A couple of questions about the game/dlc

[Mei]

Uh hi, so I was just wondering a few things. Is the dlc in this game actually balanced? I know that some rpgs will make unbalanced and super strong dlc that make the game easier (and in my opinion less fun) but then for others the dlc just adds new content and options for gameplay. I tried to find reviews of the dlc but I couldn't really find that many in english, is the extra downloadable content well balanced and fun?

Also, does anyone have any input as to whether I should buy just the base game and play through it, then replay it with the dlc? Or should I just pick up everything from the start and play through it that way, I'm not really sure what to do.

[Lord Gek]

I don't believe any of the DLC break the game's balance, they just add MORE characters, items, and dungeons. In my book, if you enjoy the game more is always better. I think it also comes down to, do you just want to get through the base story and move on, or replay the game with a lot of different characters?

[Mei]

Originally posted by Lord Gek:

I don't believe any of the DLC break the game's balance, they just add MORE characters, items, and dungeons. In my book, if you enjoy the game more is always better. I think it also comes down to, do you just want to get through the base story and move on, or replay the game with a lot of different characters?

Oh so the spell cards and equipment that come with the characters aren't super strong then? Are they just basic/weak starter equipment then? I hope that that would be the case, it would be ideal for what I would want out of the dlc.

And depending on the replayability of the game, I'd like to be able to play it with different characters, but to be honest I still don't really know what to expect. The game looks really cute but from watching the trailer I still don't really know how it actually works. If every character has some sort of separate story attached to them that you would have to play through the game with them to unlock, then I would absolutely want to play it a bunch, but on the other hand, if the only thing that changed was the gameplay (from using different characters and stuff) and nothing else, then I'm not so sure how much I would want to replay it.

[Hazy]

About DLCs, you can play fine w/o any, the only DLC that add extra story is Sakuya which also is considered as "dg farming to reduce the grind time", not entirely broken, but it will significant help the game easier, still require hella grind time though. Other DLCs just add skin to weapons + shields, and more characters to enjoy, there are no difference much in equipments or else.
Few characters are way more superior than other chars even for free (Satori - free, Soga, Suwako), but actually, who cares if we love the game as touhou fan, if u love challenge, then can play with the standard char.

[Shang.EXE]

Tojiko and Suwako as the player-controlled characters (not as partners) are considerably stronger than the other DLC characters in my opinion, making them better for the 99 floor dungeons.

Sakuya's DLC adds four dungeons, one which has rare equipment drop fairly often and another which has blue seals (weapon/armor enhancements) found nowhere else in the game.

Personally I think Utsuho is the most fun out of the DLC characters by a longshot since she basically has a super mode that changes her voice and allows her to use really cool attacks. She's balanced because she's kinda weak outside of it though.

Edit: You really can't play the "base" game with the DLC first because you're locked to using Reimu and her story partner in most main dungeons and a specific pair in each side story otherwise. Buying a character's DLC doesn't add anything other than the character themselves (and some items) except for Sakuya's DLC.

Daiyousei might be stronger than the others as a partner due to her spells, but I'm not too sure about the strengths of partners relative to each other. See here for a list about the different players and partners: https://steamcommunity.com/app/931500/discussions/0/1743356969846578162/