Touhou: The Shattered Sky - Heaven Stage

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘊𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘎𝘰𝘥

This stage is extremely difficult, but as a whole quite manageable. There's many lulls of moments that aren't that bad to deal with, but it's interspersed with moments that can range from extreme difficulty, to just plain unfair (there's about 4 spots in particular that you're essentially forced to bomb through). Seriously, remember what I talked about last stage with how generous the death bomb time is in this game, you'll need it.

Yukari's your mid-boss and she's honestly not too bad, except for her second spell card. Her non-spell is fairly simple and her first and third spell cards are manageable with practice. However her second spell card is almost entirely dependent on how lucky you get. Cause of the nature of it, it's incredibly easy to get trapped with no way out.

Suzuka however is... honestly not too bad considering everything you had to do to get this far. She's no pushover, that's for damn sure, but I'd argue that if you have the skills both to unlock this stage and to make it through said stage, she's definitely gonna go down fairly simply. You are still gonna wanna spend some time practicing against her however, not necessarily because of anything overly difficult, but more because of the odd nature of many of her attacks. On more than a few occasions you're gonna be going “Alright, you're doing this attack, so I need to be over here and especially watch out for that move”.

Difficulty - Heaven
Character - Ordinary Magician: Marisa Kirisame
Heaven Stage - The Child of God: Sky Above Gensokyo (Rainbow)
BGM - From Earth to Heaven
Mid-boss - Mysterious Gap Youkai: Yukari Yakumo
Boss: Child who Bears the Likeness of God: Suzuka Mikami
BGM - Tenacity of the Youthful Divinity

Timestamps

0:00 - Intro
2:21 - Stage
5:50 - Pre-fight dialogue
6:01 - Non-spell
6:10 - Rational Human Being "Border of Point and Line"
6:37 - Silent Whisperer "Balance of Sound and Movement"
6:51 - Boundary "Yukari's 5 Hidden Arcanums"
7:28 - Stage
9:45 - Pre-fight dialogue
12:18 - Non-spell
12:31 - God's Word "Rain, Storm, Earth, Fire"
12:50 - Non-spell
13:23 - God's Punishment "Star of Rainbow"
13:45 - Non-spell
13:59 - Heaven's Blossom "Butterfly Resurrection"
14:25 - Non-spell
14:39 - Divine Treasure "God's Earth"
15:00 - Non-spell
15:23 - Heaven's Guilt "Last Child on Earth"
15:56 - Non-spell
16:15 - Divine Festival "Faith of the Shinto Shrine"
16:37 - Non-spell
16:51 - Heaven and Hell "Nuclear Fallout"
17:17 - Non-spell
17:37 - Bright Magic "Cloudy Butterfly Omen"
18:00 - Non-spell
18:13 - Godly Light "Flashing Distant Laser Dance"
18:36 - Non-spell
18:49 - Bewitched Magic "Shining Bullet Needle"
19:10 - Non-spell
19:25 - God's Shiver "Pure Fury"
19:47 - Non-spell
19:59 - Divine Spirit "Forbidden Barrier"
20:18 - Non-spell
20:30 - Magic Force "Stardust Lightray"
20:49 - "Lunatic Land of Great Challenges"
23:39 - "Homo Proponit, sed Deus Disponit"
24:54 - Post-fight dialogue
27:00 - Next Time

Link to my Patreon page here

You can download the game here

[Eredom]

Ok, finally heaven. This was so much fun to make back then. Probably the most fun I had working on the game. I loved trying to mix existing concepts into entirely new spells and I feel like for the most part it really paid off.

Since this is the last part of the regular game, I want to thank you so much for playing this. Even if TSS is just the gateway to SoHW, it was really fun going through all the stages with you again, seeing my mistakes but also where I and we as a team succeeded.
And I hope you also had some fun playing through the game, despite its issues.

[tomlynmathewsjr]

"Surely I have the right to go to Gensokyo if I've dreamt about it for this long!"
*Angry possessive Sumireko noises in the distance.*

[neetamoori]

ZUN is known for turning myths into magical girls, so why not make ZUN one as well? He's already mythical ...

[LushieTilde]

Since you didn't seem to notice, a lot of the stage sections after the Yukari midboss are actually the stage 6 spam sections of Touhou 6-15.

Having a ZUN themed OC is a bit silly even for fangame standards, but I do like Suzuka's patterns and theme, I think they did a great job with referencing final bosses without actually copying the original patterns.
I do think multicolor danmaku looks a lot better when each wave is a different color instead of every bullet itself being a different color from the last though (for example a red ring being followed by a orange ring being followed by a yellow ring). And while it makes perfect sense, her vommiting out random bullet types during certain parts also looks a bit silly IMO.

Kudos for being the only fangame/script that remembered Junko had more patterns than just TSS, cause I swear that's the only Junko pattern I see being referenced in other scripts (like Haiji Bootleg Rush or Koishitale for example).

[bawdydaram]

I’m quite a fan of this boss, the amount of fanservice for any long term Touhou fan is insane!

[maxoublue]

If I learned anything from Jan (Pokemon Challenges), it's that anything that seems impossible can be made possible with enough dedication. Did someone attempt to do Heaven Stage with Tool Assistance or an A.I that dodges everything perfectly?
I also like how, to show the fact Suzuka is supposed to be the creator of the Touhou series, she uses nearly every type of bullets (and colors) in the games.

[ZeidoriHirekina]

Oh hey, it's everyone's favorite Koishi is back after all those months huh.

Well also they aren't kidding about them did make a whole OC version of ZUN but it's a milk chugger which is Suzuka.

I know what you meant like most of Suzuka's spellcard is just a feedback to the windows Touhou spellcards but damn they really did go with that a lot huh.

And its funny that Yukari was just included like "here have a difficulty spike warning would ya" in the first but oh well.

I mean yeah it could be that hard but it's just can be harder than what Senri's bootleg script did back then.

Also good job for doing it with one life remaining which still shock editor.

[DoctorNovakaine]

This one's kind of a challenge because I don't really know enough about ZUN to write a ZUN expy like, well, ZUN. So I kind of have to go more along the lines of the personality put here, which seems more innocent and excitable than anything - a bit 'fangirly' perhaps.
This has been fun. I probably won't make a habit of this, but if there's a game where it looks like it could benefit from a bit of story touch-up, I might consider it again.

Yukari: Oh, good, one of you made it here.
What lies ahead is like nothing you've ever seen before.
Show me that you're ready for it!
(I'm all for sesquipedalian loquaciousness, but that doesn't seem very Yukari to me.)

Marisa: You'd think if she had time to test me, she'd have time to fix the border...
Still, she wasn't wrong, this is wild. I've never seen anything like it!
Something in the air...I wonder if this is why the border's been wonky lately.
Is there even anyone here? It seems so empty...
???: Ah, it's you! The one from my dreams!
Marisa: Finally. Was getting tired of talking to myself out here.
???: Marisa Kirisame, the Ordinary Magician! I finally get to meet you!
Marisa: Awful lot of strangers who know about me lately. We haven't met, have we?
Suzuka: No, but I know of you! How you beat the daitengu, and Mima...
I've been hoping to meet you in my dreams for so long, and finally you're here!
Marisa: Pretty sure this isn't a dream. Unless Doremy's been messing around again.
Try pinching yourself, see if you wake up.
Suzuka: Ouch! Wait, pain?
Marisa: Seems pretty clear to me, you're as awake as I am!
Suzuka: Ah! So, that means...Gensokyo really exists! Eeee!
Marisa: So, what, you dream stuff while it's happening? Seems like kind of a limited power.
But it's not like any youkai I've heard of...are you even a youkai?
Suzuka: No idea! I only know about my own little world here!
I haven't been able to really talk with anyone, it's like I'm trapped here, only able to see out.
You're the first person I've ever been able to talk to!
Marisa: Huh...can a god be trapped in their own world? That was my next best guess...
Wait. You control that world, right? And it's right next to the barrier...
Suzuka: Maybe? I don't really know how it moves,
But I can feel it, and kind of direct it, I guess.
Marisa: You've been dreaming about us, and trying to meet someone,
You must have brought it closer to us! And it's interfering with the barrier!
The meteor incident you dreamed about was caused by this!
Suzuka: I wasn't trying to do anything like that! I'd never want to hurt Gensokyo!
Marisa: You might not have been trying to,
But the fact is that you're close enough for me to shoot,
And I don't see anything else that controls this world.
You're gonna have to pull it away so we can get things back to normal.
Suzuka: No! I'm so close to the place I've dreamt about for so long...
I have to be able to see it for myself! You wouldn't deny me that, after how long I've been alone?
Marisa: The way you are now, you doing that could destroy Gensokyo completely!
No one ever wants to do it the easy way, huh? I'll have to stop you myself!
Suzuka: This world of dreams that I've clung to for so long has finally become a reality...
I won't let you stop me from living it for myself!

Marisa: You really don't like to quit easy, do you?
But you should know if you've dreamt about me for so long, I tend to win!
Suzuka: You're such a bully!
Marisa: What part of "you could literally destroy Gensokyo" didn't you hear before?
You just being close by is weakening the barrier.
If you care about it as much as you say, you need to keep your distance!
Suzuka: Oh...is that...really true? I'm a threat to Gensokyo?
Marisa: It's not like I want you to be, but c'mon, it's kind of obvious at this point.
Suzuka: *sniff...That wasn't what I wanted at all. I wasn't trying to hurt anyone...
I mean, I didn't even know it was real until now...
Marisa: Ever heard of "if you love something, set it free?" That's what you have to do now.
At least you'll still have your dreams. I would expect, anyway.
Suzuka: It's not the same, I can only watch, not talk...
But, I couldn't bear hurting everyone I've come to know like that.
I suppose I already came close to that, huh?
Marisa: Well, you didn't help. But I believe you that you weren't trying to.
Besides, that daitengu needed some serious anger management anyway.
But you'll move your world away and give us some space, right?
Suzuka: Wait! Please...I know I have to move away, but...
Can you stay for a little bit before then? I've been so lonely, I just want to talk to someone for a while...
Marisa: Ah, well...I suppose it'll probably help if you're in a good mood.
When did I get signed up to play therapist? That should be Reimu's job...
Suzuka: Yay! Thank you, thank you! I can give you a quick tour, you can see my house!
Marisa: (What kind of house could even exist in this kinda place?
I hope it doesn't explode my brain...)

[korohacker]

Oh heya Koishi, long time no see!
I know I'm repeating myself and mimicking Suzuka, but congrats in clearing Heaven stage! And with one life left too! I dunno how many people actually bothered to 1CC it considering things, but English gameplay footage of this stage is quite rare.

I never knew Suzuka was supposed to be a Touhoufied ZUN, that sorta recontextualizes everything about her spellcards, she is *the* God practically. That 'yaaay' at the end got me though xD

These spellcards are just over the top, but you have to commend the developers for using known danmaku and mechanics in making attacks that are still novel, even if familiar. Probably my favourite instance of copying established spellcards among fangames ever. Also all them rainbows danmaku.

I'm probably in the minute minority here, but I look forward to the Last Words, haven't seen those yet.

[GenesisJames]

Finally, the best character. God based on God. God-ception. Beautiful. A pretty cool fight honestly, if a bit overboard! I like how meta it got lmao

[TurboGhast.]

Of the three extra-like stage bosses in the game, Suzuka's the most vulnerable to shotgunning. This makes the difference in difficulty between the harder and easier parts of the heaven stage feel especially intense if you're playing Sanae B.

I didn't know you could make the first wave of the survival spell not produce walls, so I manipulated where the bullets were fired so I could dodge the walls instead.

Beating this stage unlocks URA mode, a difficulty for the main game above Lunatic accessed through the extra menu. It makes a few other changes beyond normal difficulty increasers: The deathbomb window is shortened (or maybe even removed entirely, I haven't played it enough to know which), bosses have more spell cards, and the vortex meter moves much faster.

Part of me is disappointed that vortexes aren't in this stage, because removing the game's primary resource mechanic in favor of showering the player in item drops feels a little anticlimactic. Another part recognizes that the stage's layout isn't particularly compatible with them, and a significant portion of those feelings of anticlimax came about because my computer lagged during her final spell.

[Iris_Descent]

(Note: Comment will contain character name drops a bit further down for some characters in Servants of Harvest Wish that aren't returning from The Shattered Sky, and are instead new, so tread with caution due to spoilers.)

Well boys, we did it. We found a timeout spell that Omega would rather likely do Shiki's Sealed-Room Murder over.
(On that note, I just uploaded a No Bomb run of RSS's Phantasm Stage yesterday. It wasn't exactly what I'd call fun...)

Speaking of No Bomb runs, I think it should be possible to get that in this stage, if you're, well, an actual super high-level player. That and if you get good luck too because, well, some of these patterns speak for themselves...

Honestly I can't even be mad at this stage, tbh. It's unbalanced, but the funny kind of unbalanced.

Anyway, Last Words next... having played Servants of Harvest Wish, where there's some extremely tough Overdrive spells (same purpose as Last Words here), I wonder how this game's ones look like. I still haven't beaten Ryouko's Overdrive in SoHW (just plain getting good...), as well as Uzume's (instant ragequit at that first phase) and Touko's. (Also just plain getting good...)

[evanunhinged]

Ok, I DID actually really enjoy this boss, this is probably the best "medly boss" I've seen, at least in terms of spell designs

[lunaticverlord]

6:01 Should've just made Sayuri an avatar of Cthuga the Great Old One of Fire. And have HER be the Heaven Boss.

Like, who the fuck is Suzuka anyway?

[popcioslav]

That's a lot of spellcards...
They're all references to Touhou games that came out by the time this game was out, aren't they? That's at least pretty novel idea if you want to put representation of ZUN into the games, not sure about genderbending him, but, oh well.

[Eredom]

I will leave another comment later, but I need to say this.
First, yes that second fairy in the stage is possible, mino has a video somewhere on his channel beating it.

Second. Mikami has a glass of milk because she is not allowed to drink alcohol yet.

[RealityMasterRogue]

The butterflies in the second spell were so hard to see i forgot they weren't just background.

[donipamungkas]

the boss attack pattern is similar to stage 6 boss of all touhou official project(with improvement)

[MalchikPride]

I dunno if it's just me, but from 20:05 to 20:10 theres a sudden flashing? I think part of the video got corrupted for 5 seconds? Good job on surviving all that btw! Touhou Zun is...interesting.

[Flygoniaks]

Are you kidding me, there's somehow STILL MORE AFTER