Why is Touhou so popular? (No complaints, just curiosity.)

[Naniyue]

Why is Touhou so popular? All I see are a bunch of kinda super deformed anime girls in doujin bullet hell shooters, and increasing presence in rom hacks. Is there some compelling story, or is it all about cuteness? I just don't get it.

[wildweasel]

Pretty much everything you've said is the reason it's so popular.

[Naniyue]

Well, I don't like bullet hell shooters, so that rules that out. And I've never cared for that SD stuff. I heard there was an RPG, though. I'd be willing to give that a try at least.

[InsanityBringer]

games are fun to play (from what I understand, they're on the easier end of bullet hells but they're still a worthy challenge), personalities of the characters give it a life outside of the game. they're also very cute, which is important.

its not really a mystery

[Sgt. Shivers]

Touhou has some really solid shmup gameplay and fun characters but where it really gets its popularity is the music and fanworks. The music in the games is really great, which is surprising since IIRC ZUN has no formal music training As for the fanworks there is a ridiculous amount of fan content for the series ranging from remix albums to fan comics to even full indie games. I'd go as far as to say if there is a genre you really like there is a touhou fangame out there to fit in it. Everything from Touhou Castlevania to Touhou Earth Defence Force to Touhou Pokemon.

[lil'devil]

I haven't played any Touhou games (I don't like the genre), but the fan art can be really amazing.
In fact, my current avatar is a fan art of one of the Touhou characters.

[Marisa the Magician]

In addition you could say that if a music genre exists, there are Touhou remixes in it.

Yes, probably even polka.

[Gez]

anime girls [...] cuteness

There's your answer.

[Naniyue]

But there have been cute girl anime and manga for ages, so why does this one's fandom seem particularly strong?

[Shadelight]

But there have been cute girl anime and manga for ages, so why does this one's fandom seem particularly strong?

Why does Doom's fandom seem particularly strong?

[Bigger C]

But there have been cute girl anime and manga for ages, so why does this one's fandom seem particularly strong?

Doujin culture, ZUN's music, and a hazy-enough story mixed with a weird large fictional universe with plenty of room for people to read between the lines.

[Naniyue]

So basically, what you're saying is that like DooM brought something special to FPSs, Touhou has done the same for its respective genre(s)?

[Sgt. Shivers]

So basically, what you're saying is that like DooM brought something special to FPSs, Touhou has done the same for its respective genre(s)?

The games themselves aren't really anything super special, they usually have solid gameplay and some creative gimmicks but again most of the appeal is the characters and the music.

[Naniyue]

Maybe I'm desensitized or something, as I don't find them very cute at all. But then again, I've never really liked that SD/Chibi look. I did like that black and white animation, though, which is what first exposed me to this Touhou phenomenon.

[Jaxxoon R]

In addition you could say that if a music genre exists, there are Touhou remixes in it.

Yes, probably even polka.

Please, you need to find me a reggae remix of one of these songs. With vocals. I'd die laughing. The more Max Romeo/Bob Marley-esq the better.