Who are you and what are you doing here?
Sounds like a mystery even for me... Okok, jokes apart I am a lazy donder from Italy, and actually the youngest member of the Taiko Time staff. In this blog, I'm the big mind behind the Song of the Week feature and - of course - most of the Song series articles. I'm more of a clean-up person, fixing links and fetching some news. Aquabluu corrects my articles a lot. ;^^
When did you start playing Taiko?
On July 2008, during the summer break. Taiko arcades are really rare to find in Italy, but a friend of mine has noticed the big, strange cabinaet of the 7th arcade, right behind our hotel. I've tried it just because there were 2 songs I've already seen in other online rhythm games (Toxic & Saitama 2000). But we surely couldn't imagine I've had passed both songs on Muzukashii (that's Hard mode), with all the people in the arcade room watching me! That encouraged me to improve further on my game.
What was your first console Taiko version?
Taiko Wii 1. Mostly because there are more songs than the DS versions. But you can't imagine how surprised I was when I unlocked the 2000 bonanza. JACKPOT!
What was your first Taiko arcade version?
Taiko 7, as said before. Too bad that was the highest version I was able to play. *sigh*
What are the versions of Taiko you've played before then?
Console: Wii 1, 2, 3, DS 1, 2, 3,
Arcade: 4, 7
What's your favorite console/arcade version?
So far, the 3rd for Wii. No matter how long a player will search among Taiko games, the Wii3 release has the best selection of Game Songs ever made! Plus, most of the unlockable old songs are funny to listen and to play....in spite of a few other horrible choices (BE THE ACE, Black Rock Shooter).
What's your favorite control method?
Wiimote only. But crazy difficult songs (Kita Saitama 2000, Joubutsu 2000) forced me to experiment the other control ways (too bad my Wii Tatacon broke after playing Black Rose Apostle T.t). I seldom play DS Taiko, but in those rare moments I prefer to use buttons instead of the screen.
What about on the arcade?
I'm right-handed, and I use the right drum. I prefer to use the drumsticks provided by the arcade machines. Why buy a pair of drumsticks only for an arcade videogame? It can make the game easier, and you get less tired while playing, but it's still a game, no? The only time I prepare anything to play the arcade Taiko is, occasionally, a pair of gloves (I have a quite sensitive skin, and arcade Taiko causes painful blisters if not done properly. ^^").
How long do you usually play Taiko?
About an hour on PC emulators/console games, and until my wallet is empty for arcades (but on summer my wallet IS empty most of the time for parties and souvenirs... ^^")
What's your favorite genre?
Despite of the wide variety provided by Namco Original and Game Song genres, I still prefer the Classic section. More than the other rhythm games I've played, the Taiko games pay tribute to a wide number of masters of the past, which aim me to know more about THE music's great history.
What's your favorite song and why?
No Way Back, absolutely. It's kinda rare to find a good song both to listen, to play and to sing! Screw up the Ura mode for drunken people, it's not rare to watch me playing this great tune from God Eater during a karaoke session.
What's the song that gives you the most trouble?
Apart the 5 god songs, I've had really frustrating times while playing Burning Force Medley (on Taiko Wii 2). Its high scrolling speed and the various, annoying streams and 3-hit clusters confused me and I get tired right before the Go-Go Time section. It was also my first successful FC on Oni difficulty, and I took four freaking days to do it. Then, the day after I tried Ryougen no Mai and Rotter Tarmination Ura. After that I cried.
What's your least favorite song?
It's easy to know my worse enemies: IDOLM@STER and Hatsune Miku songs. Both the categories offer the same, usual, bad voices with meaningless Japanese lyrics mixed with English ones. Again. And again. And again and so on. "Special" mention for the REALLY HORRIBLE voice of the Blue-haired Otaku-magnet.
Do you actually like any of the side modes/minigames in Taiko?
Loved the Wii 2/DS 2 boss battles, but the RPG mode of the 3rd DS game was quite odd. Especially because battles end without the entire song being played. Also liked the Wii minigames of the 3rd release!
What do you want to see from Taiko in the future?
Surely more songs and less Miku cameos! I'm also curious to see the two song exclusives of the Medal noTatsujin games make it into an ordinary Taiko game (I'm talking about Sky Kid and Valkyrie no Densetsu, both of which would be in Game Music if in regular Taiko). Speaking of console releases, maybe a 4th Wii release with Wi-fi support for downloading new songs can't be a bad idea.
