Taiko Drum Master

The Taiko Drum Master video game is the first installment in Namco’s Taiko No Tatsujin rhythm game series to be available in the Western market. The game’s objective, the same as other rhythm games, is to use a specialized controller by scrolling on-screen cues that are timed to music. This game comes with a drum controller called the TaTaCon, a miniature version of a Japanese taiko drum with sensors in the middle and on the sides. The actions that can be taken in the game are represented by circles that scroll around the screen. When the player hits a blue ring, they are required to hit the edge of the drum, whereas red circles indicate that the player hit the middle of the drum. When playing on large rings, the player can score bonus points by hitting the center or edge sensors. Drum rolls, including yellow lines and balloons, are necessary to complete the final stage. The soundtrack includes a wide variety of tracks, including cover versions of popular songs like “Material Girl” and “ABC,” as well as music from other Namco games like “Katamari Damacy” and “Dragon Spirit,” and even theme songs from popular television shows. In addition, various mini-games are included on the CD that uses the TaTaCon for more obscure purposes. These mini-games involve activities such as eating watermelons and stacking wolves.