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[john tv]

So, I picked up Taiko Drum Master tonight on a whim ($49 at Best Buy, couldn't resist), and I just started messing around with it. My question is this: who is it that sucks -- me or the drum? Because no matter how hard I try, I have not been able to register 100% of my hits in any one song yet. I'm wondering if I'm doing something wrong or if the drum is just cheap and unresponsive?

BTW, is this the same drum that's available in Japan?

Seems like a fun game and I'd really like to get into it, but the fact that 20% of my hits aren't even registering is dampening the experience for me. I never had this problem with Donkey Konga... :/

 

[Vargas]

Stay away from the middle of the drum. I had the same exact problem at first but I can now get Perfect Combos on most of the songs.

 

[Crazymoogle]

Yeah, circle in the middle has no registration, which is weird. Sometimes it's just enough to miss out on a small string of hits, but overall I've still found it to blow away every other music controller I've used.

Of course, I don't judge based on 100% hits either, because it's bloody hard to do. I guess for all of the cyborgs who get Gitaroo Man S rankings, though...

 

[GDJustin]

John the short answer is that its both you AND the drum. When I got Taiko I had a LOT of missed hits and it lead to a ton of frustration. The more I played the more I got comfortable with the drum's dead zones and sweet spots, to the point were I could complete songs perfectly.

That being said, I've still had some stupid shit happen, like hitting the drum 8 times with the exact same rythm in the exact same spot, but then one of the notes seems to arbitrarily not count. The drum simply isn't as nice as Konga's.

 

[Uncle Dukey]

I have the same issue :/..

 

[Unison]

Yeah, it's inferior to the Donkey Konga drum set... I have them both & think in a perfect world I'd prefer Taiko (since it's a better game overall w/ better graphics and songlist), but the Kongas just stomp all over the Taiko Drum.

 

[Kobun Heat]

This is why I'm a Konga man. Never did like the Taiko home controller.

I wish I had an arcade machine :_:

 

[Argyle]

Taiko as a game shits all over Konga, though. The dead spot sucks, but it can be overcome with some practice (just make sure you hit the drum in the same spot every time)...does anyone know if the 3rd party drums are any better as far as the dead spot goes?

 

[sc0la]

I really like both games.

In the end I prefer the konga because of construction and reliability, but hitting something with sticks sure is fun

The dead spots are super annoying, I wouldn't mind them as much if the game actually made use of having two face hit zones, but it doesn't. I have missed quite a few combos because of the dead zone.

 

[Asskicker064]

I've heard the Red Octane drums are much better.

 

[bobbyconover]

It's totally the drum. The weird thing is, the last time I mentioned it (in one of the many Donkey Konga vs. Taiko threads, when both first came out) tons of people seemed to think I was crazy and that my controller was a fluke defect. I'm glad (well, kinda not) to see that it's not just me, now that quite a few others have gotten a chance to try it out.

For what it's worth, Taiko is one of the few rhythm games that is actually pretty fun on a normal Dual Shock. Much quieter, too.