 | This articlerelies excessively onreferences toprimary sources. Please improve this article by addingsecondary or tertiary sources. Find sources: "Subterranean Animism" – news ·newspapers ·books ·scholar ·JSTOR(March 2021) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
| Subterranean Animism | |
|---|---|
 Original CD-ROM cover with a silhouette ofUtsuho Reiuji | |
| Developer(s) | Team Shanghai Alice |
| Publisher(s) | Team Shanghai Alice |
| Composer(s) | Team Shanghai Alice |
| Series | Touhou Project |
| Platform(s) | Windows |
| Release | |
| Genre(s) | Bullet hell,scrolling shooter |
| Mode(s) | Single-player |
Touhou Chireiden ~ Subterranean Animism (Japanese:東方地霊殿 ～ Subterranean Animism,lit. "Eastern Palace of the Earth Spirits") is the eleventh main game of theTouhou Projectbullet hellscrolling shooter video game series byTeam Shanghai Alice. The game was released on August 16, 2008, during the 74thComiket.
Subterranean Animism is a vertically scrollingshoot 'em up game in which the player has to navigate through a total of six stages, while killing enemies and dodging their projectiles.[1] Each stage contains two bosses, with large amounts of health and complex attack patterns called spell cards, that the player must defeat before advancing. The player can also use their own spell cards, which clear the screen of bullets and give temporary invulnerability, using the same system fromMountain of Faith wherein usage of a spell card will consume some of the player's shot power, which is replenished by picking up power-ups from killed enemies. However, unlikeMountain of Faith, the player spell cards inSubterranean Animism offer different properties depending on the player character.
The player gains points by killing enemies, collecting point items, capturing spell cards,[2] and, of particular importance inSubterranean Animism, grazing bullets.[3] The player will receive one extra life upon collecting 5 Life Pieces, one of which drops after each spell card beaten without losing a life.
ZUN has said that he believesSubterranean Animism is one of the more difficultTouhou games, suggesting that the game's Hard Mode is comparable to Lunatic in other installments,[4] and that not all players should expect to clear the game on the higher difficulties.[5]
During Gensokyo's winter, ageyser erupts, close to the Hakurei Shrine, which caused various spirits from Hell to emerge. Patchouli Knowledge, who had previously read of a "power that was uncontrollable by the likes of theyōkai from above ground", warns Yukari Yakumo, who convinces Reimu to go underground and investigate.[6]
The creation of the geyser was instigated byKanako Yasaka, who convinced the Hell ravenUtsuho Reiuji to consumeYatagarasu (a mythical crow and guiding god inShinto mythology) and acquire the power ofnuclear fusion. Kanako planned to use Hell as a source of nuclear energy, which raised the level of heat in Hell, causing the geyser eruption. Though the proliferation of nuclear energy would have given Gensokyo more energy, Reimu defeats Utsuho, and returns Gensokyo to its normal state. Utsuho explains that nuclear energy was desirable due to its ability to powerhot springs at the right temperature.[7]
Subterranean Animism has two playable characters, Reimu and Marisa, each of whom can choose one of three partners, that will give special abilities.
Background characters:
Subterranean Animism was released on August 16, 2008, at C74. The game was released onSteam on June 6, 2020, alongsideMountain of Faith andUndefined Fantastic Object.[9]
Game Rant consideredSubterranean Animism to be the second bestTouhou game, writing that it "takes intensity to a whole new level", and that it was not the most accessible game for beginners due to its difficulty.[10]
On Steam, 97% of user reviews were positive.[11] OnGameSpot, the game had an average score of 9.5/10.[12]
