Song of the Week! 30 April 2011

 

Well, after the continuous analyses of high difficulty Namco Original songs, it's time to give an intermediate song a chance. This was Yusri Khairi's request from a few weeks ago. Ready?

Kimi ni Touch lyrics

Artist: Oogami Masako (大上昌子)

First video of CHAOS RINGS

Obviously, this song - coming from the namesake online RPG game of Square Enix - doesn't have the special dancers featured in the Sonic medley. But, on the other hand, this 7* Oni bears a lot of BPM and scrolling variations. From Symphonic Motos with love!

Namco Taiko Blog (26 April 2011) - Taiko iPhone's new Song Pack

While all attention is focused on Taiko PSP DX right now, another song pack is released on the under-rated iPhone Taiko! A few nice surprises here. It's announced on the Taiko Team's blog today! More details and images about the new iPhone tunes are available if you click Read More.

First video of Sonic 4 Medley

One of the new iPhone songs. As for the recent medley of New Super Mario Bros.Wii, the Sega mascot is a special dancer, together with Dr. Eggman and the other enemies around him. But where are his allies? Tails? Knuckles?

Taiko goofs, take 3

After-easter days bring to this site more funny situation generated by programming mistakes! On our next stop, there is the Wii universe; some of those bugs affect all the three Taiko chapters!

What do you want to see from PSP DX? Speculate!

5 years is a long time in Taiko years. To put into perspective, the series at its...10th anniversary right? That means PSP has been out of the running for the greater second half, which brought to the table so many great songs and great series that would leave any console in the dust after just two years. And suddenly we're presented with this. Since then it's been a field day for all the Taiko fans especially those with PSPs. However, barring downloadable songs, there are way too many holes to plug in with just 70 songs on the list.

Because of PSP's long absence from the series, it is missing:

• The entire Angel Dream series (bar the unreleased 3rd one)
• The entire ac. series
• The entire SORA series
• The entire no Mai series
• Chikuzei ~GEAR UP~, Zeihen ~transformation~ and Shunyuu ~happy excursion~
• Tenjiku, EkiBEN, X-DAY and Hataraku 2000
• Kurofune Raikou, Hyakka Ryouran, Sengoku Sangen, Fuun Shishi, Hyakki Yakou
• The Carnivorous Carnival
• Samurai Rocket, Naked Glow
• Yumeiro Coaster and mint tears
• Metal Police, Total Eclipse 2035, Tokoyami no Mori
• Many wow bang!, Hello! Halloween, Yuugao no Kimi (though, the first two have fallen out of stardom long ago)
• Family Dondon and Okashi Deka no Uta
• Melt, World is Mine and Black Rock Shooter
• Kare Kano Kanon and Le Tombeau de Couperin
• Metal Hawk BGM 1
• And many other popular songs you can think of.

Granted, a lot of the impact of absence has been cushioned by PSP2's new download packs and the current lineup on PSP DX (Rotter Tarmination, DON'T CUT and Rumble Ranbu are there, along with heavily rumored Ura Oni mode), but there is still an enormous amount of ground left to cover, and we probably won't see all of our collective wishlists on the final product (again, barring downloads).

From the preliminary songlist, we already know 26 songs out of 70 (SMOKY THRILL and Angel Dream 3 being excluded since they're extra songs that don't make up part of the in-game list). Assuming the in-game list has as many J-Pop and Anime songs as PSP2 (probably a couple of extra Variety/Children songs too, give or take a bit), then that would be 11 songs more, bringing the total to 37.

That makes 33 unlockable songs not counting Ura Oni. Taking Taiko Wii as the general example of Namco Original-heavy songlists, which it looks like PSP DX is trying to have, the approximate ratio of secret Namco Originals to Game Music to Classic is 5:1:1 (remember, there have never been any in-game unlockable licensed songs. Ura Oni excluded from rule). So, following that line of thought we might have about 23 to 26 Namco Originals, and the remainder split evenly among Game Music and Classic.

Since Mulberry is on the songlist it's a safe bet that the newer Taiko songs should be unlockable, including the Taiko Wii 3 giants Black Rose Apostle, Doom Noiz and Joubutsu 2000, and those from Taiko 14, Taiko Time, probably Shunyuu, and Shimedore 2000. And probably a few other good ones thrown in (personally I'd really like to see someone mash the buttons on Ryougen no Mai XD). With the advent of download songs it might seem that in-game songlists lose their significance, but remember you still have a storage limit per memory stick.

Remember, this is all my speculation so it could go right as I expect, or completely the opposite. What do you think should be in PSP DX's in-game songlist? Would too many 10* Onis ruin the balance? Since Shimedore crosses the 999 barrier, do you expect PSP DX's new songs to cross that too? Do you expect to see new entries to current series (SORA-V? New Garyoutensei or no Mai song?)? Among the huge list of Namco Originals/Game Music/Classic songs not currently on PSP, which of them do you want or expect to be in the 23 to 26 slots in DX? Speculate away!

Song of the Week! 23 April 2011

 

Double feature again this week! Both songs this time relate to the same story and the same game too. Think you already know what I'm talking about?

Site announcement: Random stuff

Now that the Taiko Donder homepage is updated, the Download page has added new downloadable contents, which was spread before for a limited period. Briefly, the contents will reguard other commemorative wallpapers and the Taiko Wii 2-related downloads, brought by Namco himself via the Taiko web counter available on the game's website. As always, we of Taiko Time will post the "new" stuff on the Download page soon!

There's more to know! From today, the Links section is proud to highlight another Taiko blog, made by one of our closest followers, flyboy87. In particular, The Way of the Taiko primarly features the Taiko simulator Taikojiro, aside with a bunch of Taiko songs to try with this simulator. A good way to improve your Arcade and Console skills on our drumming game is practise with patterns, and Taikojiro helps players in this aspect as a powerful ally. You can also create your own patterns for other songs!

See you in future posts!

Lazy donder,
Lokamp

Nicovideo is coming to English!

For years we have envied Japanese fellows for having their own, and in some ways a better, Youtube, which is Nico Nico Video. The main draw wasn't because it had better stuff than Youtube, but because it has an anonymous comment system where anyone can post without having his username being revealed to everyone else but the site admins. The greatest and most lulzy part was that your comments streak across the video in whichever manner and color you want! This led to a lot of crazy spam comments Youtube would destroy at first site, but is generally well-accepted here (you can turn the scroll off if comments are obstructing the video, but that's half the fun taken off if you ask me).

Taiko Portable DX- new details

Hurray for high-quality title logo! Still no box art, but whatever. Click 'Read More'!

Namco Taiko Blog (21 April 2011) - Yet another survey

There's no end to asking for fan input lately. This comes just a few months after the Namco Original survey (which ended with Angel Dream series being the winner).

DON'T CUT lyrics

Vocals: Nami Nakagawa (中川奈美)
Lyrics: Yasugawa Shougo (ヤスカワショウゴ)
Composer: Keiichi Okabe (岡部啓一)

Taiko goofs, part 2

Our trip along the best mistakes on console games continues! This part is dedicated to Sony bugs.

Mekadesu. lyrics

Composer: Masubuchi Yuuji (増渕裕二)
Singers: Yano Yoshihito, Yuri Misumi, Mika Sato and others (矢野義人、みすみゆり、佐藤美香)
Lyrics: LindaAI-Cue

*credits to flyboy87 for the lyrics!*

Song of the Week! 16 April 2011

 

Due to our followers' requests, April is going to see another double-song peek! This week's protagonist is Mekadon, the symbol of perfection in Taiko games.

Taiko no Tatsujin Portable DX song list

Released on July 2011, and the game's announcement is the first of ten big surprises Namco has planned out for its 10th anniversary celebrations. Portable DX (stands for deluxe) comes 5 whole years and 6 Nintendo console releases after the release of the last PSP Taiko, Portable 2. The total number of initial songs is 70, with additional downloadable songs thereafter, to match the massive songlists introduced on the Wii, and with the added advantage of being able to download songs too, like every Taiko PSP has done. Like the other recent games, the songlist has become a lot more geared towards Namco Originals.

Many new features and things introduced over the last 5 years which PSP had missed out on are finally added to this game, including Don-chan's room, the ability to change his color, costumes, and a story mode with boss battles too. The songlist of Taiko Portable DX, besides nearly matching the size of the current largest one barring song downloads (Wii3 with 71 songs), brings PSP up to date with new popular songs like Rotter Tarmination and the entire Angel Dream series, revisits old classics like Taiyou mo Yappappa and Sports Digestdon, and at the same time even has completely new songs too, including additions to favorite song series. Unlockable songs are scarce as almost the full list is available the moment you load the UMD. Outside of Ura Onis, you only unlock two songs through the entire course of the game, the least there has ever been in a console Taiko.

However, the desirable songs in PSP DX are not the ones unlocked on the game itself; the downloadable songs are different from those of PSP 1 and 2 in that it's the first to include licensed songs from genres other than Namco Original and Game Music, for a nominal fee per song. New songs are added monthly, with the first batch coming right from launch. Players who pre-order the game will receive a special card with a code to download the 3rd song in the Angel Dream series, Pastel Dream onto Portable DX (provided you have access to PlayStation Network- you need to sign in) and it's a very limited run, from launch date (14 July) to just a week later (20 July). Lots of other special promotional downloads too, including collaborations with Hori and Ponta & Lawson, a first for the series. All the publicly-available downloadable content has been discontinued after September 30th, 2015.

It is the second console Taiko game to introduce all new Ura Oni difficulties after Taiko Wii 3, and the first portable Taiko to have the mode. The Full Combo congratulatory message is identical to Wii, however if the song has special dancers, the message is a completely different picture as well, which is a nice touch. Portable DX is also the first console Taiko to show the total number of drumrolls made in the song, a feature present in the arcade since Taiko 11 but never in home consoles before. Other new mechanics in the game include organizing almost all unlockables in the game into an Achievement list, and a mode called Medley Mode, in which three, five, or eight different songs are put together and played all at once. Two new gameplay modifiers were also added into the game, which randomize the notes to different degrees. The Bell note has been removed from this release and the vestigial function of the analog stick is to produce sounds for fun.

Namco Taiko Blog (15 April 2011) - The celebration begins!

Finally, the day has come! The 10th Taiko anniversary starts now, after the earthquake/tsunami hiatus. The Donder page has undergone a huge makeover for this occasion!

Now the site is more organized, much neater and has a few new features! First of all, now there is a twitter box in order to let followers of #taiko_team to add comments there (and follow if they haven't already done so), and occasionally there will be tweets from another of the Taiko Team's Twitter accounts, #taiko765

As said before, the links to all the pages of the Taiko games are under the celebration banner, and made easier to navigate. The rest of the usual links are on the bottom-right corner of the page.

10 big announcements? It's like a Taiko version of ten days of Christmas!

The last - and maybe the most important - change is that during the Spring/Summer period, 10 special announcements will be made for the 10th anniversary, with the announcement of Taiko Portable DX being the very first one! Wonder what the remaining 9 are...these better be good stuff. So far nothing new,except that Namco has announced that just like in Taiko for mobile phones, Taiko Portable DX will support downloads of new J-pop and Anime songs every month! Quite overwhelming, isn't it? (which may also be why the preliminary songlist was so scant in these two genres. I'm sure more than a few of us would really like to see Punishment finally come to a console Taiko, right?)

Now the Taiko PSP DX site is active, as its release date is confirmed: 14 July 2011. Happy 10 years of Taiko, da-don!

Link to Original Post

Taiko no Tatsujin Portable DX now official!

Screenshots and details from the Famitsu website!

Possible partial song list for Taiko PSP DX

Found on 2chan by crystalsuicune. Still heavily rumored, and until official word is received, the song lists will not be updated. New songs not seen before in consoles in bold.

Taiko PSP DX is expected to have 70 songs.

・JPOP
よく遊びよく学べ (Yoku Asobi Yoku Manabe)
ヘビーローテーション (Heavy Rotation)
ありがとう (Arigatou)
I Wish For You
天体観測 (Tentai Kansoku)
紅 (Kurenai)

･バラエティ
情熱大陸 (Shounetsu Tairiku)
MISTER

･アニメ
One day(ワンピースより)
No buts!(とある魔術の禁書目録Ⅱより)

･ゲーム
モンスターハンターメドレー (Monster Hunter Medley)
The world is all one(アイドルマスター2より)
キラメキラリ(アイドルマスター2より) (Kirame Kirari)

･クラシック
第九交響曲 (Ode to Joy)
アイネクライネナハトムジーク(モーツァルト) (Eine Kleine Nachtmuzik)
練習曲Op.10-4 (Etude Op.10-4)

･ナムコオリジナル
Rotter Tarmination
らんぶる乱舞 (Rumble Ranbu)
DON'T　CUT
Mulberry
ドン・エンガスの笛吹き (Don Engasu no Fuefuki)
リンダは今日も絶好調 (Rinda wa Kyou mo Zekkouchou) (don't remember this? It was only on Taiko 10, go look for it)
スポーツ・ダイジェスドン～Fill in The Sky～ (Sports Digestion ~Fill in the Sky~)
十露盤2000 (Soroban 2000)

Before you start raging at all the old songs, remember, not only is this just a rumor, but most of these are also songs that have never been on PSP before. Fan service for people who play PSP Taiko and never touched the DS/Wii Taikos. And besides, there are sure to be new songs. Remember how peeved we were at Wii3 for not having new songs, then followed by awe as bombshell after bombshell got unlocked?

Mulberry alone is worth the price of admission, in my opinion.

Taiko no Tatsujin Portable DX details

Remember, no official word has reached us, this is just a leak off the latest Famitsu!

Found on baidu by pokedigi

Release Date: Jul 14th 2011

70 Songs, such as One Day (From One Piece), No Buts! (From Toaru Majutsu no Index), Monster Hunter Medley and IM@S2 (IdolM@ster 2) songs.

The Odoriko (dancers) of MHMedley will be renewed to MHP3's (Monster Hunter Portable 3rd, also on PSP and hugely popular at that). A group of IM@S Odoriko will also added.

People who order the game could get a card, permitted to download a bonus song which is the new song of the Angel Dream series. (can't wait to see this~)

We'll keep you updated as we get more!

Taiko no Tatsujin Portable DX?

http://tieba.baidu.com/f?kz=1050155651

...Is this what's going to be announced on April 15th at the end of the countdown? This link apparently sources off a leaked Famitsu.

DS/Wii owners who bought their consoles just to play Taiko are going to be so pissed. But then again, that makes PSP owners the pissed ones for four years in a row with no new Taiko game. Oh well, fair competing grounds and all.

Personal wish: Taiko 3DS please. Without 3D effects- it's hard enough playing in 2D. Hope Namco knows that 3D isn't forced onto game developers...(and isn't overly particular about the awkward position of the D-pad)

Taikojiro - Senkaku 2000

A song in the song! Coming from a well-popular remix track from Nicovideo (named 尖閣諸島流出動画REMIX), Senkaku 2000 is generous with 3-hit clusters, for the longest fan-made 2000 tune!

Song of the Week! 9 April 2011

 

This week is all for our followers! 4 months ago our reader has requested for this song to be featured... Sorry to keep you waiting, koocono!

Namco Taiko Blog (7 April 2011) - Delayed countdown runs again

The countdown to....some sort of big news, apparently, on the Donder Page was delayed due to the Japanese earthquake/tsunami. The countdown starts again today and the big reveal will be on...

Taiko merchandise....including underwear?

Just some of the weird and wonderful things with Taiko no Tatsujin plastered on it available for sale on Namco's website.

Taiko no Tatsujin Portable 2 unlock list

Taiko goofs

The Console games have always had some random bugs or funny issues during regular plays. With the help of three 2000 songs, here's an eloquent example of what I mean. You can also try with your games, too!

How to download songs (Taiko PSP games)

The Playstation Portable Taiko games allow players to expand their tracklists with a fine selection of songs from the Namco servers via Internet!

Song of the Week! 2 April 2011

 

Finally, we're going to approach the Variety genre! Let's start with a couple of songs, coming from the world of TV advertisements...

Other Shimedore 2000 awesomeness

Even the Muzukashii mode of Shimedore2000 breaks the 1000-notes limit! Near the end, it's possible to hear the new sfx voice for the 4-digit combo.



Here's instead the first skilled player who managed to clear the Oni mode of the 2000 Medley without errors! It looks like the '1000-hit combo' used the same sound for '1100', '1200' and so on.

Shimedore 2000

First video of Shimedore 2000, the post-final 2000 song released on Taiko 14! Some mind-shattering facts if you read on~

Taiko no Tatsujin 14 arcade code 7

Conditions: After Taiko no Tatsujin 14 code 6 has been used

Number of songs unlocked: 1

• Shimedore 2000  (〆ドレー２０００)

Slot your coins and stay on the Title screen .Hit the right rims of both drums alternatively until the number '14' on the screen disappears:

Before

 

After

 

The above step is Namco's April Fools prank and need not be done to unlock the song. However it will remain here for the sake of posterity.

Hit the rims of the drums the listed number of times in this order.

    Player 1            Player 2
 Left     Right      Left     Right
                                        7
                           6    
               5
  14
                                        8
               7
                           6                            
  14             
   1                                   1
              1           1

If the code is successfully inputted, a cup of green tea will appear on the lower-right corner of the title screen: 

 

Back to Taiko Secrets page

Namco Taiko Blog (3 February 2011)- Taiko 14's last code

Finally, the long unlocking marathon for the 14th arcade is over! Just for the previous year, the April's Fools day brings good news for donders. Are you curious?