Koumajou Remilia: Scarlet Symphony

Any fan of Japanese gaming, and we could add anime, has at least heard of Touhou Project Franchise, but it has expanded so much and grew so big that some of the games are completely different from the original idea. There are a lot of Touhou Project games, and one of the ones that was released back in 2009 was Koumajou Remilia: Scarlet Symphony. Well, at the Indie Live Expo 2021 it was been presented again as an updated release. So, what is this game all about and what makes it so different? Well let's talk about it!

About the game

Koumajou Remilia: Scarlet Symphony is a game that was originally developed by Frontier Aja and released in 2009. It is a classic metroidvania that will now be completely remastered with high-definition graphics and additional contents. In it we will play as Reimu Hakurei, who must enter a gigantic castle to find the source of the evil and misfortunes that plague Gensokyo. Of course, on our way there will be all kinds of enemies, dangers, traps and obstacles that we will have to face to achieve our goal.

Along with this announcement, a brief trailer of just 20 seconds has been distributed in which you can take a look at how this remastering looks like. Additionally, it will give you an idea of its gameplay.

A blast from the past

Do you miss a good Castlevania game? Don't worry, because Koumajou Remilia, a 2D action platformer being developed by Frontier Aja and to be distributed by CFK. Koumajou Remilia: Scarlet Symphony is based on characters from Banpai Akira's Touhou saga. It features a gothic aesthetic and alternating 2D dialogue with a side-scrolling action experience.

Like Castlevania, this title features vampiric elements, metroidvania game mechanics and RPG touches. The story introduces us to a hero, Gensokyo, who will have to stop the Scarlet Mist. Our hero will be able to use different weapons (upgradeable) to defeat enemies. There will be aerial threats, final bosses, platforming stages and a careful narrative of dark fantasy.

Of course, it should be noted that it is only announced for Japan, so we do not know if it will come to the West. CFK has announced a physical version for Switch, which includes the soundtrack, an art book, illustrations by Banpai Akira and a beautiful acrylic plate.

This game is a lot like the classic Castlevania game, especially titles like Castlevania Symphony of the Night, since you can change so many weapons and special abilities. In addition, we can fight against the undead and other monsters with unique abilities.

Review: 8.5/10

Koumjou Remilia: Scarlet Symphony is a solid game, it's like a real comeback of the Castlevania franchise. Even games that were supposed to be literally the comeback of the real Castlevania spirit such as Bloodstained didn't get the formula this well. Overall Koumjou Remilia: Scarlet Symphony is a very entertaining game, its gameplay will be immediately familiar to those who enjoy the Castlevania games. The art style is super consistent with the genre, and the new and improved visuals and added content make this much better than when it was first released back in 2009.

Pros:

• Great art
• Solid Gameplay
• Nostalgic yet new
• Good challenge

Cons:

• The music is not up there with the rest of the game
• A little slow lore