Taiko no Tatsujin: Taiko Drum Master | |
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Developer(s) | Namco |
Publisher(s) | Namco |
Series | Taiko no Tatsujin |
Platform(s) | PlayStation 2 |
Release date(s) |
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Genre(s) | Musical rhythm |
Mode(s) | 1-2 Players |
Rating(s) |
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Media/distribution | Optional Disc |
"Taiko: Drum Master" (English title), also known as "Taiko no Tatsujin" (太鼓の達人) is a drumming game for the Sony PlayStation 2 based on the popular Japanese arcade game. A drum simulating the taiko is played in time with music. It is made by Namco. The home version can be played with a TaTaCon, a special controller which looks like the face of a Taiko drum. Players control one of the two main characters - WadaDon, a red-faced and blue body taiko, and WadaKatsu, a blue-faced and red body taiko.
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The graphics are 2-D, with cartoon-like feel. Cut scenes show the adventures of the animated taikos and their friends.
Symbols moving horizontally along a timeline show what to hit and when. Home versions distinguish single and double strikes, arcade versions hard and soft strikes.
Successful play builds up a life meter. If the meter is past a certain point by the end of the song, the song is passed.
In the Japanese version, subtitles under the symbols give the pronunciation of the sounds (for example, "do don do don") using a traditional system called kuchi shoga (口唱歌).
Despite the game's cute and childish appearance, many players find the game quite difficult to master. Players need to accomplish 75% of the drum chart to pass, which can be very challenging on harder levels.
Music in the Japanese version includes J-pop, anime music, western classical music and traditional Japanese Festival Music. The North American version removes some of these genres, changing them to American cartoon themes, a few NAMCO originals and mainstream American hits like The Loco-Motion by Kylie Minogue is also included in Australian versions.
The home version also has two mini-games, the "100 meter dash", played by drumming as quickly as possible, and the "Boston marathon", where the player must keep a regular beat in order not to tire out the taiko athlete.
The home versions include a few more games.
WadaDon and WadaKatsu, the characters of the game, are named after the sounds a taiko drum makes when you strike the surface or the side of the drum respectively. Coincidentally, "katsudon" is also the name of a Japanese pork dish.
The following difficulties are included. Clear all songs in any mode to unlock a happy ending movie.
Rather than using an external Taiko drum, the PSP version makes use of the D-pad and action buttons as well as the shoulder buttons which control the rim shots. The analog stick is also get used to perform a tambourine bonus. The PSP version includes the original gaming mode as well as a variety of minigames and a modified AD Hoc mode dubbed, communication mode. While in Communication mode, you can play the game with up to four other PSP gamers. There are currently no plans to bring the original Taiko Drum Master for the PSP outside of Japan.
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