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[Brandon F]

Spent an early chunk of the evening playing Taiko "Anime" edition import that a friend brought back from a recent trip. No drums unfortunately, all controller play, but WUT A CROWD PLEASER! The game is cool, and the paper-toon laden presentation is so crisp and colorful it slices retinae.

Unfortunately none of us knew any of the songs. I recognized the opening to Evangelion pretty readilly(making me the biggest nerd of the group), and though I know -of- One Piece, Majin-Z, Naruto, Gundam Seed Destiny, and Bleach; none of us had seen the shows nor ever heard their music before tonight. (Bleach is the only memorable one, that show has one kickin song) I personnally also got a kick out of the watergun shooting minigame which had a really bouncy remix of the Time Crisis theme.

So I want to buy Taiko US. I recall the forum saying something about Taiko drums sucking way back, dead zones and such? What do I need to know before dropping some green?

 

[Aruarian Reflection]

After playing in the arcades with a full blown huge drum set, it's pretty hard to go back to the miniaturized console version. I remember hearing about dead zones as well, but I didn't play the console one long enough to notice. I do have a sealed US set I'm willing to sell for cheap though ($20+shipping), PM me if interested

 

[bobbyconover]

I recall the forum saying something about Taiko drums sucking way back, dead zones and such? What do I need to know before dropping some green?

It sounds like you already know all there is to know - the game is lots of fun, but the controller pretty much sucks. Since the US version was really cheap with the controller last I checked (I paid something like $25 for mine), though, you might as well pick up the full package.

 

[The Take Out Bandit]

Check your local Target stores. $29.99 new.

It would be nice to see more music disks released here, but something tells me licensing will prevent that from happening.

I didn't notice any problems with dead zones. However I summon Animal from the Muppet Show when I play this game. So if something goes dead, I reckon I done beat it to death.

 

[Musashi Wins!]

I recently picked up the psp version. If you become obsessed, pick it up! It's great fun though of course no drums involved.

 

[.hacked]

PSP version is killer.

The 2d visuals are so crisp and I dig the j-pop

 

[paranoidandroid]

Has anyone heard anything about a US sequel? Target (for some reason) has an entry for Taiko 2 on their website with a release date though I can't find any information anywhere else. A guy I talked to at EB yesterday also said they have it in their computers but with no release date.

 

[Brandon F]

EB is selling this for $30 as well, we have a winner.

PSP Taiko game eh? Hmmm....

 

[B'z-chan]

Is anyone willing to part with imports? I need Jpop Taiko goodness pm me even if you have them please for the love of god.

Whats on the psp version morphix? Might have to get that for the gf she loves jpop

 

[Dragona Akehi]

I found that the home version ain't so bad (in terms of dead spots) as long as you play the game as it was meant to be played: HAMMER ON THE DRUM LIKE YOUR MOTHER TAUGHT YOU.

Usually when I fuck up on Taiko, it's me and not the drum.

 

[Ranger X]

At the beginning you'll need a time to get used to the drum but it's all about your position and how you hit the drum. After a little while it's gonna be cake.
The game is awesome (and cheap now) -- just buy it already!

 

[Brandon F]

Also I'D REALLY appreciate it if anyone can name off the list of songs in the new anime Taiko disc. My Japanese is too sucky now to translate, and we were all pretty curious about some of them. Can't find a proper list online either.

Oh and I'm buying the US version later today. Debating getting two bundles for a second set of drums...grrr.

 

[Shiggy]

First I read Taito in the header :lol
Sorry, but I had to say this.

 

[Downhome]

Yes, get the PSP version. It is just flat out awesome.

And they will be offering new songs to be downloaded and added to the game in late September.

 

[GDJustin]

Taiko PS2 is RUINED by the drum.

 

[Uncle Dukey]

Also I'D REALLY appreciate it if anyone can name off the list of songs in the new anime Taiko disc. My Japanese is too sucky now to translate, and we were all pretty curious about some of them. Can't find a proper list online either.

I've tried to look up the titles for all the anime songs.. Out of all of them I only personally remember Mazinger Z and Yakitate Japan !! :/

One Piece Opening #5:
"Kokoro no Chizu" by BOYSTYLE

Naruto Opening #6:
"No Boy, No Cry" by Stance Punks

Detective Conan Opening #15:
"Hoshi no Kagayakiyo" by ZARD

Bleach Opening #2:
D-tecnoLife by UVERworld

Selfish Fairy Mirumo de Pon

Futari wa Pretty Cure Opening
"DANZEN! Futari wa Precure" by Mayumi Gojo

Gash Bell Opening #3:
"Mienai Tsubasa" by Takeyoshi Tanimoto

Yu Gi Oh Duel Monster GX Opening:
"Kaisei Josho Hallelujah" by Jindou

Mahou Sentai Magiranger

Kamen Rider

Rockman.EXE Stream Opening:
"Be Somewhere" by Buzy

Kaiketsu Zorori

Hamtaro Opening:
"Hamutarou Tottoko Uta" by Hamuchanz

Fushigiboshi no Futagohime Opening:
"Princess wa akiramenai" by FLIP-FLAP

Soreike! Anpanman Ending:
"Anpanman Taisou" (Don't know which artist..)

Yakitate Japan!! Opening #1:
"Houkigumo" by RYTHEM

Gundam Seed Destiny Opening #3:
"Our Whereabouts" by Hitomi Takahashi

Mobile Suit Gundam II (Thanks Mandoric)
"Ai senshi" by Inoue Daisuke

Evangelion Opening:
"Thesis of a Cruel Angel" by Yoko Takahashi

Mahou Sensei Negima Opening:
"Happy Material" - Dunno which version..

Ring ni Kakero Opening:
"Asu eno Toushi" by Marina del ray

Galaxy Express 999

Mazinger Z

Mahou Tsukai Sally

Yattaman no Uta (Yattaman Song)

The rest are all Namco originals I think...

--edited to make it easier to read

 

[Brandon F]

Huge thanks! I think I am going to have to watch Bleach now, I mean I can't get the song out of my damned head.

Still debating whether to go for this or DK. Seems pretty unanimous that gamers prefer the bongos to the drum controller from what I've researched. Presentation seems to favor Taiko though, but the song selections are generally similar across the board.

 

[Mandoric]

The MSG track is from the second movie, of the same name.

 

[Argyle]

Huge thanks! I think I am going to have to watch Bleach now, I mean I can't get the song out of my damned head.

Still debating whether to go for this or DK. Seems pretty unanimous that gamers prefer the bongos to the drum controller from what I've researched. Presentation seems to favor Taiko though, but the song selections are generally similar across the board.

This is a no-brainer decision. Donkey Konga may have a less annoying controller, but the game itself is ass compared to Taiko. Donkey Konga 2 is even less fun (if you're playing with someone else, you'd might as well flip a coin to decide who will have more points at the end)...if you are any good at rhythm games, you'll also find Donkey Konga to be way too easy.

Get Taiko. Hell, the PSP version of Taiko kicks the crap out of either Donkey Konga game.

 

[GoutPatrol]

You can actually feel where the dead zone is in the console drum. Just rub your hand down the center of the drum, you will a hard divider between the left and right. It sucks that you can't hit in the middle, but I love my Taiko.

 

[The Take Out Bandit]

Okay, I just played an hour and a half of this game.

Taiko Drum Master is the Perfect Game!

The actual game segments average three minutes or so, perfect for my short attention span; and it calls upon my instinctive desire to HIT THINGS!

This game could only be better if Koei devised a means of giving me a prop weapon and standing around my living room slashing hordes of invisible Chinamen in some sort of god given great Dynasty Warriors sequel.

Then I could pass out from exhaustion and feel good about myself!

Games of this generation:

1. Dynasty Warriors series
2. Taiko Drum Master
3. Antigrav

WOOF!

 

[Brandon F]

EEEEEEEEEKKKK~~~~!!!

I thought this game was fun with the controller, but these drums are AWESOME! I feel the deadzone though, have had a few misses because of it. Also, the thing likes to shuffle around the table when I am hitting the edge which can totally throw off my game.

LOVE that they included 'Katamari on the Rocks' and the Soul Calibur 2 theme. The pop selections...whatever. I still have Naruto and Bleach themes stuck in my head from the anime disc(just way too catchy), ABC and Tubthumping aren't gonna replace em.

SO MUCH FUN!

 

[The Take Out Bandit]

I'm thinking of picking up a non-slip pad to put on my coffee table beneath the drum to keep it from skidding. I use such a device on my weekend job to keep deliveries from sliding all over the back of the van and it works remarkably well.

I find most of my misses come from the damned drum getting knocked all over the place, so I end up hitting some place I wasn't hitting 30 seconds ago. :lol

 

[impirius]

If you don't own this game yet, you can get it for the low low price of TWENTY DOLLARS.

(thanks CAG!)

 

[Bebpo]

If you don't own this game yet, you can get it for the low low price of TWENTY DOLLARS.

(thanks CAG!)

Ooooo cheap thanks for the link. Even if I just wanted the controller for the Japanese discs $20 is a nice price

 

[Nikashi]

Is there more than one Anime collection for Taiko?

 

[Mandoric]

Is there more than one Anime collection for Taiko?

Two, "Wakuwaku Anime Matsuri" (notable tracks: Uchuu Senkan Yamato, Ultraman's Theme, Moonlight Densetsu, and Boku Doraemon) and "Tobikkiri! Anime Special" (tracks listed above in thread.)

 

[Brandon F]

Looks like the next Taiko game will include the motherlode of Japan-gamedom franchises. Dragon Quest 8 music.

 

[robox]

i'm kinda disappointed that a lot of the songs on psp taiko are rehashed from taiko 5 and taiko drum master. but hey, lupin theme...

and once again canadian gamers get the short end of the stick when it comes to gaming deals. the taiko drum was still selling for $60 last time i went to best buy, which was about 2 weeks ago.

 

[Vlad]

If you don't own this game yet, you can get it for the low low price of TWENTY DOLLARS.

(thanks CAG!)

Just picked it up today (the price on the shelf was still 49.99, but it rang up at 19.99), and played for about 45 minutes or so.

- As many, many others have said, the Konga drums are a lot better than the Taiko drum.

- However, the Taiko drum isn't nearly as bad as I was expecting it to be. I have noticed the dead zone in the middle of the drum, but it's pretty small, and as long as I focused on hitting away from the middle on the face of the drum, I didn't have any problems. My biggest problem is with hitting the rims. If the hittable area extended a bit more around towards the back of the drum, or if the drum was a bit bigger, it wouldn't be an issue. But as is, since the drum is so small, and you have to hit the rim with the stick at a bit of an angle, I either end up having to bend my wrist outward and aim in a bit to hit the edge, or hit the rim on the opposite side (left hand hitting right rim, and vice versa). I might be able to get used to it after a while, but it still requires a bit more contorting than I'd like. I've heard that the arcade drum is bigger, and I could see how that would be a lot more comfortable, but impractical to include with the console game.

- The game itself does seem far superior to Konga in just about every way, too. The presentation is a lot more polished, although the voices and general theme is a little grating. I've got to remember to check and see if there's an option to kill the voices...

- The song selection absolutely kills Konga, not only in the song choices themselves, but also in the quality of the covers and how you play along to them. In Konga, too many of the songs just had you hitting the bongos along with the main melody, which was just silly, and ended up sounding weird, but the handful of Taiko songs I've played so far have you actually playing an appropriate drum part, which is a LOT nicer. The game also seems like it's a lot more difficult than Konga. While a lot of my trouble was coming from not having associated the symbols to the actions yet, I spotted some tricky rythms, even on some of the Normal songs, which is nice.

- I'm not a huge fan of the inital minigames. The balancing one seems ok, but the other two got boring fast. I remember seeing a video of one that was like a simon says kind of game, where a sequence popped up, and you had to repeat it, but I'm guessing that I'll unlock that later.

As long as I can figure out a comfortable and consistent way to hit the edges, I'm gonna love this one. Not only that, but I seem to be developing quite the taste for music games requiring silly peripherals. When's Guitar Hero due out, again?