And now for a Donder-focused coverage on the brand new arcade version with a Namco Taiko Blog dedicated to Taiko Team's expy to JAEPO 2020. Disappointingly, "March 2020 Ver." (2020年3月Ver.) apparently is the official version name even if not shown in the key visual above, but what entails should pique your interest enough for you to read on.
What's With the New Monitor?
When entering the third generation (2011 through Green ver.), the monitors of changed from the old CRT monitors to high-definition LCD monitors (which uses double-speed interpolation to make a 60FPS frame rate approximate 120FPS). It felt like an awesome switch back then, but then again it is also nine years ago.
With the new generation, the cabinets are upgrading to true 120FPS monitors, for maximum response action and smooth performance. Response time is important especially in music games like Taiko no Tatsujin, because you will want the moment the note reaches the centre of the judgement circle to actually match the music.
Actually Fourth-generational Systemic ChangesIn addition to looking pretty, the new version should play well also. With that, here are some gameplay additions that really makes the new version feel a generation apart.
First is the introduction of the rainbow-colored Donderful Combo Crown (ドンダフルコンボ王冠) above the normal silver and gold crowns, forever glorifying your song list of the time that you get all Goods on a song. The Donderful Combo feat has been officially recognized in in-game media like achievements and Donder Hiroba for years, but the crown has not existed until now. (now guess when the console market can get their hands on such glory)
Another new mechanic that we are getting the scoop now is the Score Rank (スコアランク), where you get one of seven ranks for the score you get in a song. The sample image that the Taiko Team is comfortable sharing (while blurring everything else) shows the Elegance (雅) rank:
wait hold on why is this apparently Muzukashii notechart getting over 900K score before the end
There are apparently more novel points around the latesst firmware, including but not limited to the game start, song selection screen, modifier options and so on. For those and more, stay tuned to the Taiko no Tatsujin Special Stage between 10:30~11:00 on February 8 on the JAEPO 2020 floors, where Number 11 and Etou will peel each layer off like an onion. For those not able to actually attend, you can also catch a video recap at Bandai Namco Amusement's JAEPO 2020 Official Page.
And finally, the thing you've all been waiting for: more of the debut song list! These will be available to trial-play on the exhibiting new cabinets at JAEPO 2020, along with some of the existing songs in Green ver. (but why would you play the old songs though lel).
March 2020 Ver. New Songs (partial)
| Title |  |  |  |  |  | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Pretender Official HIGE DANdism Official髭男dism | ★? | ★? | ★? | ★? | |
| Peace Sign Kenshi Yonezu ピースサイン／米津玄師 | ★? | ★? | ★? | ★? | |
 | Otome Kaibou DECO*27 feat. Hatsune Miku 乙女解剖／DECO*27 feat.初音ミク | ★? | ★? | ★? | ★? | |
 | Ai ni Dekiru-koto wa Mada Aru Kai Weathering with You 愛にできることはまだあるかい／「天気の子」より | ★? | ★? | ★? | ★? | |
| Sacrifice Mafumafu/To the Abandoned Sacred Beasts サクリファイス／まふまふ TVアニメ「かつて神だった獣たちへ」より | ★? | ★? | ★? | ★? | |
 | MEGALOVANIA 「UNDERTALE」より | ★4 | ★5 | ★7 | ★9 | |
| Hopes and Dreams 夢と希望／「UNDERTALE」より | ★3 | ★5 | ★6 | ★8 | |
 | Hello! Don-chan ハロー！どんちゃん | ★3 | ★3 | ★4 | ★7 |
...okay I get the change of genre name from J-POP to Pops, but what's with that turquoise color on the caption text? Also why is the Anime caption text pink? What is happening to the original pink genre of Children/Folk?
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