/jp/ - Otaku Culture

Do you like ZUN? I've been a big Team Shanghai Alice fan ever since the release of their 2002 game, Embodiment of Scarlet Devil. Before that, I really didn't understand any of their work. Too artsy, too intellectual. It was on ESD where ZUN's presence became more apparent. I think Imperishable Night was the group's undisputed masterpiece. It's an epic meditation on intangibility. At the same time, it deepens and enriches the meaning of the preceding three games. Reimu, take off your hakama. Listen to the brilliant Phantom Ensemble by ZUN. You can practically hear every nuance of every instrument. Marisa, remove your dress. In terms of danmaku craftsmanship, the sheer programming, this game hits a new peak of professionalism. Marisa, why don't you, uh, spark a little.Take the danmaku in Phantasmagoria of Flower View. In PoFV, ZUN addresses the problems of the stage bosses abusing spellcards. Yuka is the one of the most difficult bosses in any of the games, with difficult and intuitive danmaku and hard to handle spellcards. The game is extremely uplifting to win in Lunatic Mode. It's danmaku are as original and hard to graze as anything I've ever imagined. Reimu, glift up your arms so Marisa can see your armpits. ZUN's solo career seems to be more commercial and therefore more satisfying, in a narrower way. Especially games like In the Shoot the BUllet and Scarlet Weather Rhapsody. Marisa, don't just stare at it, lick it. But I also think ZUN works best within the confines of the group, than as a solo artist, and I stress the word artist. This is Odenpa Love Girl, a great, great song, a personal favorite.