Touhou Koumakyou: New Classic – the Embodiment of Scarlet Devil

Developer: 上海アリス幻樂団, 上海アリスReprise

Publisher: Alliance Arts

Release Date: 2026

September 10, 2026

Touhou Koumakyou: New Classic – the Embodiment of Scarlet Devil is a vertical-scrolling 2D shoot-’em-up built around one simple idea.

Touhou Koumakyou: New Classic - the Embodiment of Scarlet Devil

A Classic Bullet-Hell Adventure

The Scarlet Mist has covered Gensokyou, turning an already strange situation into a serious incident. To uncover what caused it, shrine maiden Reimu Hakurei and magician Marisa Kirisame set out to investigate. Their journey leads them toward a Western-style mansion that has appeared in the middle of the mist.

Survive an overwhelming storm of bullets while taking down everything in the way. The screen can quickly become packed with colorful patterns, leaving only narrow gaps for the player to slip through.

Both playable characters approach the fight differently. Reimu relies on strong evasion and broad attack coverage, while Marisa focuses on raw firepower. Their distinct shot types also change how each stage feels. Some attacks can track enemies automatically, whereas others reward getting directly in front of a target and pouring on the damage.

A new mode

This updated edition gives Touhou Koumakyou: New Classic – the Embodiment of Scarlet Devil a visual refresh with higher-resolution graphics and a remastered presentation. The music has also received a complete overhaul, with every track rearranged by ZUN.

There is another useful addition for players who simply want to enjoy the action without worrying about running out of lives: a new mode with unlimited lives. It makes Touhou Koumakyou: New Classic – the Embodiment of Scarlet Devil more approachable while still letting the familiar bullet patterns and intense encounters shine.

For those who prefer the original experience, the Classic version recreates the 2002 gameplay as closely as possible. Keep in mind that all text in this version is in Japanese.

Reimu and Marisa

Reimu Hakurei

Reimu is the shrine maiden of Hakurei Shrine. Her playstyle emphasizes avoiding enemy fire while covering a wide area with her attacks, making her a solid choice for players who prefer mobility and evasive play.

Marisa Kirisame

Marisa is a magician who lives in the Forest of Magic. Unlike Reimu, she takes a more aggressive approach, relying on powerful attacks and high damage output to deal with enemies.

Choosing between the two isn’t just a cosmetic decision. Their different shot styles can noticeably change the way stages and boss fights are handled.

Touhou Koumakyou: New Classic - the Embodiment of Scarlet Devil

Features of Touhou Koumakyou: New Classic – the Embodiment of Scarlet Devil:

Bomb types can be selected during character selection, and each one has its own behavior. They can make a big difference when the screen gets crowded, although their limited number of uses means they are best saved for situations where they really help.
Movement lets the character travel up, down, left, and right across the screen. The standard Shot button handles regular attacks, while the Bomb provides a much stronger special attack.
Focus Mode slows the character’s movement, giving much finer control when threading through tight bullet formations.
If playing with a gamepad, button assignments can be adjusted through Key Config in Touhou Koumakyou: New Classic – the Embodiment of Scarlet Devil’s Options menu.
Overall, The Embodiment of Scarlet Devil keeps the fast, demanding bullet-dodging action that made the original memorable while giving it a cleaner presentation and a few welcome additions. Whether the goal is to experience the updated version or get as close as possible to the 2002 release, there is plenty of frantic action packed into this classic Touhou adventure.