As various games of the same genre influence each other, Touhou series is no exception. This page collects evidences of notable inspirations seen in Touhou games, as well as touhouisms appearing in other doujins, barring generic elements that have appeared since the dawn of shoot-em-ups.
Note: the tables only list earliest chronological appearance of evidences.
Influences on Touhou[]
Highly Responsive to Prayers (1996)[]
| Evidence | Seen in | Likely origin |
|---|---|---|
| Reimu character | Entire game | Sayo-chan, protagonist of KiKi KaiKai (Taito, 1986) |
Story of Eastern Wonderland (1997)[]
| Evidence | Seen in | Likely origin |
|---|---|---|
| Scoring Mechanic | Entire game | 1942 (Capcom, 1984), or Raiden (Seibu Kaihatsu, 1990) |
| Reimu-A's shot | Entire game | Wide Vulcan from Raiden (Seibu Kaihatsu, 1990) |
| Himorogi, Burn in Violet | Stage 4 | The Decisive Battle from Final Fantasy VI (Squaresoft, 1994) |
Phantasmagoria of Dim.Dream (1997)[]
| Evidence | Seen in | Likely origin |
|---|---|---|
| Player interaction mechanics | Entire game | Twinkle Star Sprites (ADK, 1996) |
Lotus Land Story (1998)[]
| Evidence | Seen in | Likely origin |
|---|---|---|
| Grazing mechanic used for scoring | Entire game | Raiden Fighters (Seibu Kaihatsu, 1996) |
| Focused shot that slows down the character | Entire game | Batsugun (Toaplan, 1993), or Cybattler (Jaleco, 1993) |
| Boss invincible to bombs (entire time or during last attack) | Extra | True last boss of ChoRenSha 68k (Famibe no Yosshin, 1995) |
Mystic Square (1998)[]
| Evidence | Seen in | Likely origin |
|---|---|---|
| Mima's shot type | Entire Game | Ixion's main gun from Raiden Fighters Jet (Seibu Kaihatsu, 1998) |
| Shinki character | Stage 6 | Ms. Garra, the last boss from ESP Ra.De. (Cave, 1998) |
| Alice's second pattern | Extra | Hachi, the last boss of DoDonPachi (Cave, 1997) |
| Alice's last pattern and arrowhead bullets | Extra | Hibachi, the true last boss of DoDonPachi (Cave, 1997) |
| Maple Wise | Stage 4 | 'The Final Decisive Battle' from Lufia (Estpolis) Series (Neverland Co., 1993) |
Embodiment of Scarlet Devil (2002)[]
| Evidence | Seen in | Likely origin |
|---|---|---|
| Patchouli's Theme | Stage 4 | Seiken Densetsu Series (Squaresoft, 1991,1993,1995) |
| Remilia's Theme | Stage 6 | Beethoven's Sonata Pathetique 3rd movement (1798) |
| Remilia's Second Non-Spell pattern | Stage 6 | Ms. Garra, the last boss from ESP Ra.De. (Cave, 1998) |
| Flandre's final spell card | Extra | Last boss of Progear (Cave, 2001) |
Perfect Cherry Blossom (2003)[]
| Evidence | Seen in | Likely origin |
|---|---|---|
| Sakuya-B's shot style | Entire game | Hyper Duel (Techno Soft, 1993/1996) |
| Yuyuko's fan | Stage 6 | Last boss from ESP Ra.De. (Cave, 1998) |
| Dodge-only last pattern | Stage 6 | Last boss in Radiant Silvergun (Treasure, 1998) |
Imperishable Night (2004)[]
| Evidence | Seen in | Likely origin |
|---|---|---|
| Yukari's homing option | Entire game | Battle Garegga (8ing/Raizing, 1996) |
| Remilia's "sticky" options | Entire game | Armed Police BatRider (8ing/Raizing, 1998) |
| Youmu's option | Entire game | Battle Garegga (8ing/Raizing, 1996) |
Phantasmagoria of Flower View (2005)[]
| Evidence | Seen in | Likely origin |
|---|---|---|
| Youmu's bullet-canceling sword attack | Entire game | Radiant Silvergun (Treasure, 1998) |
| Medicine's extra attack (slowdown field) | Entire game | Metal Black (Taito, 1991) |
Shoot the Bullet (2005)[]
| Evidence | Seen in | Likely origin |
|---|---|---|
| Spell card 8-3 | Scene 8-3 | Stage 4 boss of Ketsui (Cave, 2003) |
| Spell Card Ex-4 | Scene Ex-4 | Stage 3 boss of Mushihimesama (Cave, 2004) |
Mountain of Faith (2007)[]
| Evidence | Seen in | Likely origin |
|---|---|---|
| Using shot power for bombing | Entire game | Metal Black (Taito, 1991) or Hellsinker. (Ruminant's Whimper, 2007) |
| Marisa-A "shadow" options | Entire game | Gradius (Konami, 1985) or Gradius V (Treasure/G.rev, 2004) (Freeze Multiples) |
Subterranean Animism (2008)[]
| Evidence | Seen in | Likely origin |
|---|---|---|
| Reimu-A's options | Entire game | Thunder Force II (Technosoft, 1988) (CLAWs), or Gradius V (Treasure/G.rev, 2004) (Rotate Multiples) |
| Reimu-C's speed-up ability | Entire game | Dogyuun!! (Toaplan, 1992) |
| Reimu-C's options | Entire game | Air Gallet (Gazelle, 1996) |
| Marisa-B's switchable option formations | Entire game | Battle Garegga (8ing/Raizing, 1996) |
| Marisa-C's missiles | Entire game | Thunder Force II (Technosoft, 1988) (Sidewinder) |
| Communication gauge mechanics | Entire game | Shikigami no Shiro II (Alfa System, 2003) |
| Falling rocks that shoot revenge bullets | Stage 1 | Stage 1 of Mushihimesama Futari (Cave, 2006) |
| Large red round bullets | Stage 6 | Mushihimesama Futari (Cave, 2006) |
| Utsuho's spell card #146 | Stage 6 | 2nd form of the last boss from Psyvariar 2 (Success, 2003) |
| Utsuho's spell card #147 | Stage 6 | Last boss from ESP Ra.De. (Cave, 1998) |
| Utsuho's spell card #155 | Stage 6 | DeathSmiles (Cave, 2007) |
| Lullaby of Deserted Hell | Stage 5 | [Bieito Romero]'s and Mike Oldfield's The Song of the Sun (1996) |
Undefined Fantastic Object (2009)[]
| Evidence | Seen in | Likely origin |
|---|---|---|
| Marisa-B's shot style | Entire game | Star Soldier (Hudson, 1986) |
| Sanae-A shot style | Entire game | Super R-Type (Irem, 1991), or Mahou Daisakusen (8ing/Raizing, 1993) |
| Sanae-B shot style | Entire game | Mahou Daisakusen (8ing/Raizing, 1993) |
| Various Space Invaders cameos | Stage 6 and Extra | Space Invaders (Taito, 1978) |