Leaderboard

That's a potentially confusing header, but I'm rather fond of the grammatically unique style of Touhou titles, and once this one emerged I decided to keep it. The recent popularity poll rekindled an idea I had about ranking within Touhou. Given the extensive nature of the series, some of the categories suffer from impossibly high quantity of options, specifically regarding characters (as has been discussed) and music. As my investment in the series is focused more on the music, my considerations on this matter were formulated in that direction, but I suspect the idea could be applied in other directions. To encourage the recognition of underappreciated tracks, I propose the challenge of an alternative ranking system: rather than a list of one's favorite pieces from across the whole series, a compilation of favorites from each individual entry. Instead of a top ten[ish], such a list would be comprised of at least one, at most three, tracks per game or disc release. I call this a "challenge," because the endeavor would require a near complete familiarity with all the music in the series, which most fans do not have. There might also be a question concerning smaller entries like Forbidden Scrollery or Bohemian Archive (a similar question might arise with character rankings), but I believe the exercise would be nonetheless interesting to attempt.

I haven't played every Touhou game, nor heard every track, so I'll only be commenting on entries I've at least gone through enough of to pick a favorite song. But I figured I'd give a little twist to my answer, and give some love to fan games that I also think have some noteworthy music. Touhou 6: Embodiment of Scarlet Devil: Y'know, I don't pay much attention to Touhou's credits themes. After a really intense final battle with really intense final boss music, the credits music just feels so... "nothing" by comparison. But man, Crimson Belvedere ~ Eastern Dream hits different. It's certainly not an unliked track, but it also doesn't get to sit at the big kids' table alongside U.N. Owen was Her?, Beloved Tomboyish Girl, or Septette for the Dead Princess, and that's a shame. It's such a good song to cap off Touhou's most iconic adventure. Special mention also goes to Shanghai Teahouse ~ Chinese Tea and Voile, the Magic Library for both being top-notch stage themes. Touhou 7: Perfect Cherry Blossom: I definitely underestimated how hard it'd be to pick out my favorites from PCB. It's easily my favorite official Touhou soundtrack, and I like so many songs equally; it's hard to justifiably put some above others. But I gotta give it to The Capital City of Flowers in the Sky. This stage is something special. I know all stages are built and timed around their themes, but I can't think of an example done more effectively than this. It's a long song, and not terribly complex- most of the song is just repeating and building upon this one section- but there's no song I'm more excited to get to when I'm listening to the songs in order. Special mentions to Charming Domination - I'm glad this has unofficially been recognized as Ran's theme over Necrofantasy; it helps set her apart as a character from Yukari - and The Girl who Played with People's Shapes - Even though IOSYS has made it impossible to not hear Marisa Stole the Precious Thing while listen to it, this song DAWN TO's my UGG to this day, and I love it for it. Touhou 8: Imperishable Night: Flight of the Bamboo Cutter ~ Lunatic Princess started out as an OG favorite of mine back when I first learned about Touhou, and even now that I've finally gotten around to playing IN and can experience the whole soundtrack, it's still one of my favorites. It's that perfect blend of elegance and intensity that really makes a final boss so memorable. Special mentions to Illusionary Night ~ Ghostly Eyes - I think this is my favorite 1st stage theme in the series - and Retribution for the Eternal Night ~ Imperishable Night - Even though it's not my favorite song, even within the same game, if I was to choose a song to represent the Touhou series as a whole, it would be this one. Those first few seconds are the first thing that come to mind when I think "Touhou Project." Touhou 12.8 Great Fairy Wars: I found myself not really liking GFW's soundtrack that much compared to other games, which is a shame since I really like the Three Fairies of Light and Sangetsusei has overtaken Wild and Horned Hermit as my favorite Touhou manga. I blame it on Three Fairies Hoppin' Flappin' Great Journey, a 50+ hour Touhou RPG with way too little music, beating a chiptune version of GFW's OST into my head for a lot longer than anyone should have to bear. Still, among the tracks, Year-Round Absorbed Curiosity was always my favorite. It's got an addictive energy to it that I occasionally find myself going back to. Touhou 14: Double Dealing Character: I always imagined I would feel more attached to DDC's OST; it was my first official Touhou game, after all. But no; I can hardly remember any of the soundtrack off of memory. Maybe I'd spend more time with it if Seija wasn't the WORST GODDAMN BOSS IN ALL OF TOUHOU WHY IS SHE SO DIFFICULT NO ONE ELSE GAVE ME THIS MUCH SHIT but I digress. Kobito of the Shining Needle ~ Little Princess is still my favorite piece of Touhou music, and I can't imagine that changing anytime soon. It's such a badass theme, and I love the fan interpretation that this isn't the theme for you fighting against her, but her theme fighting against you. Dullahan under the Willows took some time to grow on me, but as I gained appreciation for this neckless li'l doofus, so too did I end up appreciating her theme. Touhou 18: Unconnected Marketeers: Okay, maybe I was too hard on DDC, because I REALLY can't remember UM's soundtrack. I do genuinely like my choices, but I feel like I'm placing them as defaults, since I just can't remember any other songs. Fortunate Kitten is a really fun opening boss theme, and Where is that Bustling Marketplace ~ Immemorial Marketeers has grown on me after learning to not hate Chimata's stupid looking rainbow dress. They both kinda fit in as earworm pieces; they didn't leave any kind of lasting impression on me, but they just sorta pop back into my head every now and then. I won't complain. And now for something completely different. So, like, I suck at Touhou. Like a lot. Like a lot a lot. So I don't spend that much time playing the official games. Now fan games, that's a different story. I will ALWAYS appreciate the efforts of people who try and make a property as unforgiving as Touhou more appealing to newcomers. I've spent significantly more time with fan works than I have on official titles, and dammit, their music needs love too. So I'm gonna give it to them, and you all have to suffer. Touhou Makuka Sai ~ Fantastic Danmaku Festival: With Patchy joining the protagonists, who's gonna cover her shift as the stage 4 boss? Koakuma, of course, with an original boss theme to boot, The Glamorous Waltz ~ The Little Devil Dance. Being a pretty close retelling of EoSD, I was ready for nothing but remixes of EoSD's soundtracks, but then they bring out a new theme for Koakuma, and it's such an addicting little bop. It doesn't quite "feel" like a proper Touhou song, but it's stuck with me well ever since I first heard it. And a special mention to Cloud Sweeper ~ Kongfu Storm - my favorite remake of Shanghai Alice of Meiji 17. Touhou Makuka Sai ~ Fantastic Danmaku Festival Part II: I can't give this choice to one single song. The combination of Flowers Blowing within Life and Death into Fly! The Ever-living Sakura is the best 10 minutes of pure musical bliss I've ever experienced. This hard rock original song takes you through a... well, it's a decently tough final fight with Yuyuko. It's definitely not as hard as the official games, but damn if it doesn't look impressive. And then, when you get past her last spellcard, she revives for one last attack, and you get this absolutely GORGEOUS final spellcard, just filled to the brim with colors and all these butterflies and cherry blossom flowers and petals flying around everywhere; it is such a treat for the eyes, and your ears are given this beautifully climactic traditional remix of Border of Life. And it's like: This is it. This is peak Touhou. And like, sure, I'm definitely gushing hard over this, but these songs, and this sequence, is what MADE ME a Touhou fan. Go play this! Right now! I don't care if you've already beaten it. Play it again! It's worth it! Touhou Kikamu ~ Elegant Impermanence of Sakura: EIoS's OST is truly a force to be reckoned with. This might just be my favorite collection of stage themes in the entire franchise. It's seriously hard to pick a definite favorite, but I'll settle on a three-way tie between Stage 3's theme, Little Tune for a Drizzle in the Forest, Stage 2's theme, Flowing Moon Night Pastorale, and Stage 6's theme, One Moment's Splendour, with Hisoka Uroki's boss theme Mystery is your Mirage as an honourable mention. This game is like the opposite of official Touhou. Normally, the character themes are the ones that get the most praise, and the stage themes are usually the ones trying to play catch-up for attention, but not here. These stage themes are out here, loud 'n proud. I wish the boss themes were a little better, but for a game with an almost completely original score, this soundtrack can go toe-to-toe with even the best Touhou music. Kubinashi Recollection ~ Forgotten Dullahan Dreams: What a precious little gem this game is, blessing us all with the cutest Banki known to man. Dream Fields SCENE1 is a soft li'l remix of Dullahan Under the Willows, perfect for a soft li'l game like this. On the flip side, Outside World SCENE2 is fast and catchy and works in tandem with one of my favorite platformer gimmicks: Beat blocks. These levels were my favorite to play in, and this rhythm is snugly cemented into my brain. Touhou: Luna Nights: I don't care if it's low hanging fruit. I'm hungry, and Final Boss 3 - Night of Nights is frickin' rad. C'mon, it's Night of Nights; y'know, the coolest remix to ever grace the Touhou community. And it shows up right as you've got the final boss with Flandre on the ropes. It's totally cheap fanservice in a game that's already gushing with fanservice, but I can't even be mad. What a way to close out Luna Nights' main campaign. I also really liked Extra Stage - Scarlet Beyond a Crimson Dream. Can't entirely explain why this song in particular stuck out over the rest of this really kickass soundtrack, but it was what kept me going when the game started spamming those really obnoxious enemies at me. Touhou: Double Focus: Even though AquaStyle's remixes weren't my cup of tea as a whole, they sure did get these boss themes right. I'll happily boot up the OST to listen to Vs. Seiga and Vs. Kokoro anytime. Even after hearing the original versions of these songs, I still prefer AquaStyle's remixes, so hey. Good for them. I need to stop here. This has taken way too much time, and I can feel the life being drained from my body. I haven't even come close to covering all the Touhou games I've played through. It is worth noting there are some other games out there I would've liked to get around to, but I chose not to include any fangames where I can't access its soundtrack. Like how this new little platformer Kedama's Adventure has this really cool mashup of Lunatic Princess and Reach for the Moon, but I can't actually hear the music outside of the level itself, and that sucks. Hero of Ice Fairy and Mystery Reel are in the same boat. I'd really like to spend time listening to their OSTs, but as they're still early access titles, I probably won't get that chance until the games are finished. ~This post has been brought to you by the letter S for SELL YOUR FRICKIN' SOUNDTRACK~

OK so returning to this thread after my somewhat memey response I feel like I actually ought to say something more intellectual since it's a really interesting topic. However, I'm having trouble formulating my response, so I think I'll have to come back to it later. But I have loads of different things I'd like to cover that I'm not sure how to link together concisely into one post - tried writing it earlier and it turned into a post about religion instead.

NKZ's compositions and remixes are a large contributor to why I love IaMP's soundtrack so much. Idk why he only did music for this one game; however I think he stayed on the Tasofro team as a sound effect engineer for future games? Do you mind clarifying what you mean by this?

Getting into the classic era, where decisions become generally more difficult, but in a good way! Touhou 6 ~ Embodiment of Scarlet Devil Indisputably among the best compilations of ZUN's work in existence, despite its age and arguable over-exposure. Not a single track lacks some level of appreciation in the fandom, and it continues to be a standard by which to measure modern releases (though other titles might better serve the role). Septette to the Dead Princess remains in my top three, and I am officially acknowledging Beloved Tomboyish Girl as among my top ten. Honorable mention to Shanghai Teahouse ~ Chinese Tea. ZUN's Music Collection Vol. 1: Dolls in Pseudo Paradise Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe this is the only instance in the commercial releases of the SC-88Pro sound. Concerning said sound: I appreciate it well enough for stage and boss themes, but the unique style ZUN utilizes in his music collection arrangements doesn't seem to be as suited to it. It doesn't help that most of these tracks are remixes of the Seihou soundtracks, both of which were already available in SC-88Pro versions and usually better. Still, I can appreciate the extended versions of some track this album provided; nonetheless, the only tracks I enjoy listening to are the originals (there are three) and Enigmatic Doll. Between the originals, I'm split between Forest of Dolls and The Strange Everyday Life of the Flying Shrine Maiden. Regardless, this is probably my least favorite collection in the franchise. Touhou 7 ~ Perfect Cherry Blossom Another classic, with a singular formatting in its progression from one track to another that makes it difficult not to rush to the end. I must recognize the masterpieces of Necrofantasia and Bloom Nobly, Ink Black Cherry Blossoms, but I will also note the vital relationship Border of Life (Revival) has with the latter. The initial piece functions as one of ZUN's best climax compositions in the series, but cannot quite accomplish the "punch" without sacrificing the subtlety that gives it its impact. The additional track is insufficient on its own, lacking proper setup; but with the motifs previously established and the mood set, the "punch" can be delivered, reinforcing one of the most memorable moments in the series! Honorable mention to Capital City of Flowers in the Sky. ZUN's Music Collection Vol. 2: Ghostly Field Club For all intents and purposes, the actual first entry in the Music Collection series, establishing their standard of equal parts uniquely styled originals and minutely tweaked remixes from the games. Of course, most fans are aware of them for the characters of Renko and Merry, whether or not they've listened to the music. This is my second favorite album of the music collections, but my specific favorites are easily Girl's Sealing Club and Strange Bird of the Moon, Illusion of the Mysterious Cat. On an unrelated note, this is one of the few times that a game track was introduced in an earlier release (Illusionary Night ~ Ghostly Eyes). Touhou 8 ~ Imperishable Night I refer to my earlier suggestion of titles better suited as the standard for the series. 6 is iconic, 7 perfects the build-up, and 10 has overall strength, but 8 manages balance in a way that has yet to be matched imo (again, I am referring specifically to the music). It's worth noting that this was the point at which ZUN settled on his sound style, which has remained consistent ever since. Retribution for the Eternal Night ~ Imperishable Night is easily my favorite from here, but thereafter it becomes difficult to decide. I remember my initial experiences with Touhou that Flight of the Bamboo Cutter ~ Lunatic Princess was an early favorite, so I'll settle on that. Touhou 7.5 ~ Immaterial and Missing Power The first fighting game, and thus the first occurrence of someone other than ZUN contributing to the official music catalogue. While I believe it bears the marks of a first attempt, I maintain that it stands up far better than the fandom seems to give it credit for. Akiyama forever established himself as the man to beat in terms of Touhou arrangements, while simultaneously establishing his own composition abilities. I will always argue for the more deserving reputation of Eastern Memory of Forgathering Dream over the similar but shorter motif of Broken Moon; while both have their merits, the former has far more range and versatility. One would think my secondary track would be one of ZUN's contributions, but while I agree Missing Power is underrated (not to mention I appreciate Night Falls and Demystify Feast as much as the next person), it is my opinion that ZUN was still developing his style for the fighting game's music, and it doesn't stand up as well as some of his other work. Alternatively, I'm surprisingly fond of Wanderings by NKZ, whose contributions to this soundtrack are possibly the most overlooked part of the entire series. ZUN's Music Collection Vol. 3: Changeability of Strange Dream From this point on, the music collections are mostly remember for a specific track or two and/or some event in the Sealing Club storyline. For this one, the track in question is Kid's Festival ~ Innocent Treasures, officially ZUN's autobiographical music theme, complete with unsung lyrics that I have yet to find a proper performance for. After that, I'm torn between Dream of Arcadia and Boys and Girls of Science Era; I'll settle on the former, and consider the latter an honorable mention for now, but be aware that my opinion keeps inverting. BTW, does anyone have thoughts on the alternative title trend that became inconsistently prevalent in the music collections starting with this one? Bohemian Archive in Japanese Red Here is one of the "complications" I mentioned; three tracks that are slightly superior versions of their Touhou 9 counterparts (if you've ever wondered why Aya's theme bears the moniker "short version", it's because the full version is from this release). For consistency's sake, I'll name Flower Viewing Mound ~ after Higan Retour, but overall its hard to judge anyone for completely skipping this entry entirely. Touhou 9 ~ Phantasmagoria of Flower View I'd be ecstatic for ZUN to do more phantasmagoria games. As a collection I prefer Touhou 3, but for individual tracks there's something noteworthy in the concept of ZUN returning to old material for little twists, not in a different stylistic context as with the music collections but purely as an exercise. Considering this specific version of Ghostly Band ~ Phantom Ensemble has remained my number one Touhou track, my bias is clearly in favour of the experiment. Not withstanding, the collection overall suffers a bit from the disjointed mixture of remixes, originals and recycled tracks. I'm going to surprise someone and make my second pick Mound where the Flowers Reflect, the atmosphere of which stands out from the typical ending theme (I know it's not the ending theme, but the comparison is there, isn't it?). Fate of Sixty Years gets honorable mention. Touhou 9.5 ~ Shoot the Bullet Ever wonder if ZUN was composing stage themes for 9 before deciding to make it a phantasmagoria game and decided to make a new kind of game for the unused music? Anyway, because the spin-off soundtracks are so short, I'll be sticking to one song each for them. For this one, it's unquestionably Sleepless Night of the Eastern Country; the other tracks are fine, but this is the only one I listen to on the regular. That's where I'm gonna cut it for now; this is taking a lot longer than I though it would.

On the wiki (specifically translation pages), there's occasionally an alternative title listed under the translated one. Initially I surmised them to be alternate translations, but there are too many examples where the meaning doesn't compare properly: Of course, now that I'm giving it more thought, I realize I have no proof these are in any way official, nor any other knowledge of where they came from or what their purpose is.