Time for me to ride on the
SPECULATION TRAIN of what I'm expecting from looking at these newly released shots....
GameplayI get this werid vibe that we're going back to what could be something more IaMP style, but probably with a twist. There's been a heavy demand that suggest people didn't dig the weather system from SWR and Soku and looking at the screenshots seems to convince me this is going to it's doing away with these and possibly the spellcards and probably going to make them super moves instead.
Course it's too early to tell as of yet but I feel like it's what it's gunning for.
CharactersSince the story leans in favor of a religion conflict I'm pretty certain that most of the cast will consist of the crew from MoF - TD. This is almost a given. And was mentioned since SoPM that this was likely to occur. So we're likely going to see more new faces than old ones, but then again we may never know...
Also since they're redoing EVERYTHING. Including character art. This also suggest that we're going to definetly have some changes, bigger question is how many character will we get to play as?
My guess is... 12-15 But since this was left in the dark for about a year, this could go even higher, but like everything else, it's unknown, and only time will tell but for now I will go and sit down discuss the candidates for ideal Touhou characters to be playable in this fighter.
Confirmed for BrawlReimu - As screen shots have proven
Marisa - As screen shots have proven
High PossibiltySanae - Being the main head preistress of the Moriya she's almost certain to appear in this. She's pretty much a major character in Touhou Universe and represent the Moriya Shrine so I'm certain she's going to be invovled.
Utsuho - Being Kanako's sock puppet, and tool for the nuclear furnace, I'm certain Kanako herself would likely send Utsuho out repesent the Moriya Shrine in some way or fashion. Her power alone are prominsing enough especially from Soku.
Youmu - Mainly due to her being in the previous fighters and her combat prowless is worth while, she's pretty major as well.
Aya - She gets invovled constantly, it would be unlike her to NOT get invovled.
Ichirin - She's a interesting character to represent the Myouren Temple, and has UNZAN to boot. Unzan could serve as supers which would make things interesting....
Murasa - could play like a Johnny / May variation. And I could see her working really well in a fighter.
Byakuren - Very likely choice since she's the head figure of the Myouren Temple. Would be interesting to see how her scroll was captured in this.
Futo: Pretty much because she's Miko's right hand man and has plenty of moves to boot. It would be interesting to see how her spellcards would be captured.
Miko: Like Byakuren, she's the head figure of the current Toaist Crew and thus would make for an interesting scene especially since we know just well those two would get alone.
Likely Possibilties (Those that I know have a chance, considering their abilities, and skills , but might get opt'd out)
Nitori - Pretty much certain she might appear since she has connection with the Moriya shrine, and was considered for the previous game, but then again, only time will tell...
Suwako - She was very complicated to play as, but yet it had it's charm. Suwako being of the Moriya shrine could indeed get invovled since she would have more free time compared to Kanako.
Nue: She would be interesting in terms of her spellcard, but the question is how would she work (cause I don't expect UFOs to be in it) She's kind of the new member of the Myoren Temple, so she's likely an interesting choice to consider.
Possible, but might not happen (Because there are always character that we want, but may not see)
Shou - She's kinda debatable, since she's suppose to be the avatar of Bishamothen, but I'm not sure she would be pulled into fight, she's got a move set that would work for her though... so maybe.
Kogasa - She's not really affiliated with any Religion circles, but it would be a nice.....
Orin - Would be an interesting choice, but I'm not too sure how she would get involved since she's not really connected to the Moriya Shrine, she's at best likely to be there for Usutho.
Seiga and Yoshika: Let's face it, alone, both would be boring as hell and their fighting mechanics wouldn't work. But together, they could make a very unique fighter, both working as a SINGLE fighter! The only thing that could prevent this is that Seiga disbanded from Miko's crew. However, to the core, she's a taoist. Would she want to get invovled to throw a wrench in the works?
Komachi- Hard to see her being involved due to the religion battle, but I could see her being invovled in an attempt to take down the hermits. (Especially if Seiga's invovled.)
Hard to see happen but might still be possibleYuyuko - She's kind of been important to Youmu, but otherwise, how would she be invovled in the religion battle?
Kyouko - A new recruit with vocal voice, ok she doesn't have much skills, but personally, her mechanic would work as a gag character (if her punk rock side came out)
Tojiko - I would like her to appear, but having only one spellcard, she VERY LIMITED. Unless she gets some additional stuff, I don't think she's going to be even considered.
Nazrin - Probably not possible, though she may serve as an assit to Shou if she appears...
Kanako - She's usually not the one to get invovled directly. This has been the case since MoF. She's been kinda served as the CEO figure of sorts so she's more likely to send others in her place.
But yea, these are all the ideas of who would likely be invovled in terms of the new comers... if you want to consider the old veterans from older fighters (minus Yuyuko and Komachi which I already mentioned). Then do consider the fact that this is a religion battle, so it's kind hard to see some youkais and magicians from back then come back in this. We'll be lucky if some do make the cut, it'll be how ZUN executes it all that'll decide these factors)
Also don't get me invovled in tryin to guess who the new final boss will be, because I wouldn't be sure without more context to the story.