Top Touhou Music Syncs

Anyone who knows me knows I LOVE how orchestrated Touhou stages are, in how the background, music, and patterns are all bound together. It's a big thing that keeps me coming back to Touhou vs other STG's.
This video showcases me playing through 16 of my favorite moments.
Sorry for the shoddy editing, this is actually the first time I've edited so much for a video, lol.
0:00 Intro
0:14 UFO Stage 4
0:57 MoF Stage 2
2:28 HSiFS Stage 1
3:18 EoSD Stage 3
4:02 HSiFS Stage 4
6:03 LoLK Stage 5
8:28 DDC Stage 5
9:07 WBaWC Stage 6
10:25 IN Extra
11:40 IN Stage 3
12:36 UM Extra
13:55 LoLK Stage 6
14:38 LoLK Stage 4
15:48 SA Extra
17:48 UFO Stage 1
18:35 SA Stage 5

[@MinusZaxis]

UFO''s final stage theme syncs so well too. It becomes quiet exactly when the dialogue starts

[@captainernest95]

It's like once you reach the end, you see the sunset where your journey ends, everything is quiet until she comes

[@JustADonutz]

IN stage 4 is my favourite. For some reason, the moon always appears at the exact same time as the song changes sections.

[@YoannBB]

That's simply because in each Touhou game, you get an additional section after each midboss if you beat it too fast. Then, the stage "resumes" when you were supposed to beat the midboss so it can sync with the music. ZUN is such a madlad !

[@hunter00143]

it's because everything except non auto dialogue and spell cards are scripted, IN stage 4 the music will always change with the moon's appearance no matter how fast or slow you kill the enemies

[@abrahamrangel2326]

I swear Zun with the few tools he has makes me experience feelings no other game except touhou can make me feel... There is nothing more exciting and wonderous for me than fighting a touhou boss and hearing the awesome music sync perfectly to the portrait of the character appearing on screen as the spell card name goes up to the top, hearing that music as im dodging all the bullets gets me feel so pumped up and alive... Thats something not even triple A game studios can make me feel with their "epic bosses"

[@gypsysprite4824]

I love how PCB stage 4's theme hits the calming af point where it loops right at the end of the stage. Helps take some of the stress away between dealing with the pain of stage 4 and dealing with the pain of the Prismrivers

[@Clownplease]

My personal favourite is Mokou initiating her final spell Hourai Doll right as the ZUNpet blasting version of the chorus starts. On an average run this lines up surprisingly often for me, although the better I do the less likely.

[@williewillus]

I forgot to add, the lanterns in LoLK S4's background pulse to the music!

[@xYiazmatx]

Great, now I will never be able to un-see that while I'm trying to dodge haha

[@BinglesP]

That's awesome actually??? Like, not just to the beat, but it flickers perfectly with the snare pattern. Now *that's* a good detail.

[@snanta]

One of my favorites is the end of IN stage 4, where the music climaxes just as you clear the bamboo forest and get a shot of the full moon. Also, the entirety of UM stage 5 is top notch, from how the music changes when Tsukasa shows up for the first time to when the zunpets are going crazy as you're nearing the peak of the mountain and everything darkens, with a shitton of weirdly aimed bullets

[@snanta]

Great video idea by the way! I always felt that while people can listen to touhou music with no knowledge of the games and still enjoy it a lot, it gets 10x better when you're listening to it remembering it in context of the gameplay

[@Megapig9001]

This was a really cool concept executed fantastically. I think my favorite sync is probably Fall of Fall syncing up with enemies coming out in Mountain of Faith stage 4

[@brandonnguyen5289]

im surprised ufo stage 5 isnt on here, its so satisfying to hear the ying yangs spawn in

[@GarryDumblowski]

I'm really glad to see someone finally appreciate LoLK stage 5, I've always loved it. LoLK isn't my favorite game to play, but I think it's my favorite game to watch and analyze.

[@thisrg7054]

I'd also like to add IN stage 2. It fits so well, and I feel that stage theme doesn't get the attention it deserves. Nice video btw

[@TXFlyveon]

Agreed

[@Galantis_garantisu12345]

SA Stage 5 Lullaby of a deserted hell always are my best favorite stage theme ever. Especially Cat Sign "Cat Walk" start part.

[@TewbBelrog]

love the annotations in the style of ol timey touhou videos of yore Edit: My favorite here is probably EoSD 3's midboss card as well, even the normal variant is breathtaking also a music sync compilation without Pristine Beat? Unfathomable.

[@williewillus]

Fun fact: Pristine Beat actually has no syncing, unlike some places in the maingame which force a sync (using unskippable dialogue). How it works is the bullet fire rate is ever so slightly off of the music's BPM. The spell is also over a minute long, so those two things put together ensure that you'll always get at least a section where the bullets and music are in sync, but they'll eventually drift out of sync again. Pretty genius idea from ZUN who probably didn't want to code a full syncing system for one spell. It's pretty tricky to set it up properly -- here's a run that shows it off the best kzbin.info/www/bejne/p4fTn35jrcyEntk

[@soya_kitchens]

Finally, someone talks about the awesome music syncs!

[@Happydiamo]

IN Stage 4 Marisa route is one of my favourites not just because of the ending where the moon appears but also during the section when you chase marisa through the bamboo forest, just sends chills

[@seila7303]

what about touhou 10 stage 5? the music reaches it's climax at the same time that Sanae midboss appears

[@cienciandre]

For those who don't know, stages are coded so they sync with the stage music, so these moments are _supposed_ to happen. All fairy sections always have a fixed duration regardless if you kill them or not. After you finish a midboss, if you've completed it before the max expected time, there will be an extra fairy section with the exact duration needed to fill that remaining time gap. Also, you have no control over midboss chatboxes, they move on their own. All of this so the stage mainly keeps synchronized with the stage music. When this is guaranteed, ZUN can make his stage sync shenanigans, like making so the midboss/remarkable sections appear at the music's climax for example. And boom, you got your sync moment. This doesn't happen with the main bosses though, as you can wait for a long time with the chat boxes, and the spellcards and midspells have different durations depending on your performance, without extra fairy sections to fill in the gaps. That's why there are almost no sync moments during main bosses. Some of them do sync though, usually on a perfect run

[@lib6194]

Cakey not in #1, weird. You probably didn't speedkill her fast enough Edit: Forgot the most worthy contender for #1: UM stage 5. The midboss with the flute, the change in the music syncing with the change between day and night is just perfect

[@diegoalexander1832]

i would add sakuya's entrance in EOSD stage 5 just the dialogue and music make it feel very epic

[@thepanman674]

This!!! I was wondering if anyone noticed it other than me...

[@Gyrokun]

yeah, and where's PCB stage 4 on this list anyway?? that's the most classic example

[@GensouChronicle]

I love this. The musical syncs are one of my favorite parts of the games.

[@Hawlo]

TD Miko's theme doing the thing as soon as she unleashes Guse Flash is peak Touhou

[@AzuRemilia]

That reminds me of how I always tried to sync Nazrin's and Yamame's boss fights to go with the music. I always love it when that happens Like, I always read Nazrin's dialogue so the intro of her theme could end perfectly with her dialogue lol

[@furiiii1]

I also enjoy syncing the love coloured master spark drop to marisa's master spark as well

[@kirbyandggrotmanduz4513]

IN stage 4 has a music sync that is incredibly specific where after the 1st part of the fight is done and enemies start flying down, depending on your performance the music will sync with either the enemies start or marissas return which is really cool

[@Cosplaybuddygiraffes]

EXCELLENT list, and the fact that there are so many additions in the comments just goes to show how beloved Touhou music is! My added picks for faves: - MoF Stage 4, song kicks into the chorus during a new wave - MoF Stage 5, song usually begins the “ending section that transitions back to the start” when the boss dialogue starts - PCB Stage 4, the stage background begins to swirl and uncloud as the first chorus kicks in - DDC Stage 6, Shinmyoumaru usually begins “Now You’re Big!” as the last chorus blasts (my FAV touhou boss theme btw) - TD Stage 1, the spirit begins attacking you on the chorus key change - IN Stage 4, the song enters the last loop just as the stage ends and the screen flashes white. SO good!

[@toribirb]

MoF stage 5 is one of my favorites because the main chorus kicks in when sanae appears as a midboss. never fails to give me goosebumps.

[@jackymok4848]

I was wondering where I'd find a comment about MoF stage 4, but for me, it's the first 10 seconds. We're literally climbing up a waterfall IN stage 4 is great too, probably my favourite

[@Cupcakkes2girlsand1cup]

I'd like to add PCB Stage 5 where the master spark sound plays and Youmu appears is so good

[@tr0ylol]

Some of my favorites is pretty much all of touhou 7, especially stages 3 and 4, touhou 8 stage 5 (how the background accelerates with each climax) and stage 2 (on the boss's final spell not lost word) and touhou 10 stage 6, when the stage turns and when you reach the final boss

[@flatpancakesss]

I'm so glad someone has pointed this out! I've always loved the ways the music impacts the levels in Touhou! I've played each game to death and I can visualise each section of the stage with just the music It's really an under appreciated detail

[@joeanti-governmentjones9463]

I liked PCB stage 4 right before the boss. After emerging from the chaos and the music reaching climax, the scene suddenly changes to the boundary of the netherworld above the clouds and after a moment of silence, the music is peaceful. Also in stage 6 when Yuyuko is resurrected and Border of Life starts to play.

[@anthem9314]

Holy shit, I never realized the black background in UFO S1 was the palanquin ship's shadow.

[@redhollow9045]

There was quite a lot of them I never noticed to begin with somehow. Really adds to design, doesn't it. Thanks for making the video!

[@callie_calamari]

i know lots of others have mentioned it but i absolutely love the way pcb stage 4's music loops back to the beginning right before the prismrivers. it's a good audio cue to remind me for when part 1 of the pain and suffering that is pcb stage 4 is over and i can take a break for a moment.

[@whmboar5056]

My absolute favorite is when I play Reimu A against Satori in SA Stage 4. I learned specifically how to time each of her attacks to get the spellcard rush to line up with the changes in her theme

[@ZackLikesBreadAlot]

EoSD stage 2 is the best in my opinion because the daiyousei bullets were almost like a part of the song already.. oh and SA stage 2 at parsee's nonspell too!

[@r0bba746]

Great vid! The music syncs have always been my favourite part of the series. Wish WBaWC stage 4 was on here though, the drop before the midboss hypes me up every time.

[@MelodyLoveQueen]

Yea WBaWC ST4 is one of my faves

[@EverestBlizzard]

I agree with pretty much all of these, with a few others, such as UFO stage 6, the timing on Eternal Meek in EoSD Stage 6, a little bit of a cheat with this one but IN stage 4 when the moon flashes into view etc. I would have moved IN Extra up a few spots though, fuck me, when you get the spells lined up just right it's downright magical. Also, can I just call attention to semi-coincidental ones? Like a non or spell starting when the guitar revs up in Eirin's theme? The crescendo of Miko's theme matching anything (Jaimers has a vid where it matches the start of Guze Cannon and it's incredible), having anything fast paced happen when Reisen's theme hits the chorus, Shinmyoumaru's theme matching something every time I fight her, Junko's music matching things making her fight less painful, there's so many fantastic moments.

[@CaptainJackSparr0w1]

There is one that I really like that i think is super underrated. PCB stage 4. The gameplay forces you to move and kill enemies from side to side as the music changes and shifts. It calms when Lily white first shows up and does the first 2 attacks. And then ramps up just as she floods the screen with bullets. Then even afterwards the music still keeps sync to what's happening on the screen. All around i think the whole stage is just a masterpiece in musical design from start to finish

[@deadface4875]

A list about Touhou syncs and not a single PCB stage? Anathema!

[@squirrelfart275]

Blue Lady Show syncing with Pristine Beat's drum solo is fucking incredible and happens surprisingly commonly.

[@JayMonoto]

Ohhh man I can't believe you didn't include Mystic Square stage 5. The way the chorus comes in just as the main force of fairies comes blasting at you with aimed shots is so fucking cool. If you ever do another one of these, you gotta include that

[@lyn100]

sa stage 5 also gets points for having one of my favorite stage themes. lullaby of a deserted hell is so beautiful, especially when the danmaku patterns sync with it and orin jumps around in the bg

[@SilvarusLupus]

Tsukasa in UM Stage 5 enters exactly when the pipe flutes start. You mad genius, ZUN.

[@neal3489]

dunno if it counts but i'm obsessed with blue lady show, everytime i get there it syncs to the rythms perfectly through the 3 stages of the spell, sadly it never matches the second chorus on my runs, which is my fav part of the theme

[@borealis1255]

this video is pretty cool, but i would also like to add WBaWC stage 4 and stage 6 stage themes, especially when the midboss parts come, it gets very intense and emotional. bonus for stage 4 yinyangs with the piano going off the rails!

[@yumiphara]

PCB stage 5, youmu midboss appearance will always be the best for me personally. The way song changes when she start shooting, its just indescribable.

[@picks6500]

I especially like MoF stage 4, both when Momiji appears and when Aya's Peerless Wind God usually starts, IN stage 4, PCB stage 4, and stage 5 when Youmu first appears Honestly any sync in Touhou's enough for it to become a favorite of mine and I could sit here and try to list all syncs or intended syncs that I can recall simply because they're that great

[@abder200]

i would definitly add WBaWc stage 4 because of the key changes matching some bullet section and of course the zunpets kicking in as Yachie appears for the first time

[@user-yz2di5zz3o]

Is a fan game but touhou fantastic danmaku festival part 1 and 2 had a lot of music sync moments, specially part 2, the stage 4 is a masterpiece in my opinion and lily theme fits so well with her fight and every single of her spellcards Alice battle in the stage 3 is also a fine example of music sync on this game

[@FelixIsGone]

I'm suprised you didn't mention UFO Stage 5, every section lines up, the enemies, the background, even the mid boss!

[@mistyoblivion726]

my favourite would be touhou 6, koakuma’s appearance in stage 4! the music turning ominous as she appears is always satisfying

[@nyome5086]

I really liked double dealing characters first stage, the music change syncs up right a cirno jumps in and i can never hear the song without seeing cirno appearing on screen!

[@EvaristoH]

Man number 1 really got me because I remember vividly syncing up the bullet pattern with the music to beat Subterranean Animism and the 5 midboss bit really comes to mind. It's super funny because if you beat Orin too fast for the song to catch up it will spawn white spirit enemies iirc for the time being until the actual beat summons the expected group of enemies. Like, it REALLY wants to sync those guys up with that bit.

[@Ikaros---]

My favorite sync is IN Stage 4 when the moon appears and it transitions to Dream Battle fighting Reimu

[@abarette_]

MoF Extra midboss is probably my favourite the music's main phase replays as Kanako appears but with some complementary instruments that add uneasiness, love it

[@Diancie77]

Since you plann on doing fangames as well, may I suggest Servantds of Harvest Wish stage 2 ? The music totally change as soon as the midboss arrives and is in sync with the attacks.

[@MaggiePesky]

I love playing MoF stage 2 because of the vwoomps when hina appears. And Even when I am play the stage theme on KZbin i can hear those sounds playing in my head

[@Hambs23]

Only finished TH6 and 7 as of now, so my range is a bit limited. In 6, I find the mob spawns in Stage 3 to be particularly well synced with the song. The melody and instruments change along with the types of waves in both mob phases. Stage 6 is also really good, but short. In 7 I like how Youmu, a half-phantom, shows up at the exact moment an eerie ghostly sound effect plays in Stage 5 (happens in Normal mode, but not Lunatic? Not sure). The Stage itself is also well-synced, with the background transition and enemy spawns going along with the melody and instruments similar to the first example I mentioned.

[@brickstonesonn9276]

My favourite is UFO stage 5 Also DDC Ex Boss

[@HanakkoLove]

One thing I really like about MoF is that if you play on timeout only, you can feel how ZUN designed so many aspects of the music in tandem with the gameplay. Try stage 5 and sanae timeout only and you'll see what I mean

[@Tulipia5]

This is why sometimes Zun ads a couple of extra fairies if you play the game too quick

[@hyperion6114]

MoF stage 2 is just... Ugh! I LOVE THAT STAGE SO MUCH!

[@annefrank125]

Keine's midboss appearance is my favorite from the entire franchise in terms of syncs with music. Really like the Orin one too.

[@Fish_waffle64]

My favorite is Raiko's final drum sequence and how it's just out of tempo enough that *some* will always line up no matter how the fight went before then

[@wildfire3219]

One of my personal favourite music syncs is during Border of Wave and Particle (SA Stage 4). It's in "particle" mode during the frantic part of Satori's theme, and then it resolves into "wave" mode right as the music redoubles in intensity and it really feels like Satori took a deep breath and then gives it everything she has for one last push before she's defeated.

[@coffeethecake]

in EoSD extra stage, it ramps up right when fighting Patchouli which I enjoy very much

[@jameszukel4502]

Game 5 stage 1. Dream express is a awesome track, and when music changes in its most "oomph" moments a lot of weak foes apeares and I have so badass feeling when annihilating this hord.

[@randommaster06]

SA's Stage 5 is done so well that covers of "Lullaby of a Deserted Hell" will include the meow.

[@peter45440]

nice video!

[@negentr0py]

my favorite that isn't on here is probably wbawc stage 5! the way the stage bg lights up and fades to the animal realm is so cool

[@Akumasama]

MoF stage 4 is it for me, the entire stage is just... mmf. Yes please.

[@Wobuffet3]

td stage 3 has some fairies that shoot in time with the music and that's my favorite

[@helioknight9570]

The lack of the Pristine Danmaku Hell music sync is criminal. Though since you clearly only use Reimu it's not surprising you've never heard it.

[@williewillus]

how so? Junko's fight has a couple of good syncs, but the final doesn't really line up well, even on other shots. I kind of see what you mean but it's a stretch.

[@helioknight9570]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/d2bNZmp_or6Xa8U Honestly the entire fight with Reisen syncs up pretty well.

[@ing5998]

I like DDC's extra sync, this one's a bit weird but with a high-power shot you can actually sync up the sisters midboss fight to the music completely, and also how Raiko's survival can also fully sync up with the music is also really great

[@WabaAnimations]

Raikos timeout spell card sometimes can sync with music and its awesome

[@thetarix123]

um stage 5 stage and boss syncs are my favorites

[@partricknarpman]

LoLK music will always be unbeatable to me. just so good.

[@451R4M]

UFO stage 5 when the orbs appears and the music starts to speed

[@Wannabe-channeL]

For me it’s MoF stage 4. The melody when momiji came in is so catchy

[@Gerdybass]

Youmu's midstage boss sync blew my mind

[@Touchybanana]

You should try timing Raiko's survival with the solo drum part of her theme.

[@AvianZebra]

My favorites PCB stage 5 youmu's midboss entrance IN stage 4 Marisa's spell card as the song hits the chorus SA stage 4 Satori's final spell card syncing with the song's climax for me usually.

[@ayylmao02]

aw some of them are really nostalgic (MoF stg.2, EoSD stg.3, IN stg.3)

[@lyrica-live]

What a satisfying compilation! Thank you so much! I love seeing this kind of thing, and it's true how this artistry makes the Touhou series one of a kind! I think PCB and UFO stand out in my memory as games where the music felt integral, where I can imagine the goings-on of the screen when I hear the songs. This video also reminded me about LoLK, where being broken into chapters definitely often helped accentuate it... I wonder if you appreciate it less, or more, in Pointdevice versus Legacy mode. As demonstrated here, it's nice and smooth in Legacy -- but heck if I didn't memorize exactly when the music swelled to be able to tell how close I was to clearing a section as I repeated it a thousand times. Stage 6s (pre-boss) also often stand out as very prewritten orchestrated scenes. Like, I only truly appreciate a Stage 6 theme when I'm immersing specifically in that context where it feels like you're going through the motions, being laser guided forward to the climax, like a fate you can't change. Real good.

[@paraworld-sys]

Let's not forget EoSD stage 6 The soundtrack loops for the first time, and at the key change you are shown the red moon 👌

[@dwishs]

Also at the LoLK S6 red stars begin to appear with the main tune. And why isn't there a IN S4? The moment where the moon appears on the screen.

[@spaghettiking7312]

ZUN is a genius.

[@unfunniestman]

you should've also mentioned MoF's stage 5 tbh. Sanae (Midboss) appears right before a keychange

[@he3004]

I can't believe you missed the fairies spawning to UFO stage 1 music but still had UFO stage 1 in the video for a different sync

[@olixx1213]

Surprises there isn't touhou 7 stage 2 The beat drop at the huge wave of fairies is great

[@1INBAL]

You put so much lolk so it's a little hard to say that mine is lolk stage 3 when Doremy enter and the music change.

[@yehwat527]

Extra stages are also meant to be in sync with music (I guess, SINVE MOST OF THE EXTRAS I'VE PLAYED AND SEEN)

[@Kasamori]

LoLK stage 4 midboss is the best with the two key changes :)

[@LuigiSantoriniXXX16]

What about MoF stage 5 when Sanae comes in? That's a very good one too.

[@yuyukosaigyoujii]

im suprised Renkos blue lady wasnt in there

[@user-nx2qq5ds7t]

UFO's stage 2 was too good

[@pachicore]

Where's Raiko's last two spellcards? It always felt like on those cards she just stops trying to fight and just plays a beat instead

[@octagb1707]

How did you miss raiko's time out spell and Last spell in DDC extra?? 😭

[@aero_ink]

You forgot PCB Stage 5 sync with Youmu apparition

[@Sushi_555]

I like miko's one in ten desires

[@jastintheceooffinanasapost6204]

You might say the #10 at the was trouBullet