Touhou Genso Wanderer: Foresight

There’s a good chance you’ll be able to enjoy Foresight‘s gameplay and story content like you would any other dungeon-crawling RPG, unless you are a die-hard Touhou Project fan who expects a very specific thing from the Genso Wanderer series.

Touhou Genso Wanderer – FORESIGHT – is a lovely jump-in point for both the Touhou Project and the roguelike genre, both of which are great things for the long-term prosperity of any franchise. While it’s not as in-depth as other Mystery Dungeon games, and though its anime plot of mikos and mystics versus the world may be pretty alien to anyone unfamiliar with the home franchise, it does well with what it has and keeps its focus on those new arrivals who don’t know all the decades-long interactions between these characters. While the price point is, in my opinion, a little steep for what you’re getting in terms of complexity and potential gameplay hours, I will say that’s not unusual for Mystery Dungeon-style games, either. A sale price and some curiosity about the genre make it a must-buy; a regular price means doing some research and thinking if you’ll enjoy a gently-paced introduction to a world that rarely welcomes outsiders. On the whole, I’m charmed with this game. For veterans annoyed with its comparative simplicity, it’s also succeeded at the most important duty of all: it made me curious about other games in the franchise. Now, that’s how you win.

Aside from decent audiovisuals, finding words beyond “average” to describe this game is almost as tough as 1cc’ing Perfect Cherry Blossom’s Phantasm stage—and trust me, I’ve done that. It’s no longer a roguelike or even a roguelite anymore, either. In many ways, it’s a direct downgrade from its predecessors, which were much better games with a lot more heart.

Touhou Genso Wanderer - Foresight is far from a perfect game but once you get into the swing of things it's pretty fun to play. The dungeons are just varied enough to not be boring, though the difficulty spikes are something to watch out for. Despite how it looks, this is not a game to take lightly.

Right off the bat you can see that Touhou Genso Wanderer -FORESIGHT- is a game that has its limitations, the question is whether or not the game has been able to use its limited resources to mitigate them. FORESIGHT is a game that does very well in some asspects, but stumbles in others. Overall, the game is able to offer a concise and satisfying experience, largely due to the lighter and less punitive approach to combat, being just the right amount of challenging.

Touhou Genso Wanderer -FORESIGHT- may not be as fully featured as its predecessors but its more focused gameplay and characterful storyline that's full of laughs and charm make it one satisfying and entertaining dungeon-crawling adventure. ⛩️

Touhou Genso Wanderer -FORESIGHT- is a dungeon crawler with very few tricks to reveal. It can be addictive at points, but the game is ultimately a barebones experience that quickly becomes tiring to play. There is potential for something better here, but the current product probably isn't worth your time.

Touhou Genso Wanderer -FORESIGHT- is a game that, despite its limitations, can entertain. The less punitive approach and the characters' charisma make Reimu Hakurei's adventure a pleasant and accessible journey, especially for those who love the genre. However, the lack of variety in some aspects may frustrate players looking for a solid and challenging experience.

All in all, if you don’t enjoy wandering through randomly generated dungeons and frantically managing items, Touhou Genso Wanderer -FORESIGHT- might not be for you. But if you already like dungeoncrawlers and know about Touhou Project, you might have fun. Let’s just hope the devs continue fleshing out the experience post-launch.