PS2 Underrated Gem: Taiko Drum Master -No Commentary-
This is a series of gameplay vids I'm doing highlighting overlooked games for the PS2.
NOTE: It's been a long time since I put some serious play time into this game, and I'm really rusty, so I'm playing it on easy for the vid. Sorry if it's not 1337 gameplay. I'm using the Drum Controller that came with the game in this footage. I also chose songs that weren't in danger of copyright infringement (even though it's cover bands singing, but why risk it?)
Taiko Drum Master is a drum-based Music game released by Namco for the PS2. It doesn't have the depth of say the drums in Rock Band, but it's still a very fun and often times tough game that I think those who enjoy music games will also enjoy.
It's not too different in premise from any other music game out there. Specific colored icons come across the screen and depending on whether it's blue or green depends on what you have to do. Blue icons mean you have to hit the drum controller on the edge, while the red mean you have to hit the main part of the drum. The drum is split in between the left and right side, but the only time it comes into play is when the big icons come down the screen which means you have to either hit the drum on both sides, or tap the both sides of the drum at the same time. It's pretty simple, and it's by far less complex than the drum sets of RB, or World Tour.
That doesn't make it an easy game by any means though. Like other music games, this game requires a lot of practice and endurance to get good at. It also supports the use of a dual shock 2 controller, and though I think the game is best with the drum controller, it still manages to be engaging (if not a little easier) with the DS2. There are also a few mini-games you can play in the game that require different hits on the drum.
My biggest complaints with the game (aside from the fact that I suck of course), it that sometimes the drum doesn't register my hits right. It's more my fault, but the middle of the drum has a separator under the rubber so it can differentiate left side from right, and a few of my misses in this footage are from hitting the center of the drum where the separator is, and it not registering the hit. It also sometimes feels like it misses when I tap the side of the drum as well. However, this can be overcome by being aware of where you're hitting, and positioning the drum just right so you hit the right spot in the heat of play. Another complaint that some people may have is that the drum has a small stand meaning you're most likely going to have to sit on the floor when playing.
Those are small complaints though. The biggest complaint I hear int he reviews of the American version of the game was the change of the song selection from the Japanese version. Songs by spears or the Material Girl which is probably valid. One of these days I should import the Japanese version just to see what songs it had.
Overall, this is a fun music game. It won't make you forget about GH or RB, but it's a nice change of pace music game. Even if you get it without the drum controller, it's still playable and fun on the Dual Shock 2.
NOTE: I found a user on youtube named zekiramasterdragon that puts in some insane runs on the Japanese versions (there were a number of Taiko games released over there for the PS2), so check out his vids to see some real playing.
Here's an example: • Taiko no Tatsujin 7(PS2) -- Taiko Tower 9
You know you all want to sing the Katamari song- La,la,la,la,la,la,la,la,la,la,la,la,la,la