Touhou Shinkirou ~ Hopeless Masquerade

[Resident Fascist]

http://en.touhouwiki.net/wiki/Hopeless_Masquerade

 

TH Wiki states that it will be released May 26th now, at Reitaisai 10. Speculation awaaaayyy. We only know 3 confirmed characters(Reimu, Marisa and Ichirin), assuming Byakuren and Miko will be in here too, probably another TD character, most likely Seiga. Other than that, the popularity meter and the Last Word mechanics look really intresting, as well as the faith mechanic, and yes, I'm seriously hype to see who is actually in the game, and with the way the current character portraits are, the rest of them will probably look really nice too.

 

 Strange, this reminds me of DBZ Budokai 3 for some reason. But anyway, it's under a month away, so I figured now would be a better time than any to make a topic for it.

 

[a bad post]

I definitely want to Miko in this, but I really want to see them add Satori and/or Koishi, and Flandre, because they haven't shown up since their debut games (Mystia would be nice to see too, just because I think the night sparrow design is really cool looking). They faith system looks very interesting, and I'm excited to see how Last Word works. 

[宇佐見 蓮子@C94]

Pretty much confirmed:

Reimu

Marisa

Ichirin

Miko 

Byakuren

Shou 

Sanae + Suwako & Kanako

Anyway, I really wish I live in Japan so I can go to the Reitasai, kiss ZUN's face repeteadly and buy the game, but that's just me wishing impossible things. 

So, this is the game that really got me excited for the last 7 months. I really like the fact that the sprites evolved from 16 bit mess to almost acceptable by modern standards. The gameplay from what I've seen is pretty good. Fluent animation, rich colours, interesting movesets and all that jazz. I'm really curious to see how the aforementioned characters work though. Maybe Byakuren has buff spells or something. That'd be really interesting.

 

Also, hopeful thinking maybe, but could we at least have all the cast from UNL to come back? I mean, those guys deserve respect y'know? And maybe throw in Kogasa too. Why? Because Surprise Motherf***er. 

[Resident Fascist]

ZUN should go make a game with the people who made Touhou Sky Arena. Also, I'll post my speculated full character list later.

 

Speculation List:

 

Confirmed:

Reimu

Marisa

Ichirin

 

New:

Miko (One of the game's primary focuses is the faith mechanic. This is practicially going to happen, like it or not.)

Byakuren (Same reasoning as Miko.)

Seiga (Generally one of the more intresting characters from Ten Desires. Overall I find most of them more forgettable, the game was good, but still. Seiga is one of the few that I feel deserves a second appearance. Mamizou also. Seiga would probably fight with Yoshika as a puppet character, however that would work with the flying mechanic, I don't know.)

Nue Houjuu (Personal bias here. One of my favorite characters in the whole series, although I'd settle for Murasa or Shou. Could focus on the 3 different "UFO" Colors to alter combos.)

Mokou (I'm aware ZUN has said in the past both Mokou and Kaguya were cut due to being it being hard to balance their movesets considering their immortality, but when you consider the fact that Yukari is far, far more powerful than both of them, and was playable trice in every one of the Touhou fighters, I don't see a reason this couldn't happen.)

Kaguya (See Mokou.)

New Character?

 

Returning:

All the Soku cast.

 

 How realistic this may be is uncertain, considering this runs on a new sprite engine, therefore meaning if they wanted to do this many characters, I would expect it to take a lot longer than 7 months. However, I have no idea how many people are working on this, if it's a big enough team it would work.
 

[宇佐見 蓮子@C94]

Well, here's my speculation so far (And not the obvious characters):

 

Sakuya (This probably fanboyism, but because Sakuya has become a standard in Touhou, it wouldn't be a surprise to see her come back)

Kanako (Faith wars, Kanako. See my point? High chance of appearing)

Youmu (She was in TD and the other Fighting Games. Makes sense for her to return.) 

Seiga (Maybe with Yoshika as support?) (One of the TD cast that has a high chance of returning. She was an interesting character and fans love her. High chance of appearing)

Futo (Miko's number 1 follower. If Byakuren can have Shou, Miko must have her Futo. High chance of appearing)  

Nue (She's a cool character and it would make sense plot-wise to see her appear because she's Byakuren's "follower". She was in UFO and TD and there's a chance of her appearing. Moderate chance of appearing)

Murasa (Need I say more? High chance of appearing) 

Yukari  (She has to be in there. Yukari is an icon of Touhou and leaving her out wouldn't be so nice.)

Patchy (More like wishful thinking than anything, really. Patch's a fan-favorite and she was in the other fighting games) 

Alice (See above)

Shikeiki (Well, there's an ongoing faith war in Gensokyo and someone has to set things straight. Maybe someone that is of higher authority than the others? Moderate chance of appearing)

Kasen (She maybe a Manga-only character, but she's spreading hermit-ism and the theme is faith wars, so it would make sense for her to appear. High chance of appearing)

Suika (See Yukari)

Aya (You can't leave Aya out. She's in all of the Touhou games since 10 one way or another.) 

Reisen (See Patchy)

Mokou (See Shard's explanation)

Remilia (See Yukari)

Kogasa (Surpise Motherf**ker)

Mystery new character (Maybe new final boss/EX boss) 

 

EDIT:

Found this. 

All of my want. (This is obv fake, but still so much want) 

[宇佐見 蓮子@C94]

Overlaying the banner and the cover of the game produces a silhouette. This is either: A new character, Koishi screwing with our minds, ZUN's attempt at hidden imagery or all of the above. Anyway, if this IS a new character, then I have to say she's looking pretty interesting. She seems to be holding a Pagoda (but the reflection shows a teapot?), an Uchiwa (Japanese fan) and has 2 floating things. I'm thinking Hannya masks though. Maybe they're lanterns, danmaku or something else. 

[Resident Fascist]

Overlaying the banner and the cover of the game produces a silhouette. This is either: A new character, Koishi screwing with our minds, ZUN's attempt at hidden imagery or all of the above. Anyway, if this IS a new character, then I have to say she's looking pretty interesting. She seems to be holding a Pagoda (but the reflection shows a teapot?), an Uchiwa (Japanese fan) and has 2 floating things. I'm thinking Hannya masks though. Maybe they're lanterns, danmaku or something else. 

 

I almost see Miko sleeves like Reimu's and Sanae's. That is most definately a person/humanoid figure, though. Just above that, I see almost like armor...? If so, have some really cool armor on their left shoulder (it doesn't appear to be present on the right, however.) Of course, it could be MIMA REINCARNATED nothing and I'm over thinking things. also, coming out at reitaisai 10 is also this, supposedly:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pEFsPi2599w

Supposedly the second episode of Memories of Phantasm.

[a bad post]

I almost see Miko sleeves like Reimu's and Sanae's. That is most definately a person/humanoid figure, though. Just above that, I see almost like armor...? If so, have some really cool armor on their left shoulder (it doesn't appear to be present on the right, however.) Of course, it could be MIMA REINCARNATED nothing and I'm over thinking things. also, coming out at reitaisai 10 is also this, supposedly:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pEFsPi2599w

Supposedly the second episode of Memories of Phantasm.

The only other full length memories is the Perfect Cherry Blossom one right?

Anyway for the banner, the silhouette's lower right arm thing reminds me a little of Yuyuko. Another thing they could be is Will-O-Wisps. On the sleaves part, she could be another shrine maiden or something? 

[Resident Fascist]

The only other full length memories is the Perfect Cherry Blossom one right?

 

Yes. Can't wait till Reitaisai tbh so we can see the full game.

[vla1ne]

Apparently word of developers is that anybody in the background of a stage will not be playable, so I guess Nue, Murasa, Nazrin, Remilia, Sakuya, Yukari, Chen, Ran, Suika, Yuugi, Keine, Mokou, Eirin, Kaguya, Reisen, Tewi, Rinnosuke (cries manly tears), Shou(did NOT see that coming), Medicine, Yuyuko, Youmu, Yoshika, Seiga, Cirno, and the Prismriver sisters (I think they were in the ships background) won't be playable.

I might be wrong though, but seeing as the most relevant characters to the game haven't been seen in any stage yet, that news might help narrow down the roster a bit. not that I'm saying everyone who doesn't show up is gonna be in the game though.

[宇佐見 蓮子@C94]

New Challengers Arrive To Battle!

 

[spoiler=Yes! New Characters are leaked!]

[spoiler=New Character #1]

[/spoiler]

[spoiler=New Character #2]

 

[/spoiler]

[spoiler=New Character #3]

[/spoiler]

[/spoiler]

 

[spoiler=My opinions on the design]

On Futo's case, there is really nothing to say. She looks identical to her appearance in TD except maybe her skirt is much shorter. She kinda reminds me of a Futo I saw in a doujin involving Futo learning the meaning of s*x with Seiga. And yeah, the sprite really looks derpy. She looks like a man cosplaying as Futo instead of her. Hopefully TasoFro fixes it within a week. Probably not because ZUN said the game is pretty much done.

 

As for Hijiri, well, I kinda like the new design. She seems less old hag-ish and prettier. Also, I figured her fighting style would involve punches and kicks. Maybe her Last Word is that Buddha Palm attack from Kung Fu Hustle? Hey, I can guess, right?

 

With Miko, well, I only have 3 words. That. F**king. Cape. It just looks so badass and impractical at the same time, just like every other cloak wearing character in a videogame ever. Sadly, we don't have the alphes art of her, but I'm sure they're working on it. By them I mean the guys who try to uncover as much info as possible, not alphes themselves.  Found it. Yeah. She looks more badass than ever. Basically, she just surpassed Toyohime in my top Touhou characters list and is now #1. Thank you ZUN and alphes for blessing us with this glorious design. 

[/spoiler] 

[vla1ne]

[spoiler='this']Nitori's also playable now!

SNAAAAKE!!

[/spoiler]

[宇佐見 蓮子@C94]

My jaw just dropped in surprise. I kinda expected to see a "Surprise Motherf*cker" character, but I never expected Nitori. Apparently the Moriya crew, Aya and the Shizuha sisters are in the background of her stage, so they're not playable? What a surprise. 

 

is it just me or Nitori's new design looks a lot like Miku?

[Resident Fascist]

Background characters may be playable, the backgrounds may change depending on the characters.

[vla1ne]

Background characters may be playable, the backgrounds may change depending on the characters.

true, but so far nothing is hinting at that. I hope it happens though, because Shou and Byakuren were gonna be my mains... until Nitori took shous place in my slot. the only thing that could possibly surprise me now is if Yumemi came back from the PC-98 abyss... FOR SCIENCE!!!

[Resident Fascist]

[vla1ne]

There's a decent chance that she might be the next character to be shown, ZUN said he wanted to give her some more screen time to compete with Aya's popularity. After Nitori's reveal, and the fact that she's not in any background, she has a fair chance of making it into this weeks reveal session.

 

My hopes however, are that the Nitori's reveal leads to Hina becoming relevant so that I can play the original Beyblade theme during matches

[Resident Fascist]

Considering Hatate is one of the few characters to be in a game and not really have any sort of backstory, I'd say it'd be high time.

[宇佐見 蓮子@C94]

To Liselotte: 

GOOD NEWS

 

Guess who's playable? That's right, it's your favorite Freudian Mind-reader!

[spoiler=This is awesome on a higher level]

 

 

[/spoiler]

 

Now with 80% more roses, apparently. Her eyes are sort of... glowing, so that's massively weird. She seems to be shorter-ish, a bit taller than Nitori, possibly the same height as Futo or something. 

Although, I did kinda want Koishi to appear in the form of her appearance in RED-SIGHT's Koishi or the one in Subterranean Rose PV, you know, the one with the sexy detached sleeves. 

[a bad post]

To Liselotte: 
GOOD NEWS
 
Guess who's playable? That's right, it's your favorite Freudian Mind-reader!
[spoiler=This is awesome on a higher level]

 
 
[/spoiler]
 
Now with 80% more roses, apparently. Her eyes are sort of... glowing, so that's massively weird. She seems to be shorter-ish, a bit taller than Nitori, possibly the same height as Futo or something. 
Although, I did kinda want Koishi to appear in the form of her appearance in RED-SIGHT's Koishi or the one in Subterranean Rose PV, you know, the one with the sexy detached sleeves. 

~<3 F*ck YES!!!

This could make-up for everyone whose (maybe) not playable. Though I'm on a school computer so I can't open the spoiler until I get home ;~;

[vla1ne]

Almost all hope for a playable hatate has been killed. according to the demo game code, mamizou and a currently unnamed boss are going to be the last two characters in this game. sadly, even her chances at being a background character are feeling slim right now.

 

also[spoiler='because I'm a horrible person']

they're fake, but I just felt like showing them

 [/spoiler]

[a bad post]

Wait just a second, but that would leave less playable characters than in IaMP. They wouldn't do that, especially since they've been expanding the amount of playables every fighting game, right? 

[vla1ne]

This game runs on a new engine, so they had to create all the new sprites from scratch, and the background characters are a nice addition, so I'm not too mad about it... even though Meiling isn't there :(

The total for this game will still be 10 characters like IaMP, and there's still the possibility of additional downloadable characters, although I hope they don't hurt another characters reputation by making them a joke

[宇佐見 蓮子@C94]

Keep in mind that the Mamizou data is from the original Comiket 83 demo, so things might have changed since. Possibilities of more playable characters aren't out of the question yet.
The fact that TasoFro haven't updated worries me though... I wonder what happened?

[vla1ne]

The fact that TasoFro haven't updated worries me though... I wonder what happened?

 

this might be due to possibly only having 10 characters, but over at Shrinemaiden it was said there wont be ant more updates till the date (or day before?) of release.