E.E.R.I.E

E.E.R.I.E is an anime-style action shooter set in a chaotic fantasy war, developed as a Tōhō (Touhou) fangame. Players control three hostile protagonists—Daiyousei, Kijin Seija, and Ringo—each with unique abilities, faction allegiances, and narrative arcs. Featuring a realistic arsenal of customizable firearms, diverse ammunition types, and tactical combat, the game blends tactical strategy with fast-paced shooting. Built on Unity and supporting Steam Workshop mods, it offers mature themes including violence, sexual content, and substance abuse within its stylized anime universe.

E.E.R.I.E: A Fractured Fantasy Shooter Lost in Ambition

Introduction

In the crowded landscape of indie shooters, E.E.R.I.E (2021) emerges as a curious anomaly—a Touhou Project fangame that mashes anime aesthetics with gritty tactical combat, only to stumble under the weight of its own ambitions. Developed by Ureasoft, this Windows-exclusive title promised a blend of multi-perspective storytelling, hyper-detailed weapon customization, and open-world chaos. Yet, beneath its flashy premise lies a game struggling to reconcile its identity. This review dissects E.E.R.I.E’s fragmented vision, exploring how its strengths in weapon realism and faction-driven narrative clash with tonally inconsistent design and undercooked execution.

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Development History & Context

A Solo Studio’s Passion Project

Ureasoft, a small developer with no prior notable releases, positioned E.E.R.I.E as a love letter to the Touhou Project doujin scene—a universe of fan-created games and media rooted in Japanese bullet-hell lore. Released on June 12, 2021, the game leveraged the Unity engine to craft a modernized Gensokyo, blending mythological fantasy with contemporary warfare. However, the studio’s inexperience showed: the game’s Steam page warned of janky performance, and its $6.99 price tag hinted at budget constraints.

The Touhou Fangame Paradox

E.E.R.I.E exists in a legal gray area. As a Touhou fangame, it repurposes characters like Daiyousei and Seija Kijin without official licensing, relying on fan goodwill. This niche appeal limited its reach, with no major marketing push beyond Steam and indie forums. The 2022 sequel, E.E.R.I.E 2, refined its systems but arrived too late to salvage the first game’s lukewarm reception.

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Narrative & Thematic Deep Dive

Warring Factions, Underdeveloped Motives

The game’s three protagonists—Daiyousei (a fairy), Seija Kijin (an amanojaku rebel), and Ringo (an original character)—are thrust into a conflict where their goals directly oppose one another. Each campaign unfolds in parallel, offering glimpses into a war-torn Gensokyo. However, the storytelling falters:

• Daiyousei’s Arc: Portrays her as a reluctant soldier, torn between loyalty to her fairy kin and moral disillusionment.
• Seija Kijin’s Arc: Focuses on anarchic rebellion, though her motivations are reduced to contrived spite.
• Ringo’s Arc: Introduces drug abuse and PTSD themes but handles them with superficial edginess.

The “hostile protagonist” dynamic is conceptually daring, yet the writing lacks depth, relying on Touhou lore familiarity rather than weaving a cohesive standalone tale.

Themes of Chaos and Futility

E.E.R.I.E grapples with the futility of war, mirroring real-world conflicts through its factional battles. Environmental details—abandoned shrines repurposed as barracks, fairies wielding assault rifles—underscore the absurdity of merging myth and modernity. However, the tonal whiplash between grimdark storytelling and anime flamboyance often undermines its gravity.

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Gameplay Mechanics & Systems

A Weapon Sandbox Amidst Chaos

The game’s standout feature is its realistic firearm system, touting:
– 70+ Weapons: From Glock pistols to dragunov sniper rifles, each modeled after real-world equivalents.
– Deep Customization: Scopes, magazines, and underbarrel attachments alter stats meaningfully.
– Ammo Types: Armor-piercing rounds shred enemy cover, while incendiary bolts ignite terrain.

Combat thrives in moments of improvisation—using a grenade launcher to collapse a tower on enemies, for instance. Sadly, these highs are marred by:
– Unbalanced Progression: Early-game enemies sponge bullets, forcing grind-heavy upgrades.
– Clunky UI: Navigating the weapon wheel mid-fight feels unintuitive.

Open-World Potential, Linear Execution

Despite billing itself as “open-world,” missions funnel players into linear corridors. The environment—a skeletal rendition of Gensokyo—lacks interactivity beyond destructible props. Mod support via Steam Workshop injects replayability, but the base game’s structure feels half-baked.

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World-Building, Art & Sound

Aesthetic Identity Crisis

E.E.R.I.E’s art direction wavers between:
– Anime Flourishes: Vibrant character designs and spell effects reminiscent of Touhou’s bullet-hell roots.
– Gritty Realism: Muddy battlefields and blood-splattered uniforms clash with the cartoonish aesthetic.

The dissonance extends to sound design: orchestral boss themes clash with jarringly silent gunfire. Environmental storytelling—like graffiti mocking the war’s pointlessness—hints at subversive brilliance but feels underutilized.

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Reception & Legacy

A Niche Cult Following

At launch, E.E.R.I.E garnered minimal attention, peaking at 148 concurrent Steam players. Reviews praised its weapon mechanics but slammed its performance issues and uneven narrative. The 2022 sequel, E.E.R.I.E 2, rectified some flaws, earning a “Mostly Positive” Steam rating, yet the original remains a footnote.

Influence on Indie Shooters

While not a commercial hit, E.E.R.I.E’s modular weapon system inspired indie titles like District XiLin (2023). Its faction-driven narrative also echoes in games like The Precinct (2025), proving its ideas had merit—even if its execution didn’t.

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Conclusion

E.E.R.I.E is a fascinating mess—a game bursting with inventive systems but shackled by indecision. Its weapon customization shines, and its three-pronged narrative dares to antagonize players, yet these triumphs drown in tonal inconsistency and technical jank. For Touhou devotees, it’s a curious artifact; for tactical shooter fans, a flawed experiment. In the annals of gaming history, E.E.R.I.E stands as a cautionary tale: ambition without focus is a war no game can win.

Final Verdict: A middling 5/10—a diamond in the rough, but one that demands too much patience to polish.