We're big fans of Taiko: Drum Master here at Nintendo Life - or Taiko No Tatsujin as it's known in the East - but while we were stoked to hear the series was making its way to Switch, we were also frustrated it was seemingly being released with no consideration for us western percussionists. Well, while it still isn't getting an official release in the West just yet, it has been revealed the game will be getting an English version.
An English version already exists on PS4, but it's great to see the Switch version also getting a similar patch when it arrives in August. Considering the Nintendo version uses the motion controls of your Joy-Con to drum a sick beat, and includes music from Splatoon 2, it's becoming a must-have import.
What do you make of Taiko Drum Master? Have you played it before, and if so, do you think it's a good fit for Nintendo Switch?
[source godisageek.com]
Comments 30
I'm always down for a good rhythm game.
So... worldwide release soon or is it just an english patch for asian release like we've seen for other games in the past ?
Either way it's incredible news.
Now it's even harder to stop myself from buying that beautiful Tatacon...
I need a full song list for Switch version before i buy.
@Anti-Matter http://taiko.wikia.com/wiki/Taiko_no_Tatsujin:_Nintendo_Switch_Version!#Songs_list
The anime part is incredible: Evangelion, One Piece 1st OP, Pop team Epic, Yokai Watch, Moana, and Kamen Rider Build.
But even better:
Jump Up Superstar from Super Mario Odyssey.
Oh boy oh boy oh boy
@neufel it won't be getting western release.
@kobashi100 Well, that JP eshop account will receive some love, then.
YES! This game is so fun! Can't wait for release!
Not that this game really needs any translation... Sure, you do need some if you want to enjoy EVERYTHING in the game (and you speak no Japanese at all), but just to play the main game, you don't need anything.
The Splatoon 2 song is almost certainly Ebb and Flow. Not only is it the 'main' song of Off the Hook, it's heavy on the percussion.
As long as English is supported, I'm buying.
@Alex18 impossible, game has a lot of separate licenses per song.
A game like Hatsune Miku is easier to localize because it's 1 license, Taiko on the other hand would miss a lot of songs IF it even would come to the west.
Japan is terrible with licensing stuff, a lot of times stuff never comes to the west or skips europe (especially anime wise) because how stupidly strict they are rule and moneywise.
Welp this is as good as bought, especially since it's probably not going to get an official western release.
@Rayquaza2510 You pretty much nailed it. The song list would see pretty drastic changes if localized. Save for royalty-free songs and songs owned by one company globally (Namco, Nintendo, Vocaloid, etc.), the rest would essentially be the same Western pop/rock/R&B songs we've heard a million times.
Just look at the song lists for Taiko Drum Master (PS2) and the NA release of Donkey Konga as an example.
AW
YISS
@DTFaux
The song selection in the English version of Elite Beat Agents was even quite abysmal, and once again featured Nintendo's favorite song, Earth, Wind and Fire's September.
Oh heck yes.
This game looked so cool, using joycon like a drumstick.
Excuse me while I go preorder
Even more of a reason to buy it now. Can't wait.
Yes! I’ve been importing them for DS and 3DS for years without translation, but I know I’ve been missing some things that way. It’ll be great to get some of the humor and features that are more difficult to appreciate with a language barrier.
@Pod In EBA's defense, it seems some effort was made to make sure the songs fit the stages (though, I dont doubt they're pretty dated now). If they kept the scenarios the same from Osu! 1+2 and just plopped Western songs over them, it'd have been a lot more jarring, IMO.
And speaking of "jarring", dont even get me stahted on the NA release of Pop 'n' Music for the Wii...
@DTFaux
True, the new stories at least kept it feeling like a wholesome product.
Pop'n'Music I didn't try, but the art looks so peppy, I can both imagine the japanese soundtrack, and how they would butcher the localization. ^^
I don't imagine this could compare with the exhaustion inducing arcade versions of the game... but I am still mildly interested. It's always embarrassing being the overweight foreigner sweating buckets playing easy mode in public. XD
Where can I preorder this game?
I’m a little confused (having read the source article too) - is the Japan version getting a patch? Or is the Asia release (the one with Chinese subs) getting a patch? They’re two different SKUs, and in the past Asia Taiko games have had English options but as far as I know the Japanese ones haven’t.
No we just need the drum controller and we're set!
My wife is going to freak out...she loves this game but can’t read Japanese. That problem is now solved!!
Finally, I always wanted to play one of these games.
If only more J games did that. I played the PSP Taiko from a friend, and there was a MJ song there but lo and behold it was not sung by MJ, so what's the point? In any case the Taiko series is so incredibly Japanese that localization attempts shouldn't be a thing.
I am familiar with the first game for Wii, I believe it's the only Wii game I've seen without the initial strap safety screen. Pretty crazy, right?
@kobashi100 A foreign release with an English translation is just as good as an English release. Region freeeeeeee!
@imgrowinglegs yeah for real. I was importing day 1 regardless. Have all the 3DS taiko games.
Just was making a point that English language support doesn't mean it's getting released worldwide.
@Anti-Matter This song list has me so hyped I am getting this game and controller for my birthday!
Sadly the game is coming out a week after my birthday so I won't get anything on my birthday.
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