Taiko no Tatsujin: Drum Session!
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Taiko no Tatsujin: Drum Session! Media
Taiko no Tatsujin: Drum Session! & Drum 'n' Fun! - Announcement Trailer | PS4, Switch
Critic Reviews for Taiko no Tatsujin: Drum Session!
Taiko no Tatsujin: Drum Session! (PS4)Developer: Bandai NamcoPublisher: Bandai NamcoReleased: November 2, 2018MSRP: $49.99 (No Drum)Taiko no Tatsujin: Drum Session, is the second of two Taiko games that launched last week, alongside Nintendo Switch release Taiko no Tatsujin: Drum 'n' Fun. But whereas the latter's focus is on mini-games and party modes, Drum Session's PS4 release is more focused on the core Taiko no Tatsujin experience.Drum Session's rhythm-action gameplay is very straightforward. You bash along, on your drum controller or PS4 pad, in time to symbols that appear on a fast-moving on-screen track, ala Rock Band, Guitar Hero or any number of previous similar titles. The red symbols represent hitting the skin, the blue symbols require a tap on the rim. The larger symbols mean you strike with both sticks together, while extended yellow bars require players to hammer out a thunderous drum roll.Players score points for perfect timing, as well as for not dropping a beat, with extended combos making for major league scores. There is a large variety of songs to choose from, ranging in difficulty, and you can compete against a friend or against other player's "ghosts" online.
No matter what way you choose to buy, though, both are great and make for an excellent musical addition to your game collection.
Bright, colourful and a lot of fun, Taiko no Tatsujin is a beat 'em up I can really get behind.
All in all, there’s enough happening in Taiko no Tatsujin: Drum Session! that can keep you entertained for a long time.
The decision not to release the drum controller in the West is a baffling one, as it robs Taiko No Tatsujin: Drum Session of its identity. However, if you're willing to give it a shot with a regular pad, there's a challenging rhythm game here for you to master, with a wide variety of tracks and seamless online play. The lack of extra modes is a shame, but if you get hooked on this game's unique brand of beat-matching gameplay, the climb towards better scores should keep you going for a good while.
What could possibly be more compelling than a heated, rank-determining battle via the Hello Kitty theme song, after all?
Even if I didn't discuss it, Taiko no Tatsujin: Drum Sessions! biggest strength is song diversity. It's the only rhythm game where you can play game, anime, Jpop, classical and more songs. This alone makes it a solid choice for anyone who loves music or the rhythm genre. Sure, it might seem rather simple and overly cute but it's a game with untold amounts of depth. While online doesn't do much to maximize it and the bingo system is only compelling if you're not that skilled, it's still a solid experience.
Taiko no Tatsujin: Drum Session! is a bright and cheery arcade drumming classic digitally packaged without the physical equipment normally used to play it, conceding a DualShock 4 as the solitary drum to bang across dozens of energetic pop anthems. It's a fun, albeit plain, rhythm game that you can imagine being even more fun with the hilarious drum controller that isn't included or available in North America.
