Touhou Luna Nights is a Metroidvania-like side-scrolling action game developed by Team Ladybug and published by PLAYISM. The title is an indie game based on the Touhou series of shoot’em ups. In the game the player takes the role of Sakuya Izayoi, a maid and enforcer for Remilia Scarlet, is sent by her mistress to another universe. There she will face a slew of youkai – demons possessing tremendous powers – using her trusty knives and time-manipulating powers. Luna Nights received positive reviews from critics for combining a competent Metroidvania beat’em up mechanics with typical Touhou flair.
Metroidvania gameplay
T: LN combines the gameplay features characteristic for Metroidvania games and adds several mechanics that fans of the Touhou series will recognize immediately. The player controls Sakuya Izayoi, the main character, on six 2D stages, facing common youkai enemies and powerful bosses.
Sakuya, the servant of a powerful vampire lady Remilia Scarlet, possesses the power to slow down or totally stop time. The player can use this power to render enemies motionless, making them easy targets for conventional combos. The time-manipulating powers will also come in handy while proceeding through stages, slowing the time down to avoid traps and other obstacles.
Story in another dimension
My name is Sakuya Izayoi, chief maid serving Lady Remilia Scarlet of the Scarlet Devil Mansion. My tasks in the mansion are simple: maintaining order, peace, and quiet, so that Milady can enjoy herself unburdenedwith trivialities like making her own bed or cooking dinner. Sometimes, Milady will task me with…special missions.These missions have me unleash my true potential. With my time stopping powers and skills with knives, I amunstoppable. So when Lady Remilia sent me to this alternate dimension, I did hesitate. I know that she trusts me tocomplete my task and I will not fail her. No matter what stands in my way in this new world, I will seeRemilia Scarlet's will is done!
Reception
Touhou Luna Nightsreceived positive reviews from critics and gamers. Reviewers praised the details and complexity of Team Ladybug’s title, combining the beat’em up gameplay and Touhou aesthetics. Among the superlatives, the critics noted the time-manipulating mechanics as one of the mains selling points of the game. The players also received the game positively, praising the Metroidvania-style action and rewarding difficulty level. Altogether, T: LN was highly recommended for all the fans of Touhou games as well as those who enjoy sidescrolling fighting games.
Key features:
- Metroidvania meets Touhou! Enter the world og Touhou Luna Nights and enjoy an epic combination of beat’em up and shoot’em up game.
- Sakuya Izayoi, maid to kill! – Sakuya is ruthless and talented with knives, which make her a perfect servant of vampiric Remilia Scarlet.
- Story of a parallel world – enter a new dimension with Sakuya and face youkai waiting on six beautifully designed stages.
- Time-stopping mechanics – use Sakuya’s time powers to slow down or stop time, making fights and traversal easier.
- Feast for the eyes – watch the world explode into millions of colors as you unleash powerful attack.
