Bandai Namco will be known by many Nintendo fans in the West for creating the Donkey Konga GameCube titles. However, over in Japan the company has a far stronger rhythm franchise in the form of ‘Taiko no Tatsujin’, a series that has predominantly appeared on Sony consoles. However, now that era appears to be over and Nintendo fans are getting a taste of the game. Cubed was lucky enough to catch up with the developer of the Taiko no Tatsujin titles to find out more about the two Nintendo DS iterations already released in Japan and discuss the possibility of them coming to the West.
Cubed ‘s Adam Riley: For those that do not know about the Taiko no Tatsujin franchise, could you please explain about how it works and why you think people are so addicted to the series?
Mr. Ken Nakadate, Producer of the “Taiko no Tatsujin” franchise: “Taiko no Tatsujin” is a game concerning a Japanese traditional percussion instrument, called “Wadaiko (Taiko),” and uses drum sticks, called “Bachi,” to co-operate with the music that is being played. The franchise is originally from the arcade version, and “Taiko no Tatsujin” has now been released on Nintendo DS. We believe that the reason many users, across generations and regardless of sex, enjoy the game is that the gameplay is unique and intuitive; just touching the face (“Men”) and edge (“Fuchi”) of the Taiko drum with the exclusive touch pen, “Bachi Pen.” It also contains a lot of hit songs, including J-POP and cartoon theme songs.
AR: The games have been predominantly on Sony formats. What made you bring the series over to the Nintendo DS?
KN: Nintendo DS is a handheld hardware that is easy to play anytime, anywhere and the touch pen can be used like the Bachi to beat the Taiko drum. That’s why we thought we could create a new style to play the series on DS.
AR: Whose idea was it to include the Super Mario Bros. theme as one of the songs in the game yours or Nintendo’s?
KN: Super Mario Bros. has a wide appeal and the theme rhythm makes the body move irresistibly. That is the reason we included it in the game.
AR: Are more Nintendo songs included in the DS sequel? And how many songs are included in the new game in total?
KN: The game contains well-balanced music so that people, regardless of age, casual users to core users, could play; J-POP, anime, classical, folksongs, nursery rhymes, game music and also Bandai Namco Games originals.
AR: Choosing the right songs for a game like this is very important. How does your team decide which songs are perfectly suited for the final game?
KN: We choose the songs based on requests from customers and data from CD sales rankings. It is also important for the music to be catchy so it corresponds with playing the Taiko drum. However, we leave out some styles, like slow ballads, because they just wouldn’t fit.
AR: What sort of modes are available in the new DS Taiko no Tatsujin? Is there a multiplayer option as well?
KN: We introduced “Dojo-breaking mode” as a new mode. This mode provides a quest to sort through seven islands with the main character, Don-chan, in which the players can compete with enemies. Also, “Corresponding VS mode” from the previous one is available, in which the players can enjoy playing with up to four friends and family with just one DS card.
AR: How does the new Taiko no Tatsujin differ from the first DS game?
KN: The new one is the adventure version with more powerful elements. Other than the Dojo-breaking mode, the players can change the instrument from the Taiko to drum or tambourine, and popular cartoon characters join as guests within the game. The first one is like the ABC to learn the basics of how to play the standard songs with the Taiko drum. I recommend both!
AR: Nintendo released a GBA cartridge with new songs for Band Brothers on DS, and there is also the option to let download tracks using the Wi-Fi Connection. Has either of these options been considered for Taiko no Tatsujin to help extend the game’s life?
KN: We find the download service of songs attractive, but it is undecided so far.
AR: What are your thoughts on head-to-head Wi-Fi battles? Is this something that might be included in a future DS version?
KN: Wi-Fi battle is also interesting, but it is also undecided so far.
AR: Rhythm games have been extremely popular in the West, including the Bandai Namco-developed Donkey Kong series, as well as the extremely Japanese-themed Elite Beat Agents. Given this fact, will either DS Taiko no Tatsujin or the forthcoming Wii game be considered for a US or European release?
KN: We want the customers in Europe and US to enjoy the Japanese Taiko drum. The schedule for US or European releases is undecided but we would release them if we receive a lot of requests from US and European customers!
AR: Thank you for taking the time to answer these questions.
KN: Thank you very much!
The team would like to know whether you’d purchase the game if it made its way to the West. Please see our official poll or in the community bar on the left.
