Touhou Kishinjou: Double Dealing Character, by Team Shanghai Alice, is a Windows vertical-scrolling bullet hell shooter built around high-skill arcade runs. The game tasks players with navigating dense projectile patterns while pursuing score through positioning and item collection, and it pairs that action with a character-based shot system and practice options. Designed for danmaku enthusiasts and series fans, it rewards repeated play and mastery of scoring mechanics for players who enjoy intense, short-session runs.

What kind of game is Double Dealing Character?

In this game, you play a vertical-scrolling shooter that emphasises precision and scoring rather than exploration. The core loop is repeated short runs through six stages, confronting bosses and memorizing their patterns. The narrative frames those runs as an investigation into runaway equipment, giving each stage a distinct setup. Progress is measured by lives, bombs, and score rather than open-ended objectives.

Does it encourage aggressive scoring and risk-taking?

Inside the stages, the Point of Collection mechanic changes how you approach item pickup: moving to the top of the screen collects items and grants fragments for extra lives and bombs. That system rewards forward play and rapid item bursts. Players choose among three protagonists, each with two shot types, so scoring tactics shift by character. The game also includes an Extra Stage unlocked by a single-credit clear, raising the stakes for skilled runs.

What does the game look and sound like?

When playing, the presentation pairs dense onscreen projectiles with a signature soundtrack composed by ZUN. The music is high-energy and often cited by players as a motivating element. Menus appear in English on the Steam release while story dialogue remains in Japanese, so narrative reading requires familiarity or external translation. Visuals focus on clean bullet readability and clearly defined player hitbox space.

Is it hard to get started and how does progression work?

While starting runs is straightforward, the game offers four difficulty tiers: Easy, Normal, Hard, and Lunatic, which scale challenge sharply. Spell Practice mode allows focused repetition against boss patterns you encountered, enabling deliberate improvement on specific encounters. The Extra Stage is gated behind a single-credit clear, creating an explicit skill threshold for full content access.

A precise, score-first shoot ’em up suited to dedicated danmaku players

Double Dealing Character is a solid choice for players who enjoy skill-focused, score-driven shooters and structured practice. One practical consideration is the Windows-oriented requirements, which list DirectX 9.0c and at least 256 MB of VRAM. For players comfortable with a steep learning curve and repetition, the game rewards mastery and repeated runs with measurable scoring depth and a memorable musical identity.