, commonly abbreviated as IaMP in English speaking circles, is a
versus fighting game
A fighting game, also known as a versus fighting game, is a video game genre, genre of video game that involves combat between two or more players. Fighting game combat often features mechanics such as Blocking (martial arts), blocking, grappli ...
collaboratively developed by
Twilight Frontier
, known as Tasofro for short, is a Japanese ''dojin'' game developer. They are best known for their collaborations with Team Shanghai Alice (ZUN), which include seven official games in the '' Touhou Project'' series.
Productions Games
Music C ...
and
Team Shanghai Alice
, formerly known as ZUN Soft, is a Japanese ''dōjin'' game developer. Since 1995, the sole member of the group, Jun'ya "ZUN" Ōta, has independently developed and self-published the ''Touhou Project'', a bullet hell shoot 'em up series, as we ...
released in 2004. It is the first spinoff in the ''Touhou'' series, and it is numbered as the 7.5th installment as the game's events place between ''
Perfect Cherry Blossom
is a 2003 vertical Shoot 'em up#Bullet hell, bullet hell scrolling shooter, scrolling shoot 'em up developed by Team Shanghai Alice. It is the seventh game in the ''Touhou Project'' series. Playable characters include returning protagonists Reimu ...
'' (seventh) and ''
Imperishable Night
is a 2004 vertical bullet hell scrolling shoot 'em up developed by Team Shanghai Alice. It is the eighth game in the '' Touhou Project'' series, and the third main ''Touhou'' game to be released specifically for the Windows operating system.
' ...
'' (eighth), although it was released after ''Imperishable Night''. After the success of ''Immaterial and Missing Power'', the game was followed up with
Scarlet Weather Rhapsody
is the second versus fighting game in the Touhou Project, and is the spiritual successor to ''Immaterial and Missing Power'' by Twilight Frontier and Team Shanghai Alice. In the ''Touhou Project'' overall, it is labelled as the 10.5th Touhou game ...
in 2008, the first of several ''Touhou'' fighting game sequels.
Gameplay
''Immaterial and Missing Power'' is a two-dimensional
fighting game
A fighting game, also known as a versus fighting game, is a video game genre, genre of video game that involves combat between two or more players. Fighting game combat often features mechanics such as Blocking (martial arts), blocking, grappli ...
in which players can select one of several ''Touhou'' characters to fight either against an AI, or other human players. Because of ''Touhou's'' origins as a
bullet hell
Shoot 'em ups (also known as shmups or STGs
) are a sub-genre of action games. There is no consensus as to which design elements compose a shoot 'em up; some restrict the definition to games featuring spacecraft and certain types of charac ...
game, ''Immaterial and Missing Power's''
special moves have a focus on large amounts of projectiles. To help counter the large number of enemy projectiles, ''Immaterial and Missing Power'', allows the player to 'graze' enemy projectiles, which gets its namesake from the prior ''Touhou'' games. While in the
bullet hell
Shoot 'em ups (also known as shmups or STGs
) are a sub-genre of action games. There is no consensus as to which design elements compose a shoot 'em up; some restrict the definition to games featuring spacecraft and certain types of charac ...
''Touhou'' games, grazing refers to having enemy projectiles collide with the player's sprite, but not their hitbox (which is several times smaller), in ''Immaterial and Missing Power'', the player can use an energy meter to completely circumvent enemy projectiles, though not all projectiles can be grazed.
Spell Cards, a central aspect of ''Touhou'' since ''
Embodiment of Scarlet Devil
is a 2002 bullet hell scrolling shoot 'em up video game developed by Team Shanghai Alice. It is the sixth game in the '' Touhou Project'' series, and the first ''Touhou'' game to be released for Microsoft Windows. The story follows either the ' ...
'', appear in ''Immaterial and Missing Power'' as special moves that have to be announced before they can be used. Each character can choose 1 out of 3 normal spell cards, and 1 out of 3 overdrive spell cards to use before a match starts. The overdrive spell card replaces the normal spell card when the player's character has been defeated once. Also, when a spell card is announced, the player's HP replenishes for a certain amount.
''Immaterial and Missing Power'' contains a story mode, an arcade mode in which the player has to fight the entire cast while given only one life, a versus mode, and a practice mode.
In the story mode, there are Spell Cards that are available only to the enemy characters. A Spell Card can be "collected" when the player defeats the enemy character in a limited amount of time when the enemy's Spell Card is in effect. After collecting enemy Spell Cards, they can be viewed in an in-game gallery.
Plot
During Gensokyo's summer, there occurred an incident called the
Night Parade of Ten Thousand Demons Every Four Days (三日置きの百鬼夜行). In this incident, the
sakura
A cherry blossom, also known as Japanese cherry or sakura, is a flower of many trees of Prunus, genus ''Prunus'' or Prunus subg. Cerasus, ''Prunus'' subg. ''Cerasus''. They are common species in East Asia, including China, Korea and especia ...
trees have since shed their blossoms, but the
hanami
is the Japanese traditional custom of enjoying the transient beauty of flowers; in this case almost always refer to those of the or, less frequently, trees. From the end of March to early May, cherry trees bloom all over Japan, and around ...
kept on going, with feasts being hosted day after day with no end in sight. Additionally, each time the feast is held, an unknown restless spiritual aura in Gensokyo also increases, but this spiritual aura itself had no effect, leading to suspicions of those who went to investigate it. As such, everyone who goes to the feast, be it human or
yōkai
are a class of supernatural entities and spirits in Japanese folklore. The word is composed of the kanji for "attractive; calamity" and "apparition; mystery; suspicious." are also referred to as , or . Despite often being translated as suc ...
, appear to be very suspicious. Three days before the next feast, the player character sets out, each on their own, and attempt to investigate.
Characters
Eleven characters are available in ''Immaterial and Missing Power,'' including Suika Ibuki, who had her debut in this game. The characters Remilia, Yuyuko, Yukari, and Suika must be unlocked by defeating them in story mode, and Meiling is unlocked by downloading a
patch
Patch or Patches may refer to:
Arts, entertainment and media
* Patch Johnson, a fictional character from ''Days of Our Lives''
* Patch (''My Little Pony''), a toy
* "Patches" (Dickey Lee song), 1962
* "Patches" (Chairmen of the Board song) ...
, and completing the story mode, though she does not appear in it.
*Reimu Hakurei (博麗 霊夢): The
miko
A , or shrine maiden,Groemer, 28. is a young priestess who works at a Shinto shrine. were once likely seen as shamans,Picken, 140. but are understood in modern Japanese culture to be an institutionalized role in daily life, trained to perform ...
of the Hakurei Shrine and perennial protagonist of the ''Touhou Project''. She is troubled by the constant feasts in the shrine that she has to host, and goes to attack whoever she thinks is responsible. Like in the
bullet hell
Shoot 'em ups (also known as shmups or STGs
) are a sub-genre of action games. There is no consensus as to which design elements compose a shoot 'em up; some restrict the definition to games featuring spacecraft and certain types of charac ...
games, she has access to homing projectiles.
*Marisa Kirisame (霧雨 魔理沙): An ordinary human magician, and playable character in each main ''Touhou'' game since ''Phantasmagoria of Dim. Dream''. She acts as the secretary in charge of the feasts, though she is unsure of their cause.
*Sakuya Izayoi (十六夜 咲夜): The
maid
A maid, or housemaid or maidservant, is a female domestic worker. In the Victorian era domestic service was the second largest category of employment in England and Wales, after agricultural work. In developed Western nations, full-time maids ...
of the Scarlet Devil Mansion introduced in ''
The Embodiment of Scarlet Devil
is a 2002 bullet hell scrolling shoot 'em up video game developed by Team Shanghai Alice. It is the sixth game in the ''Touhou Project'' series, and the first ''Touhou'' game to be released for Microsoft Windows. The story follows either the ''m ...
''. Sensing a mysterious
qi in the feasts, she sets out to investigate. Her main ability consists of being able to throw large amounts of knives.
*Alice Margatroid (アリス・マーガトロイド): A human magician, who lives in the Forest of Magic, alongside Marisa. Alice attempts to
exorcise
Exorcism () is the religious or spiritual practice of evicting demons, jinns, or other malevolent spiritual entities from a person, or an area, that is believed to be possessed. Depending on the spiritual beliefs of the exorcist, this may be ...
the aura, believing it to be a ghost. She attacks using
puppets
A puppet is an object, often resembling a human, animal or mythical figure, that is animated or manipulated by a person called a puppeteer. The puppeteer uses movements of their hands, arms, or control devices such as rods or strings to mov ...
that she creates.
*Patchouli Knowledge (パチュリー・ノーレッジ): A
witch
Witchcraft traditionally means the use of Magic (supernatural), magic or supernatural powers to harm others. A practitioner is a witch. In Middle Ages, medieval and early modern Europe, where the term originated, accused witches were usually ...
from the Scarlet Devil Mansion who does not usually go out of her library. This time, however, she took responsibility in investigating the mist that has been blanketing Gensokyo. Patchouli is
asthmatic
Asthma is a long-term inflammatory disease of the airways of the lungs. It is characterized by variable and recurring symptoms, reversible airflow obstruction, and easily triggered bronchospasms. Symptoms include episodes of wheezing, cou ...
, and has poor mobility, but compensates with magical barrages that cover a large area.
*Youmu Konpaku (魂魄 妖夢): A half-human half-
ghost
A ghost is the soul or spirit of a dead person or animal that is believed to be able to appear to the living. In ghostlore, descriptions of ghosts vary widely from an invisible presence to translucent or barely visible wispy shapes, to rea ...
, and Yuyuko's gardener and servant. Youmu starts fights with various innocents, assuming them to be the culprits. Her attacks are centred around the usage of her two swords.
*Remilia Scarlet (レミリア・スカーレット): A
vampire
A vampire is a mythical creature that subsists by feeding on the Vitalism, vital essence (generally in the form of blood) of the living. In European folklore, vampires are undead, undead creatures that often visited loved ones and caused mi ...
, and mistress of the Scarlet Devil Mansion, who is thought to be one of the prime suspects in creating the strange mist, because she did it once before in ''
The Embodiment of Scarlet Devil
is a 2002 bullet hell scrolling shoot 'em up video game developed by Team Shanghai Alice. It is the sixth game in the ''Touhou Project'' series, and the first ''Touhou'' game to be released for Microsoft Windows. The story follows either the ''m ...
''. Because of her childlike physique, she is able to move quickly, and release ''danmaku'' that cover a wide area.
*Yuyuko Saigyouji (西行寺 幽々子): The ghost princess of the netherworld. She is also believed to be a suspect, as she orchestrated the incident in ''
Perfect Cherry Blossom
is a 2003 vertical Shoot 'em up#Bullet hell, bullet hell scrolling shooter, scrolling shoot 'em up developed by Team Shanghai Alice. It is the seventh game in the ''Touhou Project'' series. Playable characters include returning protagonists Reimu ...
''. Reflecting her lazy personality, Yuyuko lacks mobility, but her Spell Cards have an unmatched range.
*Yukari Yakumo (八雲 紫): A wandering
yōkai
are a class of supernatural entities and spirits in Japanese folklore. The word is composed of the kanji for "attractive; calamity" and "apparition; mystery; suspicious." are also referred to as , or . Despite often being translated as suc ...
, who controls the Hakurei Border.
*Suika Ibuki (伊吹 萃香): Introduced in ''Immaterial and Missing Power'', she is an ''
oni
An is a kind of ''yōkai'', demon, orc, ogre, or troll in Japanese folklore. Oni are mostly known for their fierce and evil nature manifested in their propensity for murder and cannibalism. Notwithstanding their evil reputation, oni possess i ...
'' who loves drinks, feasts, and competition, like the rest of her race. Despite her small size, she is strong in strength, speed, and mystic powers; she is also several hundred years old. Using her ability to control density, she can gather people to form a banquet, or she can scatter herself to become mist. In ''Immaterial and Missing Power'', she made the residents of Gensokyo have continuous feasts, intending to draw the joyous ''oni'' from hiding.
*Hong Meiling (紅 美鈴): A Chinese-like yōkai and martial artist that was included in a later patch of the game. She has no story mode.
Development
Unabara Iruka (海原海豚) of the Twilight Frontier team had wanted to make a fighting game with aerial battles similar to ''
Cyberbots: Full Metal Madness'' (1995) and ''
Astra Superstars
is a 1998 2D versus fighting arcade game illustrated and designed by SANTACLAUS, developed and published by Sunsoft, and distributed by Tecmo in Japan on June 6, 1998. It is Sunsoft's fourth fighting game after the 1994 Super Famicom ''Hebere ...
'' (1998), but felt that creating a whole set of characters and the setting just for the game would be overwhelming. Unabara felt that such a game would not feel out of place in the setting of ''Touhou'', and so he sought out
ZUN
The ''zun'' or ''yi'', used until the Song dynasty#Northern Song, 960–1127, Northern Song (960–1126) is a type of Chinese ritual bronzes, Chinese ritual bronze or ceramic wine vessel with a round or square vase-like form, sometimes in t ...
, the founder of the series, to collaborate on a ''Touhou'' fighting game.
Unlike the main ''Touhou'' games, which were written developed entirely by ZUN, the dialogue, character sprites, and ending artwork in ''Immaterial and Missing Power'' are drawn by alphes'','' an artist at
Twilight Frontier
, known as Tasofro for short, is a Japanese ''dojin'' game developer. They are best known for their collaborations with Team Shanghai Alice (ZUN), which include seven official games in the '' Touhou Project'' series.
Productions Games
Music C ...
. ZUN was responsible for character design, the plot, stage design, system graphics, Spell Card naming, and a portion of the soundtrack while Twilight Frontier took care of the rest.
On April 2 2004, Twilight Frontier announced the production of ''Immaterial and Missing Power,'' with Team Shanghai Alice. On December 21, a
demo
Demo, usually short for demonstration, may refer to:
Music and film
*Demo (music), a song typically recorded for reference rather than release
* ''Demo'' (Behind Crimson Eyes), a 2004 recording by the band Behind Crimson Eyes
* ''Demo'' (Deafhea ...
, which had the first three stages of Reimu's story mode, and the characters Reimu, Marisa, Alice and Youmu available in the versus mode, was released digitally. The finished game was sold at the 67th
Comiket
, more commonly known as or , is a semiannual ''doujinshi'' convention in Tokyo, Japan. A grassroots market focused on the sale of '' doujin'' (self-published) works, Comiket is a not-for-profit fan convention administered by the volunteer-ru ...
on December 30 2004.
The soundtrack of the game was compiled into an album named ''Gensōkyoku Bassui'' (幻想曲抜萃) which was sold on August 14, 2005. A significant portion of the soundtrack were
remix
A remix (or reorchestration) is a piece of media which has been altered or contorted from its original state by adding, removing, or changing pieces of the item. A song, piece of artwork, book, video, poem, or photograph can all be remixes. The o ...
es of existing Touhou songs.
Reception
On
GameSpot
''GameSpot'' is an American video gaming website that provides news, reviews, previews, downloads, and other information on video games. The site was launched on May 1, 1996, created by Pete Deemer, Vince Broady and Jon Epstein. In addition ...
, the game had an average user score of 8.6/10.
See also
*
Scarlet Weather Rhapsody
is the second versus fighting game in the Touhou Project, and is the spiritual successor to ''Immaterial and Missing Power'' by Twilight Frontier and Team Shanghai Alice. In the ''Touhou Project'' overall, it is labelled as the 10.5th Touhou game ...
- the next ''Touhou'' fighting game, also produced by ZUN and Twilight Frontier
*
List of fighting games
Fighting games are characterized by close combat between two fighters or groups of fighters of comparable strength, often broken into rounds or stocks. If multiple players are involved, players generally fight against each other.
Note: Games ar ...
References
;Notes
;Sources
*ZUN. ''Shanghai Alice Signpost''. vol.5 2004/12/30 (''Immaterial and Missing Power''
readme
In software development, a README file contains information about the other files in a directory or archive of computer software. A form of documentation, it is usually a simple plain text file called README, Read Me, READ.ME, README.TXT, R ...
file)
External links
Immaterial and Missing Power: Official Site
*
ttp://en.touhouwiki.net/wiki/Immaterial_and_Missing_Power Immaterial and Missing Power on Touhou Wikibr>
IaMPWiki
{{DEFAULTSORT:Immaterial And Missing Power
2004 video games
Doujin video games
Fighting games
Multiplayer and single-player video games
Touhou Project games
Twilight Frontier games
Video games developed in Japan
Windows games
Windows-only games