Since 2001, the Taiko no Tatsujin series by Bandai Namco has been one of the most addictive rhythm games in Japanese arcades and across Asia, as well as home consoles. It had limited releases in other countries but has been increasing in popularity over the past few years and can be found in most modern arcades worldwide. Taiko drumming has been around since the 6th century CE and has always been an entertaining spectacle at festivals, ceremonies, and other big events.

Making the ancient Japanese instrument into a video game is a simple concept using only a single drum and two sticks, but becoming a taiko drum master is anything but simple. The latest entry, Taiko no Tatsujin: Rhythm Festival is ready to pound the drums on PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.

Welcome to Omiko City, where everyone’s favourite Taiko elements are combined! With Don-chan, meet your new friend, Kumo-kyun and aim to become a Taiko Master! Taiko no Tatsujin: Rhythm Festival features 76 songs in the base game, with various pop songs, as well as music from games, anime, Vocaloid, Disney, classical music, and original Namco tracks.

The Nintendo Switch version has some exclusive tracks from various Nintendo games. More songs can be purchased via DLC packs which can add up to over 700 songs. The prices of each DLC pack range from $5.95 AUD to $19.45 AUD, so players can select which music they want to add to their collection.

There are also more songs available in the Taiko Music Pass, which is a paid monthly subscription for either $5.95 AUD a month or $14.45 AUD for every three months. As good as Taiko no Tatsujin is, a monthly subscription for extra songs doesn’t feel worth it, especially when the base game already costs $75.95 AUD. The paid subscription does have an excellent collection of songs, but it’s still an odd decision by Bandai Namco that other songs can be purchased and kept forever.

The other songs are only accessible with an active subscription. If players are willing to commit their free time to Taiko no Tatsujin: Rhythm Festival then they’ll get their money’s worth, but most would likely pay for one month, enjoy the songs then cancel, or not worry about it all. Games as a service might work with some games, but Taiko no Tatsujin isn’t one of them.

Aside from Bandai Namco’s controversial business strategy, there is still much to enjoy in the base game. The controls are the same as in every other game and work just as well. The game is best played with a taiko drum peripheral which can be difficult to find outside of Asia, but plenty are available online and in different sizes.

Having a small drum and sticks to use at home is almost as good as the real thing and it’s incredibly responsive to the fast-paced rhythm game. The game can also be played on a regular controller by using the buttons and Switch players can also use the Joy-Cons as the sticks utilising its motion controls.

Even with only two notes to play, which are hitting the drum on the top or the outer rim, the game is still incredibly challenging, but so addictive at the same time, encouraging players to play repeatedly to improve their skills.

There are four difficulty settings Easy, Normal, Hard, and Extreme so newcomers and casual players can start small and keep it simple, while more experienced players can go all out. Even the Easy setting can still be difficult, but in a fun way that keeps you coming back for more and eventually working your way up to more challenging settings where the real fun is.

The latest game includes an Improvement Support mode to help players improve their drumming skills. It breaks down every available song into segments and can be slowed down, so players can practice and master them before trying the full song, which lesser-skilled players certainly appreciate.

Taiko no Tatsujin is now more accessible and beginner-friendly than ever, making it a great entry point for those who always wanted to get into the series, but were discouraged by its challenging gameplay.

For those confident enough, they can take their drumming skills online and compete with others across the world for a high score. In my personal experience, the online gameplay has felt smooth with little to no lag at all. Beware though, there is a lot of tough competition online but win or lose, drumming together is always a good time. Unfortunately, there is no crossplay so you’ll only match up with opponents on the same console.

There are also three other modes aside from just playing through each of the available songs and they can be played with up to 4 players. Don-chan Band has each player using a different instrument and must perform select songs together as a team, where if one player falls behind, everyone falls behind. Run! Ninja Dojo has 4 players racing against each other, where staying in rhythm will speed you up and missing the beats will slow you down.

Great Drum Toy Wars is a 2-player game where you can customise a robot and battle an opponent by playing through a song, but your performance can sabotage the other player by adding extra notes that move faster, affect their timing, obscure their view and more. This creates a simple and fun party game that anyone can enjoy.

The overall art style and presentation for the most part remains unchanged since the original 2001 game, staying true to its original bright, colourful, friendly and cute design. There is plenty to unlock from different outfits for Don-chan, as well as greetings, nameplates, trophies, and more.

Once again, the Taiko no Tatsujin series offers hours of pure taiko drumming fun. The latest game is a great entry point for newcomers, with the Improvement Support mode helping them practice every available song and get them on track to becoming a taiko drum master. Even with the controversial paid subscription option for an extra 500 songs, there are already more than enough songs available in the base game and even more can be bought via the DLC packs which are one-off purchases. Taiko no Tatsujin: Rhythm Festival is ready to get the party started and get the drums pounding.

Written by: Sammy Hanson