Formal Abstract Models, and Drama of MGS:TTS

Touhou Fuujinroku

Formal Abstract Models

Intension
In Touhou 10, or in any bullet curtain shooting game, players require complete focus and endurable stamina on the play screen. The reason is players are introduced in a rectangular shape area and must face huge amount of bullets coming at them in mathematical formations. But the intension is, in fact, very simple: hold the shoot key and dodge whatever you can and for as long as possible. I know those patterns are very fancy and beautiful, but they are meant for dodging, not for being watched like a painting in the museum.

Perceivable Consequence
We believe that the players who are brave enough to play this game is well aware that when the life count on the right-side of the screen reaches 0, the game is over and will be ask whether continue or not. For some hard-core players, "no continue" is the only option they have because they may want to see the good ending. As I have mentioned before this blog, there are unlimited amount of continues in Touhou 10, but for the non-hard-core players, practice is probably the only option they have.

Story
Before the release of every Touhou series, the author will make a special introduction website to explain the interface, game system, and of course, the story But telling the entire story will definitely make no one want to play the game no more. So the "story" here in the intro website is merely a prologue--- the reason why the main characters set off for the adventure.

Drama & Uncertainty
For the people who first time playing Touhou series, the first reaction they have towards the attack formation, from my observation, there are mainly two:
1. WTF
2. OM(F)G
and both are usually followed by "how do you pass this!!!????".
However, the people who have played before is not anywhere better. The real drama happens when you know and played a formation/spell over and over again and still unable to pass, the frustration is the element that has chance to make you another "keyboard crusher" and say the two words above. Why, just study and dodge the math formula then pass, you say? Well, from my experience, it's not the math formula that really kills you. Most spell in Touhou 10 generate random 10px by 10px round-shape bullets that fly out of no where, that is what make you pain the most.