The Prismriver's Theme - Phantom Ensemble

[jarrodocus]

Is merlin playing the trumpet with her ear? O_O

[Hestenfeiser]

This fight can be obnoxiously hard if you aren't careful enough. After all, Merlin was the true inventor of curvy lasers. And that means something.

[Hasegawaa]

Stepmania version of this is what brought me to Touhou <3

[AdderTaisen9000]

First time I played PCB: stage 1: me: Oh, Cirno's back! *kills Cirno* (3*3 = ⑨) Cirno's friend(?) *Kills Letty* stage 2: me: A cat? Whoa it spins! *Kills Chen* stage 3: me: Alice, how cute!! *Kills Alice* stage 4: me:Hm, what's this? Prismriver sisters? Musicians are gonna kill me? no way! *Lose one life* me: Lucky shot. *Lose two lives* me: I'm getting sloppy. *lose three lives* me: What is happening here? *Last life* Master spark FTW! me: Huh, concerto what? Noo! *I die* but the song was great

[ShadowACS]

Is it weird that this is my favorite Touhou song?

And that the prismrivers are my favorite characters in the franchise?

[KawaiiBakaDaysu]

Now where's my drugs....

[Sorflakne]

I like this song, but god alive I hate the boss fight.

[dexms4]

Merlin just gave the term 'playing by ear' a whole new meaning.

[devilman1996]

Hmmm TheEternalOtaku is right about that

maybe this pic is before they become ghost no?

[Tortol58]

@devilman1996 Ghosts aren't blankets with holes you know; they're meant to look like normal people, I don't know where people got the blanket idea.

[laughingfurry]

@Tortol58

Pac-Man, I think.

[Tortol58]

@laughingfurry Shows from the 60's portayed ghosts as blankets aswell, and that was before Pac-Man.

[laughingfurry]

@Tortol58

I forgot about that. Though, I only seen that once, and that was on a Three Stooges show when they were in a haunted house.

Then again, I haven't seen much ghost themed shows from that era. I've seen a lot of undead and mad science, but nothing relating to ghosts aside from what Three Stooges did.

[LimitBreakZero]

You wonder, if the bosses have to get out of the way when they lose to you, what would Reimu and Marisa have to do if they lost. With foes like Rumia, for instance, it would be obvious. They'd become dinner.

But what about 'foes' like the Prismrivers? What would they have you do? Listen to a minuet? If so, perhaps losing would be the best option...

[23tlp]

@LimitBreakZero When you go with sakuya they say that you will become dinner.They are the guardians of the portal of the nether,they will just kick you out of there

[SonicChaocc]

@23tlp The Nether? I swear... last time I fought these three, they were not firing any exploding projectiles at me. Plus, I thought Guardians of the Nether had rods and breathes fire? Oh well, thats M.. Touhou for you

[23tlp]

@SonicChaocc In touhou 7 yuyuko kind of said to the prismrivers to guard the portal of nether(that yukari made).They don't need to fire exploding projectiles to kick you out of there.

[SonicChaocc]

@23tlp I was refering to Minecraft, hince Nether and references to Ghasts and Blaze.

(Although I dont pay attention to the plot, since PCB was in japanese)

[23tlp]

@SonicChaocc There are english patches.I don't quite know about minecraft sorry

[Starxsword]

@LimitBreakZero They can't become dinner. Part of the spell card rules is that youkai cannot kill humans.

[23tlp]

Lunasa looks like Mamizou in the picture...

[GOLDENOZZY]

when 00:51 started, for some reason, it made me smile :D

[MiddiMiii]

I'm waiting for the Prismriver Sisters Solo.

C'mon ZUN, I want a song with Keyboard, Violin and Trumpet.

AND NOTHING MORE!

[KudamonX]

Merlin is so cute in that pic. XD

[TeRBoozooka]

Notice the errors. Ear trumpet, keyboard mash, and holding the violin wrong. Manga graphics FTW? This, by the way, is my fave VGM EVER.

[LeekGallade85]

@TeRBoozooka Look at the first top comment.

[OrangeFlamer]

As a fellow youtuber once said:

"Merlin Prismriver Redefining:"playing by the ear" since 2003"

[KabutoOfTheSound6]

hey, hey Merlin..... EAR HORN!!!!!1

[SoulOfRandomness]

@kryzaptos @MetalMehpiles9000

Personally, I find Cirno the hardest of EoSD. I always die on her.

EVERY. SINGLE. TIME.

Sakuya sometimes, Remilia sometimes, never anyone else though.

[steamgamesfan2]

@SoulOfRandomness fucking cirno man. her first non spell ALLWAYS makes me bomb or loose a life

[SoulOfRandomness]

@steamgamesfan2 Same with me on Icicru Fall, I'm not sure why, but it's hardest on easy mode. When Normal or higher, the yellow bullets actually make me try to dodge the icicles. Also, unlike cowards or idiots, I don't stay at the top of the screen

[roman6a]

@SoulOfRandomness manly men dodge the icicle fall.

[steamgamesfan2]

@SoulOfRandomness ive not tryed cirno on easy

[SoulOfRandomness]

@steamgamesfan2 She doesn't fire forward in Icicle Fall on easy mode, I tried Easy Mode for a laugh and won first time but Cirno destroyed me. Because she doesn't fire forward, I end up relaxing and forgetting the icicles... Bam. Also, what I hate is people who camp at the top, really.

[steamgamesfan2]

@SoulOfRandomness hey just came to say that i posted a vid up of touhou and it shows cirno on it what do ya think i have to improve on?

[SoulOfRandomness]

@steamgamesfan2 Well, one. NEVER focus on her first non-spell. Try going to the top right and go from corner to corner.

On Perfect Freeze, keep looking at Cirno to see if she's gonna freeze, and don't waste a bomb x3

[kryzaptos]

@SoulOfRandomness It took me quite a while to get used to her, but the fight is just a lot fun :P. All you have to do on Icicle Fall is to remember that you have to keep moving to right or left. Forget the yellow balls exist. Just focus on making a way through the icicles and then returning to the center.

On Perfect Freeze, don't look at your character, but I'd say at 1/3 of the screen above of it. Keep dodging left and right what's coming at you, with caution.

[SoulOfRandomness]

@kryzaptos Yeah. Perfect Freeze is too easy.

But Icicle Fall... I'll still never do that without Marisa, which is the character that I can't even get to Stage 4 with.

[kryzaptos]

@SoulOfRandomness Why won't you? I think Icicle Fall is easier with Reimu :o, you can easily focus and just move through the icicles without even having to stop, then going up and above them, and then back to the center, repeat... MarisaA is the best character in my opinion, I can say because I cleared with all of them, until I found out who was the best in Extra e_e. Turns out MarisaA is.

Hong Meiling your problem at getting to stage 4? Just don't be afraid to use bombs there ^_^

[SoulOfRandomness]

@kryzaptos Meiring is easy, it's the stage that gets me if I'mm Marisa.

Also, I say Extra is biased against Reimu... especially ReimuB, which is my favourite in ALL the games (Except UFO, when A and B switch)

[kryzaptos]

@SoulOfRandomness The stage itself, I see

I was quite fond of ReimuB, but I just got a lot used to MarisaA for using her so much. I find Reimu to be too slow now, and I always miscalculate my own position... Extra is almost Reimu-proof, specially against A.

[fetofs]

@kryzaptos Extra, biased against ReimuB? It was the only one I could clear Extra with!

[deamondogboy]

@kryzaptos Keh, bombs are for the weak,

[kryzaptos]

An amazing theme, fits the trio perfectly. ZUN is just awesome at making good music.

And hard patterns too, I can barely best them if I don't blast my way through some spell cards. I find it more challenging to fight them than it's to fight Remilia on EoSD!

[MetalMephiles9000]

@kryzaptos PCB has many imbalanced stages. Some people have more trouble on the Prismriver Sisters than they do on Youmu or hell, even Yuyuko. I find Resurrection Butterfly to be easier than any of the Prismriver attacks. They are just...Absolutely evil.

[kryzaptos]

@MetalMephiles9000 Yes, I'm one of these persons. I can't say they are harder than Yuyuko (though I agree with you on Resurrection Butterfly), but I actually find them harder than Youmu, because, well, she actually kind of helps us in some spell cards. (Yes, I mean when she slows down time a little while attacking.).

They are just... Designed to make me use bombs and die :(

Anyway, on EoSD I find Sakuya to be harder than Remilia. (And Patchouli to be VERY annoying if with ReimuB)

[MetalMephiles9000]

@kryzaptos I'd say Sakuya and Remilia are close in difficulty terms, as I've only fought Remi twice, and Sakuya quite a few times. But as for Patchy, I actually found her to be an easy Stage 4 boss, even with Reimu B, besides the first Non-Directional Lasers.

[kryzaptos]

@MetalMephiles9000 It's Princess Udine that messes me up against Patchy, because I used to play MarisaB, and she only uses that against ReimuB. Sakuya makes the most trouble at Marionette. Remilia puts up a very good fight :), I can't say I find anything particularly hard. I say I find her a bit easier than Sakuya because the first time I got to her (I never play on continues) I defeated her, and the first time I got to Sakuya-chan I was overwhelmed, and defeated.

[MetalMephiles9000]

@kryzaptos That one Remilia spellcard with the knives that go around in circles is what got me (I forgot the name of the spellcard) the first time I fought her. The second time, however, I beat her with much more ease. Sakuya, however, I'd say she's just plain a bitch. It took me many tries just to beat her on Easy.

[23tlp]

This theme make the fight of bosses much more fun and you not get frustrated when you are losing.

[joytherock]

best theme ever

do you guys ever heard of the tamusic and rock version?

[Frozenflutter]

I came here from a link ._. ... and i like it :D

[ExzcellionGamma]

^

|

|

Oh dear ones...

I sigh for long when I read top comments like those. "It" has been explained ages ago and yet...

[WhatNoOneHasDared]

@ExzcellionGamma What is originality? :V

[TheEternalOtaku]

The Prismriver Sisters are ghosts and can play their instruments without physical contact, so basically they can do whatever they want when they play, hence the picture

[galaxymario123]

@TheEternalOtaku *poltergeists

[TheEternalOtaku]

@galaxymario123 aren't they the same thing

[galaxymario123]

@TheEternalOtaku probably not

[TheEternalOtaku]

@galaxymario123 alright then, wouldn't want to piss them off anyway

[galaxymario123]

@TheEternalOtaku heh.

[TheEternalOtaku]

@galaxymario123 that and the fact that once a month gensokyo is probably a ticking timebomb of estrogen

[galaxymario123]

@TheEternalOtaku I wouldn't doubt that it'd be an oestrogen timebomb

[TheEternalOtaku]

@galaxymario123 now I feel bad for Rinnosuke

[elgostine]

@TheEternalOtaku shit..

no i feel sorry for meiling... havign to deal with sakuya when shes having her period...>.< there arnt enough knives in the galaxy to cover that..

[TheEternalOtaku]

@elgostine Well, that's the only time of the Month, Meiling has to actually try and stay awake

[BigusGeekus]

@TheEternalOtaku Nah. The Prismrivers you fight aren't even the originals--they're magical constructs created from the memories of their fourth sister.

[megaboundz]

@TheEternalOtaku well, to be REALLY specific, they're poltergheists...

[ZXShadow1]

@TheEternalOtaku They're not ghost, they're poltergeist. Not the same thing.

[TheEternalOtaku]

@ZXShadow1 what's the difference

[ZXShadow1]

@TheEternalOtaku A Poltergeist is ghost-like but unlike a ghost which is a soul of a deceased human, a Poltergeist is born ghost-like, and they could possibly breed with other Poltergeist. Poltergeist are often confused with ghost just like Phantoms. Poltergeist and Phantoms are much more alike than they are to ghost.

[Shootertrex]

@ZXShadow1 I just looked up the differences and definitions of both. A ghost, as you said, is a soul of a dead person that still roams this plain. Ghosts are immaterial and cannot affect nor be affected by matter. A poltergeist is, from what I can tell, a manifestation of negative energy, possibly from a traumatic or gruesome death. A poltergeist is capable of affecting matter such as throwing, or pushing objects. A poltergeist cannot be seen or at least not be seen by humans.

[ZXShadow1]

@Shootertrex In Japanese culture a ghost or a borei (亡霊) happens when someone dies in a unnatural way (murder, suicide), or dies while having extreme emotions (e.g. Sadness, Hate) and they continue to roams the human world until their grudge is fulfilled. So in Japanese Culture Ghosts are more closely related to the dictionary definition for poltergeist.

[Shootertrex]

@ZXShadow1 I do believe that that is the also a possible way for a ghost to form under western logic as well. So the unnatural/emotional death part is not Japanese exclusive, but a normally excepted circumstance for the formation of a ghost. To my understanding, a poltergeist exists to terrorize the living while a ghost may be passive in nature. Please correct me if I am wrong.

[ZXShadow1]

@Shootertrex Well since this is ZUN, and it's whatever he wants it to be. He said that Poltergeist are their own sepreate species, and the Prismriver sisters play music rather than scare people with loud sounds. The definition of a poltergeist or ghost may vary from region to region so it's kinda hard to say what exactly is a poltergeist/phantom/ghost.

[Shootertrex]

@ZXShadow1 I couldn't agree more. I think we are done here.

[Shootertrex]

@ZXShadow1 (side note: most dictionaries will define a poltergeist as "a ghost or other supernatural being supposedly responsible for physical disturbances such as making loud noises and throwing objects about."(Oxford) or the like)

Though the sisters are defined as poltergeists, they do not fit the previously stated definitions, but may fit in with the dictionary definition.

[Shootertrex]

@ZXShadow1 also, the standard English plural is given to poltergeist when referring to multiple poltergeists. One may also plural it the Germanic way, poltergeister, but this is not common in English.

[granis1233]

all 3 flat chested young and willing ^^ i game

[biohalo87freak]

i don't know touhou that much, so i'm gonna ask something thats probably kinda stupid and sexist, where are all the men?!

[ScarletDevilRage]

@biohalo87freak There are none.

Touhou doesn't need men.

:3

(I'm not sexist, though, just makin' a joke :P)

[orbLantern]

@ScarletDevilRage Touhou doesn't need men. I'm a dude.

[SoulOfRandomness]

@biohalo87freak Rinnosuke, Genji, Unzan, Shingyoku. There's another which I forgot

[Volothos]

@SoulOfRandomness tenma?

[TheEternalOtaku]

@SoulOfRandomness shingyoku is actually a giant yin yang that can turn into a man and a woman

[CloudCuckooKing]

@SoulOfRandomness Sokrates, the cat.

[SoulOfRandomness]

@CloudCuckooKing Oooh yeeeaaah, Ellen's, right? I was thinking of another male human, but yeah, Sokrates too

[CloudCuckooKing]

@SoulOfRandomness I would bet money that Kourin is the only male human.

[SoulOfRandomness]

@CloudCuckooKing Probably. I think it was Kenji or something. (Another enji o-o) But I just can't remember...

[CloudCuckooKing]

@SoulOfRandomness That's Genji, Reimu's pet flying giant tortoise (?!), who has already been mentioned.

[ArkFromTerranigma]

This song is so.. beautiful -w-

[OtakuJuanma2]

I can't stop pressing replay XD

[OtakuJuanma2]

A few minutes ago I was playing touhou 7, I lost against prismriver sisters because I was whistling this song. (10 minutes later I beated them turning off the music)

[SoulOfRandomness]

@Zoroark7 OOPS, sing. And Layla is the 4th prismriver girl, who created Lyrica, Lunasa and Merlin.

[SoulOfRandomness]

@Zoroark7 If you sign.... YOU'RE LAYLA!

[Zoroark7]

@SoulOfRandomness Sign...what? And what's a Layla? Sorry, I'm just a slight bit confused...

[BigusGeekus]

@Zoroark7 Layla Prismriver is the fourth Prismriver sister, the one who doesn't have a poltergeist patterned off of her (because she created the other three, that is).

[Zoroark7]

Strangely enough, before I knew about these characters, I've played every single instrument they play. There are more I play, but those three are my main instruments. I use piano for composing/transposing my own music or to make vgms into readable playable music, trumpet for big concerts and a few solos, and the violin with the orchestra and for solos. And now that I see this, I'm somewhat startled...

[KetoHimashi]

@Zoroark7 Haha! you're 3 in 1! nice :)

[Zoroark7]

@KetoHimashi I could transpose this music to playable music for trumpet, piano, and violin. Then I could record playing each part, upload it, and ~VOILA!~ epicness. Though, to be fully honest, I've already got enough other songs scheduled to be composed/transposed, like the final boss music from Super Mario RPG, Remilia Scarlet's theme and Quickman's theme as a trumpet solo. (It's somewhat difficult to play the high octave long drop after the main theme for Quickman's theme.) I may do this, too.

[GThomas1502]

I prefer PoFV's version. It sounds better with lower notes.

[oogabooga341]

Oh I GET IT!

Poltergeists! Because they are musicians! And Poltergeist means loud/noisy ghost. As in music :3

[SoulOfRandomness]

@ExzcellionGamma I CAN PLAY A KEYBOARD BY PALM-MASHING IT 8D I got an "F" :3

[LGuardinal]

Is this the same version used in PoFV, or did ZUN remix this as well?

[groudonsbest]

@LGuardinal PoFV's version is slightly different, listen to them both and you'll hear the difference.

[brandpanz]

It's obvious that Lunasa's doing col legno...

[jingjong12]

Layla Prismriver in the next touhou game damn it!

[HmmmmmLemmeThinkNo]

I've never played trumpet, so I don't know about that, but I /do/ know that I /can/ play my violin on the wrong side of the bow, and I can play piano decently by palm-mashing. xD Hehe~ The power of self-teaching involves much palm-mashing. xD

[WhatNoOneHasDared]

Merlin Prismriver: Redefining "playing by ear" since 2003.

[Dynamesmouse]

I always get distracted on the last part, and then I die D:

Awesome song though.

[theagiknight23]

I wonder if anyone noticed... There's no VIOLIN!!! Even though it's a theme for the 3 of them. But dun misunderstand; I LOVE THIS SONG!!!!

[Dornatum]

@theagiknight23 There is a violin, it's just a violin in midi.

[theagiknight23]

@Dornatum oh lol. didn't notice. Thx for the info. ^^



[hjt091]

@theagiknight23 there is a violin

you can hear it playing harmony from 0:25, and accompanying the trumpet from 0:51, and playing the main melody from 1:53

[zorthehedgehog]

this song is PERFECT for a carnaval

[mmdftw]

@mmdftw Eye made a typo in my math....

7-(5+2)=0

0+9=thestrongestnumber(is typing on iPod)

Now eye'm teh strongest.

[mmdftw]

792 likes and 5 dislikes...

Using all 4 numbers, eye will soon be the strongest at math.

7-(5-2)=0

0+9=⑨...

AM EYE THE STRONGEST YET?????

[Galahaddruid]

5 people just can't handle musical gang-rapes.

[ATypicalSingaporean]

Assuming the Prismriver Sisters play their own theme song, who's playing the drums?

[LeekGallade85]

@ATypicalSingaporean Layla?

[Spiderpig2398]

@ATypicalSingaporean Perhaps a Fifth Prismriver Sister that hasn't been revealed to any of us yet and becomes a Boss in Touhou 14. :D?

[TohruTwinkie]

Why is Merlin playing the trumpet with her ear? O_o

[Kamek20xxExtra]

@TohruTwinkie lol i just noticed that

[galaxymario123]

@TohruTwinkie they can play instruments without physical contact. they can play anything they want. without touching the instruments. hence the picture.

[SoulOfRandomness]

@Ninjaofsound Well at least Layla is one of the-- is a lot of the people who Liked

[ThatBassist6]

This picture is adorable!

[lucarioman69]

I heard that Merlin can play any song on the trumpet by ear... Seems she took that rather literally...

[ExzcellionGamma]

Those who disliked this can't play their violin by using the wrong side of the bow... can't play their piano/keyboard by palm-mashing it... and can't play the trumpet by their ear OR THEIR HEADS...

[sonicfan19941]

@ExzcellionGamma trololol! nah jk im not a troll but i do hate trolls X3

[ExzcellionGamma]

@sonicfan19941 xD

[azzzooozzz2012]

@ExzcellionGamma o_O i can't play all these but i love the song i but like

[ExzcellionGamma]

@azzzooozzz2012 Good for you. :3

[azzzooozzz2012]

@ExzcellionGamma so i am save hah??? lol

[ExzcellionGamma]

@azzzooozzz2012 YES. *winks*

[ReimuHakureiShrine]

@ExzcellionGamma Agreed

[ExzcellionGamma]

@ReimuHakureiShrine I salute you, good sir, for agreeing with this one.

[ReimuHakureiShrine]

@ExzcellionGamma No prob its my job as a miko

[ExzcellionGamma]

@ReimuHakureiShrine *claps hands*

[ReimuHakureiShrine]

@ExzcellionGamma Yay!

[ExzcellionGamma]

@ReimuHakureiShrine I'm glad you're glad. ^^

[takulu64]

@ExzcellionGamma lunasa is using the right side of the bow

[ExzcellionGamma]

@takulu64 YOU SURE?

You see her using the 2 parts at once, or a "wrong side".

Note the string and the wooden part are flat down on the violin... :P

[takulu64]

@ExzcellionGamma

its kunasa lunatic playing lol

bad pun :p

oh well

[KaiokenKisha]

@takulu64 who's Kunasa? it's Lunasa.

[takulu64]

@KaiokenKisha i have a big screen so k looks like l

[KaiokenKisha]

@takulu64 so you knew it was l yet you said k anyway? wow, big fail.

[takulu64]

@KaiokenKisha no i know how to lunasas name its just a mistake it happens alot especcially with k and l

[KaiokenKisha]

@takulu64 ok :3

[takulu64]

@KaiokenKisha lol when i came to check on this comment i already had this on on another page

and when i was reading the other comment this song started playing and now its

double Phantom Ensemble

lolz >_<

[chuchu2019]

@ExzcellionGamma i can't do any of that, but i liked it D:

[Zoroark7]

@ExzcellionGamma Well, I can do two of those things, and once I almost got the third one right. You just gotta find the right airhole. (That, or there's this really wierd idea where if you shake it while holding the buttons, it might come up with something. but it isn't concert-functional...or even musically functional. As far as I know.)

[ExzcellionGamma]

@Zoroark7 WAT... O_O

[Zoroark7]

@ExzcellionGamma Uh...are you okay? Gamma? Gaaaamma? *ExzcellionGamma faints* Oh my, I've gotta learn when to shut up...

[alexdz123321]

@ExzcellionGamma

I can't do that either and I liked this.

[otis547checkmeout]

*grabs shotgun* WHO DISLIKED THIS?



[m0therchi3f]

@otis547checkmeout *Points at Justin Bieber* There! Shoot him! Not that he disliked or something, but seeing as you're holding a shotgun in your hands, you might as well shoot him.

[otis547checkmeout]

@m0therchi3f Yusss *highfives*

[Ninjaofsound]

@otis547checkmeout Reimu, Marisa, Sakuya, and two Touhou haters.

[otis547checkmeout]

Yus... just Yus <3

[groudonsbest]

Hold on... touhou 13 is about spirits and ghosts.. what if Layla did stay as a ghost and appears on touhou 13! :o that would be awesome.

[hsbinh1412]

@groudonsbest

Let's hope she is the extra boss, then that would be effin awesome

[commandervulkan]

So how did they die?

[Clarste]

@commandervulkan They didn't die. They're not really ghosts, they're more like illusions.

[groudonsbest]

@commandervulkan there were actually 4 living Prismrivers, Lunasa, Lyrica, Merlin and Layla, the 3 other than Layla left the mansion, leaving Layla by herself, so Layla created 3 Poltergeists in the exact same form as the 3 sisters that left her(the Prismrivers you know), Layla then died before the time of Touhou 7 (same with the 3 real Prismrivers). For all we know all 4 real Prismrivers died peaceful deaths and did not stay as ghosts. (thats my thought anyway)

[groudonsbest]

@groudonsbest I've checked up on wiki and found i'm a bit wrong, the original Prismrivers family was Orphaned, but Layla didn't want to leave the mansion, so she stayed.

[GOLDENOZZY]

greatest trio is greatest trio

[MrFish291]

...I want some music sheets for this.