While the manic clacking of plastic guitars has largely fallen quiet across the world, Japan still has a place in its rhythm gaming heart for a different instrument: the humble-yet-iconic taiko drum.
According to Siliconera, Namco Bandai has announced more than 500,000 combined units shipped for two titles in its Taiko Drum Master series: Taiko Drum Master: Super Splendid Edition for the Wii and Taiko Drum Master: The Little Dragon and the Mysterious Orb for the 3DS. Each game has currently seen release only in Japan, making their numbers even more impressive.
The Taiko Drum Master series requires players to beat their drums to a list of songs ranging from classical works to videogame soundtracks. Super Splendid Edition includes tunes from Dragon Quest X, New Super Mario Bros. Wii and Monster Hunter Tri G. Its 3DS counterpart offers tracks from Tales of the Abyss and My Neighbor Totoro, as well as a light quest mode. All games feature the mascot Wada-don, an anthropomorphic taiko and the cutest thing you’ll ever want to un-ironically smack in the face.
Taiko Drum Master has had a few releases outside Japan in the past, but never seemed to take off. Have you ever played a game in the series? Let us know your experiences below.
[source siliconera.com]
Comments 25
"In Japan, drum beats YOU!" Lol, love that!
Wouldn't mind seeing more rhythm games on the 3DS. Especially a weird looking one like this (although weird comes with the genre).
Ugh...more of these?
Japan always gets the best songs for these kinds of games. : /
Like this one:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJ1xwXsexjc
These titles although wacky, look like games I would very much like to play! They remind me of Donkey Kong Jungle Beats which I also have yet to play and plan to do so in the future.
I've always been a sucker for a good rhythm action game (Elite Beat Agents absorbed a huge portion of my life back when it came out), so it's nice to see they can still be successful. Never played a game in the series before, though.
Going by VGChartz, this game did VERY well for a third party release in Japan in the 2nd half of the Wii's lifespan. I also hate how Activision ran Guitar Hero into ground.
Rhytm games are so addicting
I have the first three Taiko drum games for the Wii, two of which came with the drum controllers. They are quite fun, but you do make a lot of noise hitting those drums! I cannot imagine this would have the same appeal on a handheld, though.
@TwilightV That made my day... and I'm only 41 minutes into it
I've "acquired" all 5 on the Wii (had the two that were on DS when I had one as well). Just need to get a drum for the wii to play them the way they're meant to be played
Never understood why they never localized these to the US
I love the taiko series, but it doesn't work localized. The english ps2 version had the sh*ttiest songs.
@Hunter-D: Happy to be of assistance!
awesome! Man I wish we could get these games over here. I love the taiko series!
i want all the taiko games, rhythm games are one of my top favorite genres (along with action/adventure, open world platformer, and jrpg's)
Why can't they release this one here! Nintendo, you promised more japanese games in the west ...
Some amazing wordplay on this article.
Would be great to have the Wii game here.
Do like me, buy a japanese 3ds via internet.
I own Animal Crossing since november. I bought Taiko no Tatsujin 3ds 2 weeks before and it's awesome.
I bought the Inazuma Eleven go game too.
Never played one but I'm diggin that funky cover art.
Seems like you can't beat the drum.
@Banker-Style http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qJFFXcQcu1s/T8gT4IwbmlI/AAAAAAAAAJo/vzLll27hiFk/s1600/superhighfive.gif
This was a fun arcade game. It probably wouldn't be fun on 3ds though, because you're not really hitting a drum :/
I wish DJMAX would make its way to the 3DS, but it's only on Vita atm
I love this game on ps2 or gamecube , i cant remember but i played it at a Game Crazy back in the day with the full drum kit was dope. Id pick this up for 3ds indeed.
I played it on an arcade machine last weekend XD
I got all taiko titles on my wii, its an awesome game, when you like drumming that is ^^
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