Touhou 15 Predictions

[steamcat]

Considering that almost all Touhou games are based of traditional Japanese mythology, with the exception of ones like SA, (TH14 = The Little Samurai who Sailed in a Noodle Bowl and Fought with a Needle/ TH8 = Princess Kaguya of the Moon) I'd consider looking at what traditional Japanese stories ZUN could build off of. I wouldn't mind seeing Urashima and the Kingdom Beneath the Sea being Touhou-fied.

[TrueShadow]

Urashima is already mentioned in SSiB.

Momotaro perhaps?

[Clarste]

The Kingdom Beneath the Sea is the Lunar Capital. Urashima got time-warped as part of a plot by Eirin to make sure no one would take his story seriously/discourage people from seeking out the Lunar Capital. It was the merciful option, since she was just going to kill him until Toyohime begged her not. Just another little bit of moon-sea symbolism.

[K+ ~ Bake-Danuki]

Phantasmagoria
Phantasm Boss - Watatsuki's
Mima
Playable:
Kogasa
Seija
Sekibanki
Murasa
Patchouli
Parsee

and the realization that Flandre is really Rumia in disguise

[qMyon]

Whatever it is, you can be certain there'll be plenty of explodoboomanation-nanigans going.

I could see the Japanese folk-tale stuff going, though. Or might he switch things up and go with some western folklore instead?

Or maybe a crossover of Uwabami Breakers?

[Gray21oh]

I would image if it's going to be all western it would be called Seihou. *ba dum tss*
I would image there will be a mixture of east and west for the next game and it does seem that it would be a likely approach. If anything I thought most of DDC's characters reminisced that of the PC-98 characters and I think the next few games could be reflecting upon the structure then.

Well obviously with a much more solid engine and without any eye straining palettes that obscure bullets.

[Zork787]

maybe Touhou 15 will be a Touhouification of the Legend of King Arthur?

As for teh bosses, we could have Excalibur Youkaiafied, personification's of the Knights and Arthru himself as well as The Lady of the Lake as the Extra boss although the Personified Excalibur could fill the extra stage boss roll as well, but that's just wishful thinking seeing as the Arthurian Legend is of Scottish Origin and I'm Scottish myself so yeah

[BL2W]

Not to shoot down the idea, but I've got a gut feeling that ZUN won't be doing a heavily Western Touhou game until one of the following two factors occurs:

1. ZUN runs out of Asian myths, legends, and stories to base his games off of (which I HIGHLY DOUBT will be happening any time soon, considering just how many I'm sure there are remaining)...

2. Something in or about the West grasps ZUN's attention so strongly that he feels the unbearable urge to turn it into a Touhou.

[Monkeypro257]

Not to shoot down the idea, but I've got a gut feeling that ZUN won't be doing a heavily Western Touhou game until one of the following two factors occurs:

1. ZUN runs out of Asian myths, legends, and stories to base his games off of (which I HIGHLY DOUBT will be happening any time soon, considering just how many I'm sure there are remaining)...

2. Something in or about the West grasps ZUN's attention so strongly that he feels the unbearable urge to turn it into a Touhou.

This I wish will happen. . .

Maybe ZUN will make an other Photography game that actually runs by stages like a regular Danmaku game?

[Failure McFailFace]

I have a new idea:

Instead of my idea being Touhou 15, it's 15.5: Peace and Chaos Border (PaCB)

Essentially, it's a spin-off game that is a boss rush of every single boss and midboss since EoSD.

Plot Point: Yukari accidentally destroyed the border between order and chaos and is too lazy to fix it, and all of the bosses start to attack Reimu and co., where they go to solve the incident.

Along with that, the bosses also have their respective game gimmicks: Yuyuko has cherry blossoms, Remilia has nothing at all, Byakeren has her UFO's, Miko's divine spirit desires, the Dwarf's autocollect-fragment-get, etc.

Yukari is the final boss. An embodiment of chaos is the EX boss.

Playable Characters:

• Reimu (Same as TD)
• Marisa (Same as TD)
• Sakuya (Unlockable, beat Sakuya in Story) (UF Same as PCB SakuyaA, F Same as DDC SakuyaA)
  
• Sanae (Unlockable, beat Sanae in Story) (Combination of UF TD and F IN)
• Youmu (Unlockable, beat Youmu in Story) (Same as TD)

All characters get their respective

And no, you don't get your partner system in IN or SA, due to the chaos in Gensyoko.

And no, the fighting games don't count, if they don't get danmaku patterns.


I'm really overthinking this.

[gitaaa]

Some setting that features Kasen.

[Alcoraiden]

I'd be so thrilled to see Touhou 14.5 as a photography game with PC98 folks. This would allow Mima, Shinki, Sariel, etc. to return without causing a big kerfuffle in a main game. ZUN already said he'd find it hard to bring some of the 98 folks back, meaning we'll probably not see them unless he throws them into a spinoff, so I can imagine him shutting the fandom up with this once and for all. Also I'd like to see Yuuka in a non-Phantasmagoria game so she can have actual spell cards; that'd be cool. He could even put in Genji as a joke if he wanted, there. So you'd have Sariel, Konngara, Shinki, Yuuka, Chiyuri/etc. (ye gods I know nothing about 3), Mima, Marisa, and little Alice if he's okay doing the time warp. (Or Alice not using dolls, whatever.)

Otherwise, Touhou 15...hmm. He seems to have exhausted his desire for historical basis (Shoutoku etc.), so I expect he'll stick to legends for a while. I'm guessing playable character #3 will either be Sanae or Sakuya, since he seems to like those; I'm not sure I foresee Youmu coming back as one.  Can't say which legend, though.

[Limian]

I'd be so thrilled to see Touhou 14.5 as a photography game with PC98 folks. This would allow Mima, Shinki, Sariel, etc. to return without causing a big kerfuffle in a main game. ZUN already said he'd find it hard to bring some of the 98 folks back, meaning we'll probably not see them unless he throws them into a spinoff, so I can imagine him shutting the fandom up with this once and for all. Also I'd like to see Yuuka in a non-Phantasmagoria game so she can have actual spell cards; that'd be cool. He could even put in Genji as a joke if he wanted, there. So you'd have Sariel, Konngara, Shinki, Yuuka, Chiyuri/etc. (ye gods I know nothing about 3), Mima, Marisa, and little Alice if he's okay doing the time warp. (Or Alice not using dolls, whatever.)

Eh, aside from not being a very realistic possibility, it would also seem very forced and unsatisfying to see all the PC-98 characters back without any explanation (and any dialogue!). I'd be happy to see them back, but ultimately, I would want them to make even more (and relevant!) appearances.
I could, however, see him make a photo game with TD/HM/DDC/th15 characters as 15.5, seeing as it would fit all of the numbering scheme (9.5 -> 12.5 -> 15.5), the release dates of the other photo games (December 2005/March 2010/late 2014?) and the number of characters (25/27+Hatate)/16 plus 7+ from th15, maybe the 3 fairies as well).

Otherwise, Touhou 15...hmm. He seems to have exhausted his desire for historical basis (Shoutoku etc.), so I expect he'll stick to legends for a while. I'm guessing playable character #3 will either be Sanae or Sakuya, since he seems to like those; I'm not sure I foresee Youmu coming back as one.  Can't say which legend, though.

Exhausted? TD has been the only strongly history-based game (with a bit for Yuyuko and Kokoro as well), and there's a lot more history he hasn't covered yet. Not sure why you think he's stopping there. That said, I find mythological creatures more charming than historical figures. :V There's something really fun about oni, lunarians, poltergeists, rokurokubi etc.

[Alcoraiden]

Eh, aside from not being a very realistic possibility, it would also seem very forced and unsatisfying to see all the PC-98 characters back without any explanation (and any dialogue!). I'd be happy to see them back, but ultimately, I would want them to make even more (and relevant!) appearances.

Except ZUN said that having them make relevant appearances was really hard. It seems like it wouldn't be as awkward to put them in a side thing, where they don't need explanation.

Exhausted? TD has been the only strongly history-based game (with a bit for Yuyuko and Kokoro as well), and there's a lot more history he hasn't covered yet. Not sure why you think he's stopping there. That said, I find mythological creatures more charming than historical figures. :V There's something really fun about oni, lunarians, poltergeists, rokurokubi etc.

Yeah, but he did three entire games about history. Byakuren is actually semi-historical; at least, her brother is, and she was mentioned but not named in an obscure text, I think. So 12, 13, and 13.5 are actively based around the historical folks. Once Miko sort of faded from the picture in 14, he went back to mythology, so I expect it to stay there.

[Haganeproductio]

It would be nice if characters from older games appeared (don't have to from PC98). Either as bosses or playable characters.

[nintendonut888]

Bees.

[Sedrife]

Since ZUN has admitted that his Touhou is inspiration from his life experience, I more than welcome if he dares to make his experience of North America from AWA integrated into his new Touhou.

[Maiden Synnae ミ☆]

Since ZUN has admitted that his Touhou is inspiration from his life experience, I more than welcome if he dares to make his experience of North America from AWA integrated into his new Touhou.

Not sure if I know how he'd integrate said experience in the next game. Maybe a few more western creatures, then?

[Ruka]

Not sure if I know how he'd integrate said experience in the next game. Maybe a few more western creatures, then?

I'd facepalm if I saw a Sasquatch yokai or something similar.

[Sedrife]

I'd facepalm if I saw a Sasquatch yokai or something similar.

Apparently on his way back, ZUN saw a fireball in the sky and twitted about it.

"夕飯の時のタクシーの運ちゃんが何か「あそこに火の玉が飛んでるぞ」みたいな事を言っててどうせ飛行機か何かだろうと思ってたが、今朝のTVでミステリアスファイヤーボールというニュースがやってた。アメリカはまだまだ謎に包まれている"

I was wondering what he was talking about, then I googled it and found out what it was: http://blog.al.com/wire/2013/09/fireball_seen_in_alabama_skies.html

If not Houjuu Nue prank, he might get some inspiration or two with the next Touhou or Music CD along with the topic of "Fireball from the Space".

[Clarste]

I could, however, see him make a photo game with TD/HM/DDC/th15 characters as 15.5, seeing as it would fit all of the numbering scheme (9.5 -> 12.5 -> 15.5), the release dates of the other photo games (December 2005/March 2010/late 2014?) and the number of characters (25/27+Hatate)/16 plus 7+ from th15, maybe the 3 fairies as well).

Well, rather than looking for an arbitrary numerical pattern, it's probably simpler to think of it in terms of how many characters are added. Apparently "about three games" is standard, although it's worth nothing that DS covered a few that were missed by StB, which could explain the difference there.

[Ibaraki]

I'd facepalm if I saw a Sasquatch yokai or something similar.

or a Cthulhu, if it counts.

[Monkeypro257]

I wouldn't mind new characters, but I think I will like it if at least 1 or 2 PC-98 characters came back but with a bit of different canon like Alice. (Mima plz. I'm thinking more of Sara, Yumemi, Elly and such.) I will love it even more if ZUN made another photography game, but with TD,DDC, Kokoro and any other character he missed from the pass.

[Alcoraiden]

Does Alice actually have different canon? We just know she started using tons of dolls, but she used dolls in Stage 3 of Mystic Square anyway. So...she could easily be the same person.

[Monkeypro257]

Well in that case it's just more canon. . . .I mostly mean from how Shinki created everything in Makai, yet how Alice was once Human and now living in the Forest of Magic.

We still have a chance for Lily White having a spell card!

[K+ ~ Bake-Danuki]

We still have a chance for Lily White having a spell card!

I second this, in addition to Koakuma, Daiyousei, and Momiji getting official art.

[Monkeypro257]

Sad that Suika, Iku, and Tenshi got rough designs if they were in a danmaku game, but Mid-stage bosses got nothing. -_-



He had time for these though. . .

[Darkness1]

Well in that case it's just more canon. . . .I mostly mean from how Shinki created everything in Makai, yet how Alice was once Human and now living in the Forest of Magic.

I'm not sure, but does it say in MS that Alice actually was created by Shinki? (I should probably read the translated dialogue/story somewhere.)
If not, It could still be possible that she was a human, even if she was in Makai.

[Szayelaporro Granz]

I wouldn't mind new characters, but I think I will like it if at least 1 or 2 PC-98 characters came back but with a bit of different canon like Alice. (Mima plz. I'm thinking more of Sara, Yumemi, Elly and such.) I will love it even more if ZUN made another photography game, but with TD,DDC, Kokoro and any other character he missed from the past.

Speaking about photography games, we still need to see Mystia and Yuuka yet. What if pacifist characters like Rinnosuke, Akyuu and/or Kasen appear? xD I can imagine Seija's photography spellcard will be hell for everyone.

[Failure McFailFace]

If ZUN makes a game about his trip to AWA 2013, I have a feeling that more "Western" youkai will be in it, along with the EX boss being another alien that came to Gensyoko via the Atlanta Fireball...