Double Spoiler: Touhou Bunkachou

About

Double Spoiler: Touhou Bunkachou is a vertical-scrolling shooter with a photography twist. You play as Aya Shameimaru, a tengu reporter snapping pictures of bizarre creatures while dodging attacks. Later you switch to Hatate Himekaidou, who replays the same scenarios to critique Aya’s work. The game splits into two halves: the first as a standard danmaku shooter with rapid bullet patterns, the second as a meta-commentary where enemies and obstacles shift based on prior actions. Combat loops emphasize timing and camera angles, blending action with light narrative choices. The game’s dual perspective and self-aware humor stand out. Fans of the series praise its clever use of recurring characters and sharp pacing, though it’s shorter than typical Touhou entries. Community stats show average playthroughs clock in under three hours, but the competitive scene thrives on high-score chasing. As a niche entry between two larger titles, it feels like a concentrated burst of the franchise’s chaotic charm.

Storyline

Aya Shameimaru, the tengu reporter, runs the "Bunbunmaru Newspaper". She looks for and takes pictures of humans, youkai and any other beings that may be interesting to write about. Another tengu, Hatate Himekaidou, runs the "Kakashi Spirit News", fuelled by her thoughtography. Hatate, wondering why Aya's seemingly ridiculous newspaper is so popular, decides to observe Aya as she gathers her news. This section of the story takes place as the player controls Aya. Upon reaching the Spoiler stage, the two meet, and Hatate declares war on Aya and her newspaper, expressing her disapproval of the tabloid, sensationalist nature of her newspaper. Hatate's journey is represented through the player replaying the game as her, seeing her take on the events Aya has covered.