Lunatic

Lunatic (ルナティック, **Runatikku**?) is one of the four difficulty modes in the *Drillimation Danmaku Universe*, and is the toughest difficulty level offered. The most prominent feature is enemies firing substantially more danmaku. Upon selecting the mode in the first game, a warning is displayed, cautioning the player that some attacks will get pretty intense and will eventually cause lag, as the game has to handle each bullet in memory. Players with knowledge of the enemies' attacks, extreme caution, and heavy use of cover and patience are the key to beating stages on the difficulty. Players whose reflexes are not strong can easily get killed by the large amount of incoming danmaku.

## Differences between games

### *Chuhou Joutai: The Middle State of War*

The Lunatic difficulty in *Chuhou Joutai: The Middle State of War* is slightly easier than the other games in the franchise, though it is still difficult to beat. Heal Berries are more frequent and are scattered whenever the player depletes a single segment of a boss. Stages commonly thought to be the most difficult include the seventh stage where Hearthcliffe has the ability to freeze the player in three of his attacks, and the extra stage where Willow changes direction randomly.

### *Touhou 1: The Highly Responsive to Prayers NES Demake*

In *Touhou 1: The Highly Responsive to Prayers NES Demake*, the Lunatic difficulty in this game is considered the easiest, likely due to the player's ability to deflect bullets with either Reimu's sliding ability or swinging the gohei. Additionally, players can destroy danmaku using their own bullets with the exception of lasers. The final boss on both routes is where the game presents its biggest challenge, and this is where the most danmaku in the entire game is spewed.

### *Touhou 2: The Story of Eastern Wonderland NES Demake*

The Lunatic difficulty in *Touhou 2: The Story of Eastern Wonderland NES Demake* is a lot easier than the other games, possibly due to the fact the addition of *Chuhou Joutai* mode causes the player's health to regenerate over time. However, the Extra stage boss fight is still moderately difficult as Rika often throws a lot of danmaku at the same time.

### *Chuhou Joutai 2: Paraided!*

*Chuhou Joutai 2: Paraided!* is considered the most difficult game in the entire franchise to beat on Lunatic, partly due to the sheer amount of danmaku that the enemies and bosses spew. The heavy danmaku can easily kill the player within a couple of hits, requiring them to use bombs in some areas. For example, the seventh stage is the most difficult stage in the entire game, partly due to the location where Hearthcliffe places the daggers during his time-freezing sequences. Players would have to avoid staying in that area to avoid getting surprised and/or hit by the dagger danmaku. The fifth stage is just as difficult due to the wind causing the player's danmaku to swerve in other directions, and the Takotenki enemies firing a substantial amount of danmaku when grouped together.

### *Chuhou Joutai 3: Three Nights of Scarlet Abscess*

Although slightly easier than its predecessors, the Lunatic difficulty in *Chuhou Joutai 3: Three Nights of Scarlet Abscess* is not to be taken lightly. Enemies rarely drop Heal Berries which restore health and Mini-Bombs which clear all enemies and danmaku off the screen. The most challenging stage in the entire game is the Extra Stage, and one of Saori's Spell Cards fires a swath of danmaku in two directions.