Koumajou Densetsu: Scarlet Symphony is not a new game. It is a remaster of a PC-only, Japanese title that originally debuted in 2009. It is back with a fresh coat of paint and alternate features to entice a new set of players. It’s coming back to PC along with the Switch as its first console port.
Will Koumajou Densetsu: Scarlet Symphony come out to other consoles after this? It depends on the success of the game now. Based on review feedback, the game might have a tough mountain to climb. There are certainly good parts about this remastered action platformer but other things make it feel like a 2009 game but in a bad way.
7 Best: The Retro Graphics
Koumajou Densetsu: Scarlet Symphony looks and sounds a lot like Castlevania: Symphony of the Night. The subtitle of Scarlet Symphony calls back to this Metroidvania classic as well as the cover art. Reimu looks a lot like Alucard on this cover which is a fun homage. The in-game model even has the same movement pattern and Reimu wields a whip like the Belmont clan’s sacred Vampire Killer.
The backgrounds aren’t as finely detailed as Symphony of the Night but they are decently varied from forests to libraries.
6 Worst: The Story
There isn’t much of a story to the game. Fans of the Touhou series may be able to scrape some meaning from the narrative but action platform enthusiasts who jumped in for the gameplay may be lost. It’s made for the fans which is great but it doesn’t go beyond that. The dialogue is also only in Japanese which is disappointing since this is a remaster.
Remasters should strive to be better than the original content and nothing about this latest version helps the story or audio out. There is a movie gallery which is a good accompaniment to any good remaster but unfortunately there isn’t much reason to relive these moments again.
5 Best: A Mixed Castlevania Experience
Koumajou Densetsu: Scarlet Symphony is a melding of two design ideas from the Castlevania franchise. The series began as action platformers that were level based. That is how this game operates as well, taking players from stage to stage with exciting bosses waiting at the end. Symphony of the Night changed things by introducing mechanics from Super Metroid along with implementing RPG elements like leveling up and equipment. This was how the Metroidvania genre was born.
Koumajou Densetsu: Scarlet Symphony existing as an in-between to both schools of thought is an interesting combination, to say the least. It looks like Symphony of the Night but plays like Castlevania 3: Dracula’s Curse which is great.
4 Worst: Brings Nothing New To The Table
As great as the combo is, Koumajou Densetsu: Scarlet Symphony not being a Metroidvania can also feel like a betrayal. The trailers show one thing but the game is different than what some players may expect. That’s not a real knock against the game as some players may prefer a staged-based action platformer experience to a true Metroidvania.
The real problem is that there isn’t much to the gameplay loop. Reimu starts and ends with two weapons and doesn’t get upgradable equipment either. Three bosses will join her, acting as sub-weapons but even that isn’t enough to make the overall mechanics stand out.
3 Best: Goes Beyond Assist Levels
The one feature of the game that does stand out from other action platformers is the difficulty levels and assist-like options. There are four difficulty settings ranging from Extra Easy to Hard. These settings will make enemies stronger, or weaker, and also dictate how much damage Reimu can take. Players can also adjust the number of extra lives they get ranging from three up to twenty.
Playing on Extra Easy with twenty lives should make the game a walk in the park. The only downside is that Koumajou Densetsu: Scarlet Symphony might be too easy, even with these settings cranked up.
2 Worst: Very Short And Expensive
The price of smaller indie games like this can range from $10 to $30. The last amount is how much the game costs and players might be thinking this is a meaty experience for that amount. Unfortunately, the game is not for a lot of reasons.
Players should be able to finish the game in about an hour or two as there are only eight stages. There are Challenges to tackle and some bonus content will unlock after beating the game, but those extras can only do so much. If the game was good on every level except for the price then this would be worth it but that isn’t the case here.
1 Best: Boss Battles
Koumajou Densetsu: Scarlet Symphony was derived from the Touhou series which began as a shoot 'em up or Shmup. It is no surprise then that the boss battles mirror the series’ origins. They can be extremely challenging as projectiles will blast from every direction. Practice makes perfect, and after learning the patterns of these bosses, they will go down quickly.
They can be exhilarating encounters which is what a boss battle should feel like. They don’t match the levels of intensity like from a Metal Gear boss fight but few games do. For what this game is, the matches are good and the designs aren’t too shabby either.
Koumajou Densetsu: Scarlet Symphony was re-released on July 28, 2022 and is available on PC and Switch.