| Double Dealing Character | |
| Developer: | Team Shanghai Alice |
| Composer: | Team Shanghai Alice |
| Genre: | Bullet hell (danmaku) |
| Modes: | Single-player |
| Platforms: | Microsoft Windows |
| Series: | Touhou Project |
is the fourteenth main game of the Touhou Project scrolling shooter series made by the dōjin game maker Team Shanghai Alice.[1] The demo was first released on May 26, 2013 on Reitaisai 10 and the full version of the game was released in the 84th Comiket on August 12, 2013.[2]
Double Dealing Character is the first Touhou title to be available online officially via digital distribution; all prior games were only available via CD purchase.[3] On April 7, 2015, the game was announced for an international release by Playism, making Double Dealing Character the first game in the Touhou series to be released outside Japan.[4] Double Dealing Character was also released on Steam on June 18, 2019.[5]
Double Dealing Character followed the previous main games within the Touhou Project series, with a spell card based danmaku system. The gameplay theme is neither novel nor retro. It is a "2000's neo-retro Danmaku shooter", creating simple gameplay while removing a lot of the complicated game mechanics.This is the first main game within the series that can display a resolution of 1280×960.[1]
Players can choose between three protagonists: Reimu Hakurei, Marisa Kirisame and Sakuya Izayoi. Each character can choose from two shot types: one for which they take up their possessed weapon and another for leaving it behind.
The scoring system is focused around item collection. Collecting many items in one big scoop will award the player with bonus points based on how many items were collected. This is done by moving above a border near the top of the screen or by using a bomb. The point value can also be increased by grazing, shooting focused and cancelling out bullets (of which plays an important role in scoring again compared to Subterranean Animism through Ten Desires). Spell Card values have also been increased in comparison to previous games.
Bomb and life fragments are also present in this release. They can drop from bosses, as well as being awarded for item collection.
Youkai are rioting and tsukumogami are turning up. Clouds gather, while a strong wind carries the sounds of a huge building. Gensokyo is full of sounds of dissonance. The weapons of the three protagonists start acting oddly; meanwhile, various youkai begin to rebel. It's their job to either take their weapons in hand and fight the youkai, or to cast their weapons aside.[1]
Game Rant considered Double Dealing Character to be the 4th best game in the series, writing that "for gamers up to the challenge, Double Dealing Character will push you to your limits. Still, for those keen enough to learn the new rules and tricks, it should be worthwhile."[6]