Touhou LostWord
{{Short description|2020 role-playing video game}}
{{Infobox video game
| title = Touhou LostWord
| developer = NextNinja
| publisher = Good Smile Company
| genre = Role-playing video game, gacha
| released = {{vgrelease|JP|April 30, 2020
|TW/HK/MO|October 26, 2020
|WW|May 11, 2021
|CHN|September 30, 2021}}
| image = Touhou LostWord cover.jpg
| modes = Singleplayer
}}
Touhou LostWord ({{langx|ja|東方LostWord、東方ロストワード}}) is a free-to-play mobile Touhou fangame developed in 2020 by NextNinja, and published by Good Smile Company. The game is licensed by Team Shanghai Alice, the publisher of the official Touhou games.{{Cite web|last=Nelson|first=Jared|date=2021-06-02|title=Out Now: 'Overboard!', 'Memory Stamps', 'Super Slime Rush', 'Kingsense', 'Infinite Lagrange', 'Psychofunk', 'flocks', 'Catopia: Rush', 'Hellrule', 'Touhou LostWord' and More|url=https://toucharcade.com/2021/06/02/best-new-iphone-games-june-3rd/|access-date=2021-06-03|website=TouchArcade|language=en-US}}
Gameplay
File:Touhou_LostWord_gameplay.jpg
Touhou LostWord is a role-playing video game in which the player creates a party, consisting of six characters.{{Cite web|date=2019-07-03|title=Gameplay|url=https://global.touhoulostword.com/gameplay/|access-date=2021-05-31|website=Touhou LostWord|language=en}} The player must defeat waves of enemies in turn-based battles, located within stages, in order to progress forwards and unlock new stages.{{Cite web|title=Touhou LostWord Global Press Release|url=https://en.touhougarakuta.com/news-en/touhou-lostword-global-press-release/|access-date=2021-06-03|website=Touhou Garakuta|language=en}}
Each of the characters have a total of six attributes that determine their combat effectiveness: HP, agility, yin attack, yin defense, yang attack, and yang defense. Additionally, each of the characters have multiple spell cards, which can be used multiple times per stage, and one last word – the last words are more powerful than the regular spell cards, but if they are used, regular spell cards can no longer be used that stage.
Story cards are items that can be equipped to further empower spell cards, as well as improve the characters' attributes. Characters can also level up by engaging in services, such as attending a school or dojo. Completing these services will earn the player coins, which can be used to upgrade their characters, or acquire new ones. Services are also a primary source of spirit power – the game version of gacha stamina, which is required to perform any task in the game. As part of the game's gacha system, the player can purchase coins and spirit power through in-app purchases.{{Cite web|last=Nguyen|first=Lisa|date=2020-11-22|title=Good Smile Company And NextNinja Announce Touhou Lost Word Global Mobile RPG {{!}} Happy Gamer|url=https://happygamer.com/good-smile-company-and-nextninja-announce-touhou-lost-word-global-mobile-rpg-94021/|access-date=2021-06-03|website=HappyGamer|language=en-US}}
Plot
{{Main|Touhou Project#Plot}}
In Touhou LostWord, the "Lost Word Incident" occurs, causing words to go missing, which threatens the stability of Gensokyo,{{Cite web|title=TOUHOU LOSTWORD LAUNCHES GLOBAL SERVICE TODAY|url=https://www.gamasutra.com/view/pressreleases/381206/TOUHOU_LOSTWORD_LAUNCHES_GLOBAL_SERVICE_TODAY.php|access-date=2021-06-03|website=Gamasutra|language=en}} and leads the characters to investigate{{Cite web|date=2021-05-11|title=Touhou Lost Word global will launch today|url=https://www.gamerbraves.com/touhou-lost-word-global-will-launch-today/|access-date=2021-06-03|website=GamerBraves|language=en-US}} by travelling across multiple different universes to find the lost words.
Development
Pre-registration of the Japanese version of Touhou LostWord began in July 2019,{{Cite web|last=Luster|first=Joseph|title=Touhou LostWord Mobile RPG Prepares For Long-Awaited Debut|url=https://www.crunchyroll.com/en-gb/anime-news/2019/07/19-1/touhou-lostword-mobile-rpg-prepares-to-make-worldwide-debut|access-date=2021-06-03|website=Crunchyroll|date=19 July 2019|language=en-gb|archive-date=2021-11-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211102154859/https://www.crunchyroll.com/en-gb/anime-news/2019/07/19-1/touhou-lostword-mobile-rpg-prepares-to-make-worldwide-debut|url-status=dead}} and the game was released in Japan on April 30, 2020.{{Cite web|last=Sherman|first=Jennifer|title=Touhou LostWord Smartphone RPG Gets Global Version|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2020-10-30/touhou-lostword-smartphone-rpg-gets-global-version/.165782|access-date=2021-06-03|website=Anime News Network|language=en}} In October, the game's international release was announced, which coincided with the launch of the game's website and social media accounts.{{Cite web|title=Good Smile Company and NextNinja Announce the Start of the Global Pre-registration for Touhou Lost Word|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/press-release/2020-10-29/good-smile-company-and-nextninja-announce-the-start-of-the-global-pre-registration-for-touhou-lost-word/.165734|access-date=2021-06-03|website=Anime News Network|language=en}} Touhou LostWord opened for international pre-registration in November 2020, and was released on May 11, 2021. A Simplified Chinese version of the game has been released on September 30, 2021.{{Cite web |title=弾幕RPG「東方LostWord」中国語簡体字版の配信を開始し、50万ダウンロードを突破！ {{!}} NextNinja {{!}} IDEA OF INFINITY |url=https://nextninja.net/news/2021/10/05/2515/ |website=nextninja.net |date=2021-10-05 |access-date=2022-04-27 |language=ja |archive-date=2022-04-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220427233314/https://nextninja.net/news/2021/10/05/2515/ }}
The game's opening song, "Lost Word Chronicle", was performed by Kanako Itō, and had been watched over 5 million times on YouTube by May 2021. Other musicians who have performed for Touhou LostWord include Toshihiko Tahara,{{Cite web|author=Natasha Inc.|title=田原俊彦が「東方LostWord」の楽曲を歌唱（動画あり）|url=https://natalie.mu/music/news/430471|access-date=2021-06-03|website=音楽ナタリー|language=ja}} nano, and Kishida Kyoudan & The Akeboshi Rockets.{{Cite web|date=2021-02-26|title=nano collaborates with RPG game "Touhou LostWord"|url=https://jrocknews.com/2021/02/nano-touhou-lostword-kisida-kyodan-the-akebosi-rockets.html|access-date=2021-06-03|website=JRock News|language=en-US}}
Reception
Touhou LostWord was a runner-up in the 2020 Google Play 'Exciting' award, losing to Dragon Quest Tact.{{Cite web|last=Stenbuck|first=Kite|date=2020-12-01|title=Google Play Best Game of 2020 in Japan Won By Genshin Impact|url=https://www.siliconera.com/genshin-impact-wins-google-play-best-game-of-2020-in-japan/|access-date=2021-05-31|website=Siliconera|language=en-US}} On June 3, 2021, TouchArcade listed Touhou LostWord as one of the best App Store games released the previous week.
References
External links
- [https://touhoulostword.com Official website] (in Japanese)
- [https://global.touhoulostword.com Global Official website]
{{Touhou Project}}
Category:Video games developed in Japan
Category:Free-to-play video games
Category:Turn-based strategy video games