Touhou Kobuto V: Burst Battle

A funny and interesting game based on "Touhou" characters which as a fighting game is really curious but lacks on its rooster, with only 9 characters, and contents to maintain interest on it.

If you are a fan of Touhou and just cannot do without evaluating your purchase, we suggest you switch to the Switch version after a drop in price.

It features simple gameplay in an adorable world but the overall unsatisfying formula and lack of substantial content make it an easily forgettable fighter even for dedicated Touhou fans.

On paper, the battle engine should provide an interesting scrap with a varied, albeit small, roster of characters. Unfortunately, the AI feels brutal to fight and the lack of a manual means you're fumbling in the dark until you figure out what works. It's needlessly uninviting with the slim choice of modes and the lack of an online community meaning this game really underwhelms.

Touhou Kobuto V: Burst Battle is ambitious. This is a development team as indie as indie comes taking a demanding gameplay perspective and trying to do something demanding with it; create a fast, free-flowing, hardcore action game. Sadly it does miss the mark on this one. There’s skill involved in getting good at Kobuto, however, clumsy, limited mechanics, and a general lack of variety, presentational standards, or energy and excitement really let it down. I would have taken a simple, direct sequel to Bullet Ballet instead.

Touhou Kobuto V: Burst Battle is wrong on so many levels: the gameplay is boring and repetitive, the content is basically MIA, the graphics are old and inadequate. The concept could've worked but, well, it doesn't. If you're a fan of the saga, better stick to the classics (or at least Touhou Genso Wanderer).

I’m trying my best to think of some kind of clever joke or metaphor about Touhou Kobuto V: Burst Battle, but I don’t even think the game deserves that kind of effort on my part. Burst Battle is an awful video game. Without a tutorial, learning to play is no fun at all, and I had an equal sum of zero fun playing it when I actually knew how to play. If you’re itching for a Touhou fighting game, run to your PC and download one of the official 2D fighting games from the main series. Never touch Burst Battle. Learn from my errors, and live a long, healthy, fulfilling life.

Touhou Kobuto V: Burst Battle features poor battles and a serious camera issues that erase the fun of the fights. Very few game modes and a dull story mode are the reason that this game is no good for any fan of this genre.

Fans of the main Touhou games may find an amusing diversion here, but there is very little of worth to recommend to anyone else. Ultimately, unless battling stunted characters with clunky 3D models in sparse arenas is your idea of a good time, Touhou Kobuto V: Burst Battle is a deeply unnecessary title to invest in.

It’s been a while since I’ve played anything quite as bad as Touhou Kabuto V: Burst Battle. A title with no redeeming features whatsoever, please, for the love of god, spend your money elsewhere if you’re even considering picking this up.