Chuhou Joutai 3: Three Nights of Scarlet Abscess

Chuhou Joutai 3: Three Nights of Scarlet Abscess is a frenetic bullet hell shooter set during a civil war in the fictional nation of Kozan. Players take on the role of Violetta Scarlet, a vampiress tasked with assassinating revolutionary leader Susumu Takajima to end SPASDOT’s insurgency against the monarchy. This 2D top-down action game combines intense shoot-’em-up gameplay with visual novel storytelling, featuring a quirky blend of alternate history, Cold War themes, and supernatural elements as part of the long-running Chuhou Joutai series.

Chuhou Joutai 3: Three Nights of Scarlet Abscess: Review

A Danmaku Swan Song That Balances Chaos & Accessibility

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Introduction

In the oversaturated landscape of indie bullet-hell shooters, Chuhou Joutai 3: Three Nights of Scarlet Abscess emerges not just as a sequel but as a culmination of Drillimation Systems’ three-year odyssey to refine the danmaku genre for newcomers while honoring its arcade roots. Released on October 7, 2022, as a Steam exclusive, this third installment concludes the studio’s inaugural trilogy with a defiant flourish—combining self-aware humor, streamlined mechanics, and a visual overhaul that dares to ask: Can a bullet-hell game be both brutally chaotic and inviting?

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Development History & Context

Studio Vision & Iterative Growth

Drillimation Systems, a one-person passion project turned indie powerhouse, staked its reputation on the Chuhou Joutai series—a love letter to Touhou Project with a forgiving twist. Following the mixed reception of 2021’s Paraided!, criticized for its punishing difficulty and crude visuals, Three Nights of Scarlet Abscess was conceived as a course correction. Director Susumu Takajima (who also composed the soundtrack) aimed to create “the ultimate Chuhou Joutai experience” by prioritizing accessibility without diluting the genre’s intensity.

Technological Constraints & Anti-Piracy Gambits

Built in GameMaker Studio, the game leveraged Steam’s SDK extensions for features like Remote Play Together and achievements—a first for the series. Notably, Drillimation implemented aggressive anti-piracy measures after notorious warez group Skidrow cracked the first two games within days. The solution? A hard-coded Steam subscription check that triggers a fourth-wall-breaking rant from protagonist Susumu if bypassed.

The 2022 Indie Landscape

Launched amid a renaissance of retro shooters (Vampire Survivors, Devil Engine), Three Nights faced stiff competition. Yet its demo—downloaded 10,000 times in two months—signaled grassroots appeal, bolstered by Drillimation’s pivot from itch.io to Steam exclusivity to capitalize on GameMaker’s updated tools.

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Narrative & Thematic Deep Dive

A Satirical War Against Absurdity

The plot escalates the series’ tongue-in-cheek feud between the Kozanese monarchy and the militant group SPASDOT (Crimsonites). This time, vampiric antagonist Violetta Scarlet orchestrates a prison break to assassinate protagonist Susumu Takajima, pulling him into a three-night siege across forests and seas. The narrative thrives on absurdist parallels to Metal Gear Solid: Fred Fawkes (SPASDOT’s leader) hides in obscurity, while Hearthcliffe’s vampiric cousin Violetta weaponizes gothic theatrics.

Characters as Comedic Vessels

The four playable heroes—returning duo Susumu (drill-wielding fighter) and Kagami (phantom geisha), joined by archer Ryuta and shrine maiden Kumiko—serve as caricatures of JRPG tropes. Dialogue revels in deadpan humor (Kumiko’s ancestor is “former Hakurei Shrine Chief Priest Reimu”—a cheeky Touhou nod), but emotional stakes feel shallow. Themes of lineage and duty surface briefly, drowned out by spectacle.

Subtext & Missed Opportunities

Beneath the chaos lies a fragmented commentary on cyclical conflict—the Kozan civil war mirrors the game’s bullet patterns: relentless yet predictable. However, deeper exploration is sidestepped for punchlines, leaving socio-political threads underdeveloped.

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Gameplay Mechanics & Systems

Danmaku Democratized

Drillimation’s core thesis—”simplified gameplay for newcomers”—shapes every system:
– Four Playstyles: Susumu’s close-range drills, Kagami’s homing spells, Ryuta’s piercing arrows, and Kumiko’s wide-area purifications cater to distinct strategies.
– Co-Op & Accessibility: Local co-op and Remote Play Together soften the learning curve, while adjustable bullet speeds (a series first) let players dial intensity.
– Bomb & Survival Economy: Bombs clear screens but drain score multipliers—a risk/reward loop encouraging strategic conservation.

UI & Legacy Flaws

The HUD adopts a minimalist arcade layout, though hitbox visibility remains finicky. A critical fix from past entries: bullets now sport black outlines, preventing camouflage against vibrant backdrops (Paraided!’s cardinal sin). However, the “separate sound engine” causes audio crackling on legacy hardware—an unresolved technical hiccup.

Progression & Replayability

Unlockable difficulty tiers and Steam achievements (21 total) incentivize mastery, though character-specific routes lack meaningful narrative divergence. The absence of online leaderboards feels like a missed opportunity for community engagement.

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World-Building, Art & Sound

Pixel Art Reborn

Three Nights discards the first two games’ amateurish sprites for a “brand new anime-inspired art direction.” Pre-rendered assets channel 90s arcade flair (think Metal Slug meets Touhou), with stages like the neon-drenched “Forest of Unforgettable” juxtaposing sakura petals against laser grids. Boss designs—particularly Violetta’s crimson-winged finale—are visual standouts.

Soundtrack: Repurposed Genius

The score, partially salvaged from Studio Emiko’s canceled Touhou Tenkijou, blends chiptune adrenaline with haunting leitmotifs. Track 13, “Scarlet Abscess,” epitomizes this with its pipe organ crescendos—a gothic counterpoint to the chaos.

Atmosphere as a Double-Edged Sword

While visuals dazzle, environmental storytelling is sparse. The Kozan civil war backdrop fades into set dressing, leaving stages feeling disjointed thematically.

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Reception & Legacy

Launch & Critical Ambivalence

At release, Three Nights garnered muted critic attention—a symptom of Steam algorithm obscurity—but its three user reviews glow with praise for its “intuitive controls” and “hilarious dialogue.” The lack of mainstream coverage underscores Drillimation’s reliance on grassroots marketing.

Industry Ripples

The game’s accessibility innovations influenced contemporaries like Scarlet Tower (2022), while its anti-piracy theatrics sparked debates about DRM ethics. Though niche, it cemented Drillimation as a bridge between Touhou’s elitism and casual-friendly shooters.

The End of an Era

Director Takajima’s confirmation that Three Nights concludes the trilogy redirects Drillimation’s focus toward a Touhou RPG collaboration with Whitethorn Games. Rumors of a Chuhou Joutai remake or side-scrolling prequel linger, but for now, this stands as the series’ creative peak.

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Conclusion

Chuhou Joutai 3: Three Nights of Scarlet Abscess is a masterclass in balancing chaos and compassion. It stumbles in narrative depth and technical polish, yet triumphs as a gateway drug to danmaku’s intoxicating highs. For genre veterans, it’s a competent homage; for newcomers, it’s an invitation to dance in the bullet storm. In video game history, it will be remembered not for innovation, but for democratization—a testament to how even the most niche genres can evolve without shedding their souls.

Final Verdict: 8/10 — A flawed but essential curtain call for a series that dared to make bullets fun for everyone.