HRtP: Which path do you think is harder, or more canon?

[Spidere]

I know neither of these really matter, but I'm wondering your opinion. I think Makai is harder and more canonish.

Your thoughts?

[Iryan]

Makai is harder by far.

Ok, Jigoku has Kikuri whose first phase is possibly the hardest attack in the game, but all other Jigoku bosses are easier than the respective Makai bosses. Also, Stage 19. Just... Stage 19.


Canon? Well, I'd say Makai.
Why?
Because the Jigoku ending whatisthisidonteven?!

[trancehime]

Makai is harder by far.

Ok, Jigoku has Kikuri whose first phase is possibly the hardest attack in the game, but all other Jigoku bosses are easier than the respective Makai bosses. Also, Stage 19. Just... Stage 19.


Canon? Well, I'd say Makai.
Why?
Because the Jigoku ending whatisthisidonteven?!

Jigoku on Lunatic has more bullshit, therefore it's harder than Makai on Lunatic by default.

Makai's difficulty is systematic, therefore it can be bested more easily than Jigoku via practice. The Jigoku route on lower difficulties, though, are in fact easier than Makai on similar difficulties, so I can't completely contest you there. Lunatic, however, is a completely different affair, and it's harder to compare the two in terms of which is harder. If you're going by Normal, then yeah, Makai is I suppose harder.

[Iryan]

I was going by Lunatic, actually. Not having 1cc'd the stuff doesn't mean that I didn't beat the game in both routes on lunatic several times.  :V

You might have a point in that the non-boss stages of Jigoku are harder than the Makai ones in general, especially on lunatic, but what matters the most in the end is the final stages. And there, well...

-Sariel is (usually) much harder than Konngara
-You effortlessy get max lives in Jigoku stage 19

[trancehime]

You might have a point in that the non-boss stages of Jigoku are harder than the Makai ones in general, especially on lunatic, but what matters the most in the end is the final stages. And there, well...

-Sariel is (usually) much harder than Konngara
-You effortlessy get max lives in Jigoku stage 19

And the fact you get max lives in JStg19 is the sole reason why you can actually effortlessly finish the damn thing. I managed to 1LC Jigoku Normal, so >_> Agreed on Sariel generally being harder than Konngara, but lol, getting to them in the first place.

[nintendonut888]

Makai: Has easier stages, but overall harder bosses, and the stages give you less resources.

Jigoku: Has more difficult stages, but overall easier bosses, and the stages give you tons of resources.

It's a balance. \o/ Also, Jigoku is obviously the canon route because Reimu had met Mima before SoEW. I like to think there's a way for both to happen at the same time though.

[Iryan]

Also, Jigoku is obviously the canon route because Reimu had met Mima before HRtP.

Hmm, you have a point there, but... the ending... what is happening there? And no, not knowing japanese is no excuse, the little text that's there can't possibly explain what's going on.

Spoiler:

Proably it is just Reimu going "What the hell just happened?!" herself.

I like to think there's a way for both to happen at the same time though.

Totally agreed.

[nintendonut888]

You're acting as though the Makai route ending makes sense. :V Also, you're absolutely right; Reimu says "what the hell was that?" I'd be amazed if either ending would have been there if HRtP was designed with a series in mind.

[ebarrett]

There are no difficult stages on HRtP, only those which sometimes have two panels left after you bomb. :V  Therefore Jigoku = much easier since said bombs give you more lives to deal with bosses which are easier on average. Just don't crash and burn at Kikuri's first phase.

Even for a no-bombs run Jigoku is easier; sure, more deaths because there's much more crap flying everywhere, but many, many more lives gained since it's freakin' impossible to combo anything properly in the Makai route.

Makai 19 isn't very hard, though; ofuda wall here, ofuda wall there, and it's more or less over.