[PS2] Want to piss off your neighbours? Taiko no Tatsujin!

Look what I picked up today. A sealed Taiko no Tatsujin: Wai Wai Happy Moyume and a 3rd party drum controller. The official drum controller was extremely expensive, so I wouldn't recommend it, however I'm unsure of the controller I've purchased so far.

Let me explain the game. The main characters are drums, everything is revolving around japan, samurais, kitsune masks, china dolls, paper-thin curtains, people sitting on the floor, the works. Great for the wapanese or people who really love drum games.

Basically, you have a drum sitting in front of you, you have 2 rather thick sticks. The game consists of horizontal beats coming from right to left. The blue notes require you to press the top rim of the drum, and the red ones require you to press either side of the actual drum. The bigger notes, for example; a big blue note, would mean you would need to hit both left and right side of the top of the drum. It may sound complicated, but it really isn't.

As for the song list, well, that's pretty hilarious. In my copy I've found Katamari on the Swing, the theme to Xavious, O-Zone - Dragonstea Din Tei(otherwise known as Numa Numa Iei, and it's sung by japanese people) and a few others.

The drum is SO. LOUD. I mean, you probably won't want to play this in your living room otherwise it'd annoy the fuck out of your family members. It's that loud. I'll say it's loud to the extent of your neighbours being able to hear it; at least the 3rd party controller was. I must comment on the 3rd party controller, it's a little unresponsive, Unlike my Pop'n Controller 2(which is highly sensitive), this requires you to hit the drum moderately hard for it to register and recognize your input.

That's my only complaint over the game, but I haven't really gone more than 20 minutes into it. There's an entire series for PS2 and there's also a PSP game. Namco are known for quality(Ace Combat, Katamari Damacy, Soul Calibur) so there is no surprise people will easily be able to become attached to this.

The instruction manual is beautiful, while it's still unreadable there's a description of all the characters, all the possibilities, and inside the manual is this poster which includes chinese and english explanations of how the game works.

So, what are your thoughts on this obscure japanese drum game? Discuss ~

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Originally Posted by Elixir

Ace Combat

Post of the year.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

I consider the US version to be SOOOO weak as far as songs go. There isn't a great set of Taiko Style songs just weak pop songs with more drum stuff.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

The US version is garbage. Since I don't live in the US, I basically skipped it and went straight to the source, and imported one of the japanese versions.




These are all of the games in the series, excluding Wai Wai which I took a real-life photo of in the original post. Don't ask me for their names, but you can find them on play-asia. Honestly, I didn't know what I was buying in terms of the song list. All I knew was it was made in 2005, it was the most recently released Taiko no Tatsujin, and it's a drum game.

Most of the songs are in japanese, but there's a couple which are 90% english with a few japanese lyrics thrown in the sentences. I wouldn't know what to call them seeing as how all of the song titles are in japanese, but there's a nice selection. So far, I've seen 44 songs. After playing for awhile Mr. Drum-with-a-face-and-a-spastic-look appeared, and "captured" a floating ♪ and shoved it under a pillow(or something along those lines) so I'm pretty sure that's how you unlock songs. By playing.

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

Gotta love the Jet track. >_<

I was speaking idiomatically.

I was thinking about getting the US version, but I always dropped it when I had the money since there was a better game. I heard the action was a little short lived on the US version anyway. I'm not gonna bother getting the imports since I don't have a modded PS2 anyway, and they cost way too much just to get one. I don't have that kind of money.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

Just imported my Taiko no Tatsujin underwear, too.

Playing the game more I've discovered a few things. There's a bunch of mini games, as well. It's difficult to understand as all of it's in japanese(and I mean all of it, even the options, continue, score, numbers, everything) but the mni games are really simple, yet fun.

The first mini game consists of you vs. another character, throwing a flower thing to eachother, and hitting it requires you to hit the drum. There's also a few running mini games which require you to rapidly beat th drum and such.

I'll play some more later. It's so god damn loud though, that's the only problem. Other than that, I pretty much like it.

FELIPE NO

Oh joy, nothing like drums on your underwear. You could beat them all day. <_<

Even though Taiko Drum Master in the US is generally a bad game, is it even worth getting just to play it? I've been on and off about it for a while now. >_<

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

Hmm, well, that depends. I have never played the american version, so first of all you're going to need to research the songs and what it's like.

I also don't know what drum they have in america. If it's the official Namco drum, I highly recommend buying the official Namco drum, and importing the games. Why? Well, I've heard nothing but weak comments in regards to the american version, and the japanese games are superior.

After 30 minutes of playing around with menus, I finally have the layout memorized. All japanese tabs are horizontal and in traditional japanese. After you get past the amazing intro, you'll see about 7 tabs and an 8th tab which takes you to mini games. The 7 tabs are spaces for multiple people. I named myself "~" because it was the only character that isn't japanse, hrhr.

After I created a profile, there's another menu which is something along the lines of "Start drumming / View presents / High scores /Mini games / Options" but again, being in japanese, it's just a matter of trial and error.

I bought a Topway drum, and I must admit yet again, it's fucking unresponsive. I'd enjoy this game so much more if the drum responded without actually smacking it. Smacking it isn't an exaggeration either, you actually need to beat it like you're trying to squash a spider.

If you can get yourself a Namco drum controller without paying postage($30 US from play-asia) then go for it. It really isn't difficult to import and Swap Magic your games.

I really can't comment on whether or not the american version is worthwhile - I'm only going by what I've heard. But note that this isn't a bemani game, so it feels different. It isn't a simple "arcade, list of songs, star levels, vertical beats" bemani game, it's a horizontal drumming game. Personally I prefer Pop'n Music over Taiko no Tatsujin, but that's only due to the drum of mine being so unresponsive. In short, don't buy yourself a drum that isn't an official one.

As for buying the american version, it's entirely your decision. It really depends on whether or not you can get yourself an offical Namco drum. Just avoid the Topway ones, and you'll be fine. You must consider too that importing is expensive, so if you're not up for a change from the generic mainstream american bullshit then you shouldn't even bother in the first place.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

I heard there was a huge dead spot in the Taiko drum in the US... Just side and side, but nothing in the middle which makes it even more un-responsive. I have my doubts that the Namco one is even any good.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

The only reason I really picked it up is because it was 20 bucks for the game and the controller. The dead zone is a pain in the ass but you get used to it...I've learned not to play in the center of certain drums so it wasn't hard for me to adjust.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

Is the drum with the unresponsive spot in the middle the official Namco drum, Slash?

I was thinking of getting myself a Namco drum. Which of course means absurd postage, but I'm sure it doesn't require you to smash the hell out of the drum like the Topway one does. Oh well.

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

The Namco Drum isn't as bad as everyone claims it to be. Its not like there is one spot to hit on either side and if you miss it you don't get responsiveness. Its like a 2 or 3 inch circle in the middle that isn't responsive. And my experience is that I've learned playing the center of any type of drum can often be a dull sound.

And to answer your question, yes.

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Why would you play in the middle of a Taiko drum anyways? Maybe they're just trying to emulate a real drum.

Anyways, the US list isn't that bad, it's just small.

The minigames are insane. I love them.

How ya doing, buddy?

Oh my god, underwear!! Those are cute though.
My parants yell at me if I play the game after 9PM...oh well

I think the US version is not bad too.

FELIPE NO

This is real depressing. I played this earlier with a regular controller, and the parts where you're meant to rapidl beat the drum are so much easier with a controller. I can get maybe a maximum of 19 beats in a beating session with the drum, but with the controller I can get up anywhere between 35-50.

Aside from the drum being really unresponsive, I like the game. It feels different playing it with a controller, and I don't really think that the game is meant to be played with a controller, but having an unresponsive drum is just as annoying. I still prefer Pop'n Music and my mini controller over this duo, though.

Oh well, at least it isn't beatmania.

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

Yeah, playing Taiko with the controller is one of my guilty pleasures. It's one of the like two music games in which the controller is easier to use than the insanely priced special one. But hell, that's the novelty of it.

Over all, the game is like... the cute little brother of music games, I think. Easy to pick up, annoying in large doses, and VERY VERY LOUD (rivaling Pop'n). But personally, I wouldn't spend money importing this instead of the more popular and challenging ones.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Loud but impressive! Doing Genji and the Heike Clans on Oni for the US version sounds very impressive with the rapid drumming.

I got lucky and managed to play one of the Japanese versions at one of our club's anime meets! It had Katamari on the Swing, Xevious, Dragostea Din Tei, Becoming A Chick (?) YMCA, and a whole bunch of other illegible stuff.

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Hmm, i just saw this game at Zellers for $20... 0.o

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I just picked up the US version w/ official drum for only $20 at ToysRus.
I was always curious about it but didn't want to risk $50 on it just to try it. So everyone interested call up your local ToysRus. I don't think it's just my area as I've heard others getting it for that price as well.

I played the heck out of it for a few hours last night.
I unlocked the extra songs and Oni mode.
Oni mode it's freaking insane. Which is good something to work towards.

Playing was a blast. The official drum responds just fine. The drum sticks are a good size. It's true your not meant to hit the drum's center. It's like a bar runs down the middle dividing the left and right halves of the drum. It's cheaper to put left and right hit sensors rather than one circular sensor that would have to know when and where your hitting like a touch screen. Which I'm sure would be costly to make like that. I don't know about 3rd party drums but I wouldn't expect them to perform as well as the Namco drum.

Of course the US version has a bunch of popular American songs, most I don't care for but it had some I actually liked like Lady Marmalade. I also like the classical, and Namco game songs. The import games look good. I heard there's two games that are dedicated to just anime songs.

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

I remember playing this at a small party at a friend's house. I had a ton of fun with it. I wouldn't mind getting it. Music games are fun.

I was speaking idiomatically.

Looks like a fun game, but I never did buy Donkey Konga so I doubt i'll ever buy this. Im a HUGE fan of dancing games and Rhythm Action games, but banging a drum in front of my telly doesnt seem to me like a worthy purchase. I can get a saucepan, a wooden spoon, and a copy of Dragostina thingy thingy and bang away to my hearts content

If I see this in a shop on demo I would play it there though.

How ya doing, buddy?