Last week, Bandai Namco finally confirmed Taiko no Tatsujin: Drum ‘n’ Fun! would arrive on Switch in Europe and North America this November. This followed a series of hints over several months the game would be localised.
One burning question that remained was whether or not the Hori Taiko Drum Controller would make its way across to the west. Bandai Namco has now confirmed it has absolutely no plans to release the drum outside of Japan.
The mini-drum controller is intended to simulate the arcade drums. Without the drum, you’ll just have to stick with the Joy-Con controls on the Switch. At the very least, this is arguably a better option than using a more traditional gamepad.
As we’ve previously noted, the drum is currently available to import from Play-Asia. Taiko no Tatsujin: Drum ‘n’ Fun! launches on Nintendo Switch in both regions on 2nd November.
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Were you planning to play this game with the drum? Are you planning on importing the game and drum? Tell us in the comments.
[source siliconera.com]
Comments 44
Better snap it up while you can then!
Dumb. Should have done a bundle.
As long as you can still import the controller and it will work, not the end of the world. I see this more another testing the waters to see if this long running game series can finally take off outside of Japan, but without mass producing the controller so if it flops, not much money lost. If its successful, maybe then get the controller out for the next sequel.
I'm just thankful I'm finally getting a shot at trying it out. If I like it, then yes I will consider import said controller.
I should be able to use my Donkey Kong bongos for this! The joycon are not very precise when switching from red to blue notes.
Ah, i know another easy way to play.
Touch the drum with your finger since Nintendo Switch is playable in Handheld mode.
I was pretty disappointed that the whole song list is apparently not available at purchase. I have no idea how many songs there are to unlock, but the ones that we start with... well it is a small list. I really wanted to treat this game like just having the arcade game at home, where I could just pick it up and play a song I like.
The motion controls in this aren't really stellar (although still better than sticking with buttons). I get the sense this really only shines with the drum peripheral.
It's too bad the drum isn't at least getting a limited release.
Damn wish I could use my donkey konga bongos for this. Maybe it'll work I already have an adapter. Gonna have to order the drums then.
I just imported the game and controller from Amazon Japan (seriously, a much better and cheaper alternative to Play Asia) and will be double dipping when the game releases in the US on both the Switch and PS4 (I purchased the Asia region game/controller bundle at an anime convention earlier this year).
While I think it’s a missed opportunity to release the drum outside of Japan given kids especially do like little gimmicks like that (think Rock Band and Guitar Hero), I also understand since this Bandai essentially testing the series’ longevity outside of the home country again after all these years.
If the imported controller still works with the localized version of the game, then it shouldn’t be a big issue for those in the know that want it. But I will say, the drum is a pretty finicky piece of equipment and Hori hasn’t always had a good track record with them. So better to err on the side of caution for both the manufacturer and the consumer.
I disagree, the motion controls are definitely not better than using a standard controller. Sure, it's not that fun to play with buttons, but I found the motion controls very unreliable, and I think not being able to properly control a game like this (especially on the harder stages) just makes it less fun and more frustrating overall.
Touch controls are the was to go here if you can't import a drum. Maybe the DK Bongos also work? I have to check it out.
So they don't want money? Well, I don't want to import for $75. We'll see who changes their stance first.
EDIT: High key, I'll probably import one after I buy the game, but only if there's no other games on my to-buy list at the time.
It makes sense imo. Very few perople would have bought it, those people will probably import it.
I was debating whether or not to get the drum controller for a while as it's pretty expensive to import but took the plunge yesterday. Hopefully I'll get enough use out of it to justify the purchase.
Considering that the drum costs more than the game, I'm not surprised.
It's quite unlikely that this will reach Guitar Hero levels of success in the West (though it would be nice if it did!).
"Without the drum, you’ll just have to stick with the Joy-Con controls on the Switch. At the very least, this is arguably a better option than using a more traditional gamepad."
No it's not, the motion controls are BAD. Like, REALLY bad! Think Samba de Amigo on Wii bad. Drum peripheral or touch control is the only way to go here.
Has OP done their homework played the free Japan eShop demo i wonder? On the harder difficulties the Joy-Con motion controls aren't as reliable as buttons so no it isn't "arguable".
Financially it may not make sense to mass produce the drum for the west but it is going to make for a worse experience for players who can't fork out for it on Play-Asia.
"Taiko no Tatsujin: No Drum Less Fun" more like. Thanks for half-arsing it Bamco.
Just travel to Asia and buy one there.
I wonder if I can use my PS4 drum on the Switch.
I'll wait to see the song list for the western release. But I guess I'll have to import the drum regardless.
@Pablo17 I would say why? but we know the answer. The games pushes for people to play the game on the go or using the motion controls to cover it.
Also we know they don't feel that enough units will shift to warrent the drum controller being released in the west. Just jump online and import from Japan or Asia.
@jobvd you can use one set of Konga Bongos with the game with the help of the GC adaper. The bongos run as a Pro Controller but only with the 4 face buttons, A,B,X,Y
I did send a tweet to the guys here but they didn't pick it up.
https://twitter.com/GauBan/status/1020011578400366592
However you can only use one set of Bongos as it uses the JoyCon for the D-pad when scrolling through the menus.
@GauBan is that the wii u smash gc adaptor? Is this game fully playable with the bongos? Because that would be great!
@jobvd yep Smash GC adapter. The game is playable you just need to use the JoyCon as your Dpad.
2 sets of Bongos will register but not got them both working to play in game as without a Dpad you can't pick the player 2 options. Even with Joycons removed. Maybe I will try to get dual Bongos working again tonight if not busy.
@NicolausCamp @Folkloner @KayFiOS just use the Donkey Konga bongos with the GameCube adapter.
Going by the complaints I've read about this controller and its nit pickiness to operate correctly at that, I'll be sticking with the motion controls (which honestly, aren't no where near as bad as people have said going by what I've seen). I can't be bothering other people in the house anyway.
@GauBan Well, I personally don't need to as I imported both the game and the drum controller.
@NicolausCamp does mean you can play 2 player.
I weighed out cost of item vs. novelty/amt. of fun to be had with said item. Ordered!
Seeing the comments about the DK Bongos has made me want this game. It also means I won't have to buy another peripheral which I don't want to do - have too many of those taking up space.
Got to say dissapointed on all people choosing Amazon over Play asia. I don't know much about working for play asia, but I know that Amazon make a ton of cash yet treat a lot of their staff very poorly.
I don't buy from them anymore because I can't justify paying towards another massive yacht for Jeff Bezos while his employees urinate in bottles....
@Sabroni
That is a load of crap. Foremer warehouse employee from my early college days and I can tell you the job is not bad like a lot of articles/people have made it out to be over the years. Is the job easy? Nope, it’s fairly repetititve and somewhat competitive. Is the job for everyone? Not at all. Not everyone does well in the hustle/bustle environment of the warehouse, but I also recall plenty of people that enjoyed their jobs there that said they’d never do anything else. I choose to shop with Amazon because more often than not, they do tend to be the cheaper alternative depending on what I’m purchasing AND they are generally faster for receiving items. I never quite understood the hate for Amazon before and after I worked there. It pays well for a not so easy job. Quite a few occupations do that.
Shame they're not bringing the controller. It mostly is the game. It's like Guitar Hero without a guitar, it's just kind of lame. Still excited to be able to import it and get the game in November!
Does anyone know if there's an advantage to the localized version versus the English patch on the JP version?
@ShikabaneHime13 FWIW, I've heard both stories, both about sweatshop conditions (or worse) at Amazon, and stories like yours about people who said it paid pretty well and wasn't such a bad deal. The one pattern I've noticed is most of the stores about the worse-than sweatshop conditions always seem to come out of the UK. It's very possible Amazon UK is a much much nastier operation than main Amazon in the States.
Not a fan of Amazon's business practices often enough (they use every loophole in the book and then some to claim they make no money, and thus not only skip out on taxes, but they also cheat their investors too. Usually ruthless businesses do it for the investors. Amazon manages to cheat everyone including the investors. Yet, often the do represent the best experience as a consumer....and as we narrow down to basically two retailers for everything, they're still way less nasty than Walmart. They're slipping though. Little by little they seem to care less and are willing to cut corners.
My fiancée wants this bad. I'll have to import it from Japan with the game itself.
Ordered for my wife...I’ll have to hide it until her birthday in late October, since the game comes out early November. She could not play without this peripheral!!
@Sabroni I like play-asia but their shipping rates are pretty expensive
@NEStalgia I will agree they are most certainly slipping. By no means are they a perfect company either but I enjoyed my time there
As long as the game is compatible with the Donkey Konga Bongos through the Gamecube USB multitab, I'm good.
I mean, that's SUPER likely to be the case... right?
@jobvd I've actually been pretty impressed with the precision of the joy-con motions, though I prefer the other control options overall.
The joycon aren't bad, but the blue notes require tilting them and that just doesn't register all that well. Especially on harder difficulties. I'm not against motion controls at all, I'm one of the people that had zero problems with Zelda SS.
@kirbygirl see above comment
@jobvd Yeah, I understand what you're saying about the tilt for the blue notes. It took some getting used to for me, but once I did, I felt like it worked pretty well. Like I said above, though, I prefer the other control options overall.
$73!? Damn, Play Asia! Relax with that price gouging!
I hope the drum works with Gal Metal now that it's coming to the west.
@GauBan I can't figure out how to do this. Do you use both usb cables in the switch?
@jobvd I've only ever done it using both USB cables from the GC adapter going into the Switch. You should see a pro controller operational and you can test the inputs by going to console settings and testing inputs.
Using the drums will give you A,B,X & Y.
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