Fantasy Maiden Wars - DREAM OF THE STRAY DREAMER -

Unbelievably peak.

I cried little ♥♥♥♥♥ tears through the last arc.

敬我们的幻想乡

great game if you like the touhou series (this is my first sprg) shinki is best mom

Its hard to say what a perfect turn based strategy game would look like, but this game is pretty close. Exceptionally polished level design. The difficulty levels are varied and provide a challenge for the casual or serious player. Also, the way they scripted the story is amazing as well. Seamlessly blends the disparate narratives of almost a dozen Touhou games into a coherent, fun story of friendship and ideals.

This game is amazing, I'm aware it's multiple games remade and merged into one, but the content lasts soo long it's amazing, definitely one of the best SRPGs I've played. At times there's stages that seem impossible to complete the bonus objective before NG+, but overall most stages are great. And the characterization of the characters while it has a lot of fanon elements (like Flandre being insane), it's incredible, there's a lot of emotional moments that make you really care about a lot of the characters. It makes me wish the people who worked on this game kept making more, because they did some moments so well that I don't know how you would ever go back to knowing the characters only by what's known about them in canon. And while at first it seems like mostly the original story of the games it's based on with some small twists and added character moments, the story surprises you with the twist the subtitle is about and continues with an original story with original characters.

Fantasy Maiden Wars - DREAM OF THE STRAY DREAMER is a strategy RPG developed by Sanbondo and published by Phoenixx Inc. that successfully adapts the colorful world of Touhou Project into a large-scale tactical adventure. Instead of recreating the series' trademark bullet hell gameplay, the developers reimagine its fast-paced battles as grid-based encounters that demand careful planning, positioning, and resource management. The result is a game that feels familiar to Touhou fans while standing confidently as its own strategy experience. Its generous amount of content, approachable tutorials, and flexible difficulty settings make it inviting for newcomers without sacrificing the strategic depth veteran players expect. The story unfolds in Gensokyo, a land where humans and supernatural beings coexist amid constant mysteries and magical incidents. Players gather an extensive cast of heroines as they investigate a new crisis that threatens the balance of this enchanting world. The narrative places heavy emphasis on character interactions, allowing the personalities of the Touhou cast to take center stage through humorous conversations, emotional moments, and lighthearted banter. While the plot is engaging enough to keep the campaign moving forward, it is the chemistry between the characters and the detailed world-building that make the journey especially enjoyable for fans of the franchise. Combat is the game's greatest strength. Every battle revolves around strategic movement, effective positioning, and the smart use of each character's unique abilities. Success is rarely achieved by brute force alone, as terrain, attack range, support bonuses, and unit synergy all influence the outcome of encounters. Signature Spell Cards unleash visually impressive attacks while serving as powerful tactical options that can dramatically shift the momentum of a battle. Missions gradually introduce new objectives and enemy formations, preventing combat from becoming repetitive and encouraging players to rethink their strategies throughout the campaign. One of the most impressive features is the enormous playable roster, with more than seventy characters available to recruit and develop. Every heroine comes equipped with distinctive statistics, skills, and combat specialties, making experimentation with different team compositions both rewarding and necessary. The progression system allows players to strengthen favorite characters through upgrades, equipment, and various customization options, giving each playthrough a personalized feel. Rather than forcing a single optimal strategy, the game rewards creative approaches and thoughtful party building. The visual presentation captures the spirit of Touhou with vibrant artwork, expressive character portraits, and lively battle animations. Spell Card attacks are presented with dramatic flair, making major encounters feel exciting without slowing gameplay excessively. The user interface is well organized despite the number of available mechanics, ensuring players can easily manage units, abilities, and equipment. Complementing the visuals is an energetic soundtrack filled with memorable arrangements that perfectly suit both quiet story sequences and intense tactical confrontations, reinforcing the game's distinctive atmosphere. Despite its many strengths, Fantasy Maiden Wars - DREAM OF THE STRAY DREAMER is not without shortcomings. The campaign contains extensive dialogue that can occasionally interrupt the pacing, particularly for players who are more interested in combat than storytelling. Its numerous gameplay systems and large roster may also seem intimidating during the opening hours, although the comprehensive tutorials do an excellent job of easing players into the mechanics. Those willing to invest the necessary time will find a rewarding strategy RPG that consistently expands upon its ideas rather than relying on repetition. Fantasy Maiden Wars - DREAM OF THE STRAY DREAMER is an outstanding adaptation that successfully translates the excitement and personality of Touhou Project into a deep tactical RPG. With an engaging storyline, satisfying strategic gameplay, extensive character progression, and an impressive amount of content, it delivers an experience that remains enjoyable across dozens of hours. While its dialogue-heavy presentation and complexity may not appeal to every player, the game's polished design and rewarding combat make it one of the strongest strategy titles available for fans of the genre and an excellent gateway into the Touhou universe. Rating: 9/10

It is very difficult to overstate how amazing this game is. For the record, I finished it over half a year ago, and it still keeps popping up in my mind on a weekly basis. If you like Touhou, this is a no-brainer. If you like Super Robot Wars, this is ALSO a no-brainer. If you are unfamiliar with Touhou but want an entry point that is not the main games, this is possibly the best way to get introduced to a good chunk of characters and concepts about the series. The gameplay is incredibly solid and doesn't get old even after over 100 hours, which is honestly kinda crazy to think about. The music is fantastic, it is mostly remixes of existing songs with original tracks peppered here and there, and I can't think of a single one I disliked. And the visuals are what you would expect from SRW, ie beautiful animations with crazy visuals, and tons of references to various mecha and toku shows if you're familiar with them. I simply cannot recommend it enough, be it to fans or non-fans, it's one of my favorite games ever made, hands down.