼ Check out the first trailer for Touhou Koumakyou: Shinten ~ the Embodiment of Scarlet Devil.
The official announcement also revealed the formation of a new circle, "Shanghai Alice Reprise," specifically for the development of Touhou Koumakyou: Shinten ~ the Embodiment of Scarlet Devil.
While further details are still under wraps, this news has sparked considerable excitement among Touhou fans, who are now eagerly wondering if more classic remakes or new projects are on the horizon.
As the first Touhou Project title for the Windows era, Touhou Koumakyou not only laid the groundwork for the series' future but also introduced iconic characters like Reimu Hakurei, Marisa Kirisame, and Sakuya Izayoi. Now, over two decades after its initial release, this first official remake is undoubtedly a monumental moment for countless Touhou fans.