"Yes, dressing a drum up like a chicken makes the game more fun."

Taiko No Tatsujin DS: Touch De Dokodon! is a new game for the DS based on a popular arcade game in Japan, known in America as Taiko Drum Master (which we'll use as the name in this review as it's easier for me). I believe it only had one release in America, which had a disappointing soundtrack to say the least, and if you are a fan of rhythm games, you know that the music is the most important part of the game aside from the gameplay. So, really, to get a good Taiko Drumming experience, you had to import. And luckily for us, a Taiko game gets released on the region free DS!

Now, in the arcade versions of the game, you hit a replica of a Taiko (a wide Japanese style drum), and the console versions come with a drum controller as well as sticks. In the DS version, you drum using the touch screen, and wasn't it nice of the creators to include special drumstick stylii along with the game? Notes are either red or blue, and scroll across the screen, right to left. You either hit the middle (red note) or the side (blue notes) of the drum, and there are special
"notes" as well.

Playing with the stylii seem to the best way to enjoy the game, but really, after advancing to harder songs, I found it to be more of a gimmick than anything. It's cute, though, but when you get tired of drumming with the touch screen, thankfully you can use the buttons which makes things easier. There are three control schemes that you can pick which the buttons (basicially meaning which buttons are red or blue notes).

As I mentioned earlier, the song list is the one of the most important components of a rhythm game. Well, the songs in this game aren't for everybody. There is plenty of JPop; I'm not familiar with any of the songs or the artists, but I found most of the music to be pretty catchy. There are also anime themes (including the Japanese intro to Pokemon Diamond and Pearl), classical music (so that Namco wouldn't have to pay as many royalties though I like classical music so I don't mind), Namco original pieces (again, the royalties thing, but these fit the game better) and, my personal favorite, the Super Mario Bros. song!

If you're interested the complete songlist is on Wikipedia. I may send in an FAQ though at some point in time.

Right, there are also a couple of lame folktunes. Don't worry, they're super easy, you'll only have to play them once...

The game is filled with adorableness that only Japan can deliver. If you don't like things that compromise your manliness, stay away. Inanimate objects with faces. Yay for them! The drum is very cute, even cuter is the ability to unlock outfits for him. And, yes, you can dress it up as a chicken, my favorite outfit. Besides unlocking clothing, there are a few extra songs, as well as an "Expert" difficulty for when the first three difficulties get too easy for you. I still suck at expert though.

And for those of you who can't read Japanese, well, I can't either, but it really wasn't a problem. The tutorial that plays at the beginning of the game shows animations explaining what to do so if you've never played a game like this you don't have to worry. The only thing was there are dojo like challenges and I couldn't really understand the point of those... but I was able to unlock songs and stuff no problem. Also, there's single and multi cart multiplayer, so hopefully you have a friend who loves rhythm games to play with you.

Overall, Taiko No Tatsujin DS isn't for everybody. Like all well executed rhythm games, it's quite addicting and is the type of game you can play for just ten minutes or hours. However, I'm sure plenty of people will be turned off by the soundtrack. If you don't like Jpop or classical music, you shouldn't buy it. But if you do, you'll have a blast with this game and come back to it time and time again.

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 03/06/08

Game Release: Taiko no Tatsujin DS: Touch de Dokodon! (JP, 07/26/07)