Awesome Music / Touhou: PC-98 Era

I was going to use this as the extra stage theme. But I thought the extra stage song should be a little lighter, so I cried and cried and threw it out.

— ZUN, on Magical Shop of Raspberry.

This page covers the music from Touhou Reiiden ~ Highly Responsive to Prayers, Touhou Fuumaroku ~ the Story of Eastern Wonderland, Touhou Yumejikuu ~ Phantasmagoria of Dim. Dream, Touhou Gensokyo ~ Lotus Land Story, and Touhou Kaikidan ~ Mystic Square. The PC-98 games used FM synthesis for music, the same kind of synthesis used by the Sega Genesis and thousands of arcade games.

Return to music index here.

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Highly Responsive to Prayers

• The very first Touhou game might've been lacking in danmaku, but it wasn't devoid of awesome music. Check out "Eastern Strange Discourse" and "Magic Mirror".
  • ZUN's arrangement of Eastern Strange Discourse and the earlier SC-88Pro version.
  • For those who prefer ZUN's modern style, here's the remastered version of "Magic Mirror".
  • The same for Eastern Strange Discourse.
  • When it comes to Eurobeat arranges, Mortimer (another alias of Jessa Stebbins) is No Guardian Angel.
• Going back a little, we have "A Sacred Lot", the main menu theme and the very first touhou music in the series (from the players' perspective). Nagisa's "Melty LOVE" is a Eurobeat take on both the title and ending themes. Since it combines ALL of Reimu's direct and adjacent themes, putting this masterpiece by Hari Music at the very beginning seems appropriate.
• "Eternal Shrine Maiden", the very first stage music, shows how ZUN was a master from the very beginning.
  • ZUN's arrangement of Eternal Shrine Maiden and the earlier SC-88Pro version.
  • TAMusic expectedly uses it to create another nexus of emotion, and circle Kissing the Mirror gives the theme a very kickass classical rock treatment.
  • This piano arrangement manages to be extremely similar to the original tune yet is very calming and beautiful, outlining the sorrowful impressions of the melody such as nostalgia, melancholy, sadness and regrets.
  • EastNewSound made a beautiful rocking song out of it.
  • And RD-Sounds turns the already melancholic theme into a beautiful arrangement that must be heard to be believed.
  • A-One throws you an Eternal Party on Toho Eurobeat Vol.10.
• Shingyoku's "The Positive and Negative", the first boss theme in the series. Here's a nice remix.
• The first set of Makai stages has "Highly Responsive to Prayers" and its probably one of the few tracks where Akyuu's/TH 05 music test version is genuinely better.
• Yuugen Magan's and Mima's shared boss theme "Angel's Legend".
  • The Remastered version is quite nice.
  • As is the Toho Eurobeat version, "Land of Dreams".
• "Oriental Magician", Elis' stage (well, set of stages) theme.
  • Here's the Remastered version.
  • PC-98 arranges are quite rare as it is, but utter masterpieces like Tutti Sound's rendition are even rarer.
• The second set of Hell stages has "Blade of Banishment".
• "The Legend of KAGE", the theme of the final Makai stages.
  • ZUN's arrangement of The Legend of KAGE
  • It was remixed in Concealed the Conclusion.
  • TAMusic gives us this remix.
• Hell route final boss Konngara's theme, the "Swordsman of a Distant Star".
  • The Remastered arrangement.
  • The Akai EWI (Electronic Wind Instrument, aka "Power Flute") remix.
• Still, nothing from the first game quite beats Sariel's two themes, "Now, Until the Moment You Die" and "Civilization of Magic". You get the feeling that she... he... whatever was intended to be the absolute final boss of the game.
  • And here's a version with power metal and vocals.
  • Alstroemeria Records does their techno/vocal thing with "Civilization of Magic".
  • Now we have here a remix of "Now, Until the Moment You Die" that makes it sound like a church mass music.
  • The one by =a-TTTempo= proves able to hold its own as well.
  • "Where do you go when you die in Hell? I guess when I get to you, Time Will Tell". (T. Stebbins AKA Odyssey.)
• Iris, the nice ending theme. Made awesome with this remastered version. It gets this rare remix. Then there's ZUN's arrangement of Iris.
• When ZUN made Mystic Square, he included all of the music from previous games in the music test, except the original music from this game. Instead, he re-arranged them. Akyu's Untouched Score uses this version of the soundtrack.

The Story of Eastern Wonderland

• "Hakurei - Eastern Wind" is good, but usually ignored in favor of unused track below. Its remix from Concealed the Conclusion may help change this. Also ZUN's arrangement of Hakurei - Eastern Wind and the in-game MIDI version.
• Rika's theme, "She's in a Temper!", plus the Remastered version, and the in-game MIDI version.
• Another gem from Story of an Eastern Wonderland would be the Stage 2 theme "End of Daylight". Alstroemeria Records did such a cool remix for it, several well-done fanvids have been made for it! Try also the in-game MIDI version.
• Meira's theme, "Power of Darkness", and The in-game MIDI version.
• Here is "World of Empty Dreams", the feel of which you can guess from its title. A Remastered version, and the in-game MIDI version.
• An intense track for the battle with the Five Magic Stones, Bet on Death. Fitting for the only enemy to have scared Reimu. Try also the in-game MIDI version.
• The stage 4 music, "Himorogi, Burn in Violet". An epic tune... which everyone refuses to acknowledge because it's obviously a ripoff of Final Fantasy VI's boss theme. Because, you know, the first few bars have a vaguely similar melody. Somebody did a mashup. There's also the in-game MIDI version.
• One of Marisa's original themes, "Love-Coloured Magic". It's so good, her current leitmotif Love-coloured Master Spark is a remix of it. ZUN's arrangement of Love-Coloured Magic and the in-game MIDI version.
• The Stage 5 (Final stage in this game) theme, "Eastern Sealing Magic Record ~ A Phantom's Boisterous Dance". And the in-game MIDI version.
• Mima's boss theme from Story of Eastern Wonderland, "Complete Darkness", is very dramatic and suited to her epic fight with Reimu.
  • ZUN's arrangement of Complete Darkness and the in-game MIDI version.
  • Check out what Alstromeria Records does to it!
  • Complete Loudness rocks all the way out.
  • South of Heaven delivers the epic.
  • Want some metal? Then the Iron Attack rendition should be the thing.
• The Extra stage theme, "Extra Love", does a good job of conveying a raid on a mechanical fortress. One of the Gods of Touhou's arranges, NEO of Tutti Sound, put his hands on "Extra Love". The result is staggering. Try also the in-game MIDI version.
• The Extra boss theme, "The Tank Girl's Dream", reuses the same short motif over and over again in different keys for most of the song, but the intro is unique and well-done. There's also The in-game MIDI version.
• "Hakurei Shrine Grounds", the awesome, but unfortunately unused, stage 1 theme. And the Remastered version.
• While the Story of Eastern Wind is less a direct remake and more Story of Eastern Wonderland with Windows characters replacing the old ones, it has some nice remixes of SoEW, like the ones of "Sunfall", "Himorogi, Burn in Violet", "Love-Coloured Magic" and "Complete Darkness".

Phantasmagoria of Dim. Dream

• "A Dream Transcending Space-Time", the nice menu theme. And the Remastered version.
• "Selection", an intense theme for character selection that will pump your adrenaline when choosing who are you going to play as. Despite Touhou PC-98's obscurity, this theme is regarded by fans as one of the best character selection themes in the series.
• Reimu's classic theme "Mystic Oriental Love Consultation" from Phantasmagoria of Dim Dream. Both fighting games have it remixed and they still come out awesome. The Hisoutensoku version rocks out by only playing when the one-shot kill Musou Tensei comes out in the last round. As they say, you are already dead.
• "Reincarnation", Mima's theme.
  • ZUN's arrangement of Reincarnation and the earlier SC-88Pro version
  • Unlucky Morpheus does a really rocking vocal rendition of Reincarnation with "No Grudge Any More".
  • Alstroemeria Records did a song of it with haunting vocals.
  • Silver Forest's "Holy My Reincarnation" turns "Reincarnation" into something Nana Mizuki might bust out for Lyrical Nanoha.
  • C-CLAYS also give it a go.
  • Two remastered versions.
  • Someone mixed it with "Love-Coloured Master Spark".
  • Here's one from Pocket Wars Evolution.
  • Also a really ominous remix by Tinzuka.
  • This remix is breathtakingly beautiful, mixing feelings of sadness and majesty. It really makes you wish you could listen to it from a real orchestra.
  • Lastly, Rei of ORIENS sends us off to the next world with his magnificent arrange.
  • And another very soothing one, this time by higuma.
• Marisa's theme "Dim.Dream". And the Remastered versions.
• Ellen's theme "Tabula Rasa ~ The Empty Girl".
  • ZUN's arrangement of Tabula Rasa ~ The Empty Girl.
  • "Crying for the Moon" has a very jazzy and mature feel to it, sort-of-fitting to the never-aging child-witch.
  • This remastered version is alright for the first two and a half minutes, but then it picks up a familiar accompanying melody...
• Kotohime's theme "Maniacal Princess". Arranges for "Maniacal Princess" are quite rare, but there's this funky techno number and this lively Windows-game-style cover.
• Remixes for Rikako Asakura's theme "Visionary Game ~ Dream War" are even rarer.
• Kana Anaberal's haunting "Vanishing Dream ~ Lost Dream"! Her theme is very spooky and sad, and shows off ZUN's ability to awaken emotions within his fans.
  • ZUN's arrangement of Vanishing Dream ~ Lost Dream
  • Of special note is this rendition from the album prima.
  • Despite not personally appearing in the fangame itself, her theme in Touhou Mother is quite nice.
  • And here one made by Takase of the Magnum Opus circle.
  • There's also some very good Hardcore Techno for the fans of it, produced by chiArosCuro of Black Onyx.
  • NJK Records' Toho Euro Flash Vol. 2 gives us Endless Night, by DJ Command featuring 3L.
• "Decisive Magic Battle! ~ Fight it out!", the theme for the decision match, before moving on to meeting the penultimate boss.
• Yumemi's assistant Chiyuri has a pretty cool theme of her own, and it's called "Sailor of Time". Cue the Pluto/Setsuna jokes.
• The midboss demo theme, Hitouitsu Mahou Sekai Ron, Disunified Field Theory of Magic.
• "Love of Magical Chimes" may be short, but it gets you geared up for the big boss dual
  • It gets a lot of techno remixes. Here's one
  • ZUN's updated version.
• Phantasmagoria of Dim.Dream also brings us Yumemi's theme, "Strawberry Crisis!!".
  • Touhou, if featured in a Hollywood action sequence.
  • The remix by dBu.
  • Alstroemeria Records' C87 Remix is hella catchy
• The nighttime ending music, "Eternal Full Moon". The Concealed the Conclusion remix shows why the old scores will never die. Then there's ZUN's arrangement.
• The staff roll theme, "Maple Dream...". Few people have noticed that the credits theme for Imperishable Night, "Eternal Dream ~ Mystic Maple", is a remix of "Maple Dream".
• "Winds of Time", an unused theme which didn't fit anyone in the game. And the Remastered version.
• Another Cut Song, "Starbow Dream". If one listens closely one can hear parts of both "Sleeping Terror" and "Cute Devil~Innocence".
• And yet another Cut Song, "Phantasmagoria". Short but pretty little theme.

Lotus Land Story

• "Gensokyo ~ Lotus Land Story", the menu theme that sounds like it was lifted from the final stage.
• "Witching Dream" and "Selene's Light", the Stage 1 themes for Reimu and Marisa respectively. Try also ZUN's arrangement.
• Orange's "Decoration Battle" is proof that even an ordinary youkai can have extraordinary music.
  • This version didn't make the game, but showed up in Akyuu's Untouched Score.
  • And because IOSYS apparently just couldn't pass up the opportunity for a Pun, "Bad Apple & Good Orange".
• The Stage 2 theme for the Lake of Blood, "Break the Sabbath". Tutti Sound turned the epic up to eleven with "The Abyss".
• Kurumi's theme, "Scarlet Symphony ~ Scarlet Phoneme", is dreadfully simple (a single 14-second motif repeated over and over in different keys), but catchy as hell. Time Limit ~ Momentary has a nice jazzy combination of it with the aforementioned "Decoration Battle". Like Elly, Gensou Shoujou Taisen gives us Scarlet Symphony ~ Scarlet Phoneme ~ Break the Sabbath
• "Bad Apple!!" (the original!), Elly's Stage 3 theme from Lotus Land Story, and Alstroemeria Records's collaborative vocal arrange featuring nomico. And this version is a must watch for Touhou fans. And a three-for-one version.
  • A rendition by Marasy8, based on the Alstroemeria Records remix. Utterly amazing. He revisited the song a few years later, putting a new spin on this encore performance.
  • It even comes in a gorgeous piano version.
  • The album Time Limit ~Momentary~ features another strong arrange of it.
  • The remixers at Nico Nico Douga did a lot of "Bad Apple!!" remixes. This one is done in a capella. As for this one, if you didn't know it was a nico production, you might mistake it for an official ZUN arrange!
  • Here is an awesome remix of the Alstromeria Records remix of "Bad Apple!!" uploaded by Something Unreal.
  • Even Cristina Vee sang a cover of it! Nearly ten years later, she would team up with RichaadEB for a badass metal cover, then come full circle two years after that with a Japanese version of said cover.
  • And then there's this excellent but hard-to-search-for male and female English duet version.
  • And now, with a mashup of every appearing character's theme.
  • Or do you maybe like it more traditional?
  • How about a quartet between ocarina, violin, electric guitar, and drums?
  • Or Think of You, the Eurobeat version?
  • Koakuma Ringo, Yuuhei Satellite's take on the original Bad Apple!!.
    • Little devil, sung by the same vocalist but with charming English lyrics.
    • And the Eurobeat remix of Koakuma Ringo, which one probably shouldn't listen to while driving on their daily commute.
    • Active NEETs' orchestra would later collaborate with senya in a brass-heavy cover of the remix.
  • The Alstroemeria arrangement mashes up surprisingly well with the Squid Sisters' theme from Splatoon.
  • There's also an absolutely awesome orchestral version, courtesy of Cloudjumper, which itself has been in development for close to a year. Time well spent.
  • What does SiIvaGunner do with his Special Anniversary (Hi-Quality) Rip of Bad Apple (Akyuu's Untouched Score Version)? Why, he turns the Alstroemeria Record version into a PC-98 chiptune. It is 100% faithful to the PC-98's audio chip, and sounds absolutely lovely.
  • This Eurobeat rendition of Bad Apple is based on the original chiptune, and mashes in elements from the Alstromeria version for a fast-paced and drift-worthy number.
  • This version consists of only banjo, mandolin, flute and a drum and bears resemblance to the traditional sounding ShouRinka version, but also has some elements of the Nomico-Alstromeria version.
• Elly's boss theme, "Spirit Battle ~ Perdition Crisis" gets no love, being overshadowed by Bad Apple.
  • ZUN's arrangement of Spirit Battle ~ Perdition Crisis.
  • Gensou Shoujou Taisen (a Super Robot Wars based fangame) gives us this remix.
• Reimu's best-known theme, "Maiden's Capriccio", got its catchy start in PC-98.
  • ZUN's arrangement of Maiden's Capriccio.
  • And here's an exquisite orchestrated update by kiyoma.
  • Here's Hachimitsu-Lemon's relaxing arrangement, mixed with a bit of Spring Lane from the later games.
• Marisa's "Vessel of Stars ~ Casket of Star" is the counterpart to the original "Maiden's Capriccio". Also ZUN's arrangement.
• "Alice Maestra" (which has nothing to do with Alice at all) plays in the stage 4 (and where Reimu and Marisa fight it out).
  • ZUN's arrangement of Alice Maestra.
  • The awesome EWI arrangement.
  • Sound Holic and 709sec. add a lot of awesome to an otherwise overlooked theme.
  • Sound Holic gave this song a second go around, this time with Nana Takahashi's vocals. The result speaks for itself with the title: "Quod Erat Demonstrandum".
  • Demetori's amazing rock remix is truly a masterpiece.
  • What happens when you make a remix to Alice Maestra the backdrop to a combination attack showcasing a boatload of Reimu and Marisa's spellcards bombarding a poor victim? "A Single Blow for the Fate of All Gensokyo", a resoundingly heroic theme for Marisa and Reimu's combo attack, True Trichromatic Lotus Butterfly.
• Yuuka's original theme, "Sleeping Terror", the Stage 5 Boss theme. Sinister and majestic, very appropriate.
  • A very appropriate remix that captures the song's air perfectly.
  • The fierce and hopeless sounding "Faint Dream ~ Inanimate Dream" (Stage 6 Boss theme).
  • And "Lotus Love" (Stage 5 theme).
  • And "Dream Land" (Stage 6 theme). Yes, Yuuka has four themes in Lotus Land Story. Four and a half if you count the latter parts of Gengetsu's theme. Bump it up to five if you count the first version of "Faint Dream" that remained unused in the final game and sports an even more sinister melody.
    • ZUN's arrangement of Faint Dream ~ Inanimate Dream
    • O-Life Japan tried their hand at "Faint Dream", too.
    • A wonderful orchestrated version made by a Nico Nico artist.
    • A wonderful piano version of "Faint Dream".
    • "Inanimate Dream" translates awful well as a memorable opening, "Yu-mu", for Kinema Kan 2nd Curtain through Kishida Kyoudan & the Akeboshi Rockets.
    • This arrangement of the unused version of "Faint Dream" rather nicely captures the aggressiveness of the battle.
    • Nana Takahashi from SOUND HOLIC rocks out with "Dream Refrain", with the circle releasing an equally awesome PV.
    • Younoumi, part of IOSYS, combines Sleeping Terror with Plastic Mind (further down the list). The result is very much awesome.
    • SOUND HOLIC delivers again - this time with 709sec.'s help.
• The Extra Stage theme "The Inevitable Forbidden Game" just swells with being a light hearted silly trek through untold barrages of bullets.
  • ZUN's arrangement of The Inevitable Forbidden Game.
• Mugetsu's theme "Illusion of a Maid ~ Icemilk Magic". With a remastered version here. Enjoy.
• And for those who can't deal with Gengetsu Rape Time, here's "Cute Devil ~ Innocence".
  • FactoryNoise's and AG's remix of it is supremely well done, while being quite faithful to the song.
  • And Tutti Sound did it again. From the same album as NEO's take on Oriental Magician comes this masterpiece.
• "Dreamy Pilot", the unused stage 4 theme. Here are the Remastered versions, and a Remix.
• "Magical Shop of Raspberry", an unused Extra Stage tune from Lotus Land Story, gets a rockin' makeover from IOSYS for "Futatsu no Tsubasa". Another group, known as kimino-museum, has also acknowledged this lost track's greatness.
  • A bunch of players in the MMORPG Mabinogi have done a rendition of the IOSYS arrange.
  • Once remastered, this track becomes even more haunting and impressive. Another Remaster by マドレーヌ gives it a more UFO-styled feel.
• "Arcadian Dream", the staff roll theme. The unused staff roll theme, "Crescent Dream", is not bad either.
• "Border Land", the unused stage 6 theme, is catchy as just about every other theme here.
• "Days", a rather melancholy theme for the bad ending.

Mystic Square

• The Menu theme, "Wondrous Romance ~ Mystic Square", which sets the tone for the rest of the game, and the Remastered version.
• The Stage 1 theme, "Dream Express".
  • ZUN's arrangement of Dream Express.
  • The Remastered version.
  • Concealed the Conclusion gives us an epic arrangement of it named "Dream Express ~ Red and White", mixing it with "Witching Dream" and "Dichromatic Lotus Butterfly ~ Red and White".
• Sara's theme "Magic Formation ~ Magic Square". And the Remastered version.
• The Stage 2 theme, "Dimension of Reverie".
  • ZUN's arrangement of Dimension of Reverie
  • The Remastered version.
• Luize's theme "Spiritual Heaven".
  • A Rock Arrangement.
  • Sound Holic delivers a great Hardrock blend beetween Dimension of Reverie and Spiritual Heaven.
• All of Alice's awesome themes: "Romantic Children" (Stage 3), "Plastic Mind" (Stage 3 Boss), "Alice in Wonderland" of course (Extra Stage), and "The Grimoire of Alice" (Extra Stage Boss theme).
  • ZUN's arrangements of Romantic Children and Alice in Wonderland
  • Speaking of which, FlanGoY's flute solo of "Alice in Wonderland" does the original justice, and almost sounds as though Alice herself was playing it.
  • An awesome remix of "The Grimoire of Alice" done for a fan-game called Mystic Chain.
  • TAMusic takes their violin to "Alice in Wonderland", and weaves glorious emotion into it.
  • "Le Cirque de Sept Couleurs", as done by Unlucky Morpheus, is amazing.
  • "Hisoutensoku"'s remix of "The Grimoire of Alice" is pretty awesome.
  • "Artificial Children" by IOSYS is a very haunting remix of "Romantic Children".
  • Have some piano versions of both "Romantic Children" and "Alice in Wonderland".
  • Rei of Oriens delivers the awesome with "Alice in Wonderland" and "Sealed Sword", the latter being an epic orchestral arrange of "The Grimoire of Alice".
  • These remastered versions of the 3rd Stage's Romantic Children.
  • Tutti Sound gives Grimoire of Alice their own spin with The Ancient Magic.
  • The remix of "Alice in Wonderland", "La Fleur En Cage" by Crest is notable especially since it is sung in French.
  • Who knew Alice could drift so well?
• The Stage 4 theme, "Maple Wise".
  • ZUN's arrangement of Maple Wise.
  • The Remastered version.
• "Forbidden Magic", the shared boss theme of Yuki and Mai.
  • ZUN's arrangement of Forbidden Magic.
  • The Remastered version.
• Angry Yuki's theme, "Crimson Maiden ~ Crimson Dead!!".
  • ZUN's arrangement of Crimson Maiden ~ Crimson Dead!!.
  • The Remastered version.
• "Treacherous Maiden ~ Judas Kiss", Mai's insanely catchy theme.
  • ZUN's arrangement of Treacherous Maiden ~ Judas Kiss.
  • Alstroemeria Records does it again with a vocal remix of Mai's theme, "Real Intension", portraying Mai's feelings for her counterpart, Yuki. Judge for yourself.
  • The two Remastered versions.
• Stage 5 theme, "The Last Judgement".
  • ZUN's arrangement of The Last Judgement
  • Here are some remastered versions.
  • As well as a song produced by Alstroemeria Records, rhythmed by a long intro before the core of the song kicks in.
  • Here is a nice remix named Dreaming to Return Again.
• Yumeko has a great theme in "Doll of Misery", which also comes in Classical flavour.
  • The Remastered version.
  • Fear the original Ninja Maid. SOUND HOLIC made the theme even more awesome.
• This remix of "World's End" by Pizuya's Cell and MyonMyon is epic.
  • The excellent "Dream Bottom" from Syrufit.
  • Now with added heartbeat sound and a drop of UFO flavor.
  • The Remastered version.
• "Legendary Illusion ~ Infinite Being", Shinki's theme from Mystic Square. It takes about 24 seconds for the epic to kick in. A perfect anthem for a battle so epic that it leaves Makai in flames and the fallout of which results in the creation of the Spellcard system.
  • ZUN's arrangement of Legendary Illusion ~ Infinite Being.
  • This remix by O-Life Japan brings the "Holy Shit!" Quotient to a whole new level.
  • The Remastered version.
  • The remix by RD Sounds is a good five and a half minutes of awesome.
  • Then there is the version by OUT that is a complete masterpiece.
  • A Melodic Death Metal arrange, Myth Logic Ignite, by Pizuya's Cell and MyonMyon brings something epic and uncommon to the table.
• "Mystic Dream", the Staff roll theme.
  • The Remastered version.
  • The epic sounding Pearl Remix.
• "Peaceful Romancer", the Extra stage's ending theme (and therefore, some of the very last songs of PC98), is absolutely beautiful.
  • ZUN's arrangement of Peaceful Romancer.
  • A remastered version.

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