Wednesday, September 16, 2020

[NS-RPG] Dokodon RPG Pack Website Updated with Release Date, TVCM and Purchase Bonus Gifts


The main site for Taiko no Tatsujin Dokodon RPG Pack received the first update since its reveal two weeks ago. The most important detail is the release date (at least for Japan and Asian regions) now specified to be November 26 2020.

The most view-worthy part is the new television commercial, in both 30-second (above) and 15-second flavours. The commercial spot is also available in English, traditional Chinese and Korean (but the same Japanese voiceover) through the YouTube channels of Bandai Namco SEA, Taiwan/Hong Kong and South Korea respectively, with the localized titles for the latter two meet public eye for the first time.

The website update also brings a list of Japanese vendors that accept purchases/preorders for the title and the shop-exclusive purchase bonus for each. Unlike previous games where free songs or in-game battle units are given, all the purchase bonuses this time are physical goods:
  • Asobi Store - big key holder
  • Amazon.co.jp - two-piece ball-point pen set
  • Aeon - original design earphones
  • Edion Group - memo pad
  • GEO - original design tote bag
  • Joshin - face mask holder
  • Bic Group - mini towel
  • Rakuten Books - picnic blanket
  • Loppi/HMV - button pin
  • WonderGOO - original design sticker

Finally, the bottom of the site also added two tables showing a list of differences in features that NS-RPG has compared with the original 3DS titles:
  • NS-RPG has a total of six new songs added to the tracklist as advertised, but  Senbonzakura,  Karl no Uta Autumn,  Katte Rock and  Funa Funa Funassyi from 3DS2 are gone
  • NS-RPG lost all Funassyi-related elements from 3DS2
  • NS-RPG is a strictly one-person experience; in addition to not having same-console two-player mode like NS1, it also loses the local wireless multiplayer functionalities from the 3DS titles
  • NS-RPG will not have any DLC (including songs)
  • StreetPass, SpotPass and QR code support are removed in NS-RPG due to the feature differences between the Switch and the 3DS

Still not leaving without Saying Goodbye da-don! Taiko no Tatsujin x DEEMO Collab, 2nd


Following the previous collaborative efforts from 2017 circa the release of PS4's Session de Dodon ga Don, a second wave clashing into the piano-focused rhythm game has left no current Taiko no Tatsujin games dry.

Taiko no Tatsujin x DEEMO Collab (2nd) Songs

Title
Saika
  Rabpit 「DEEMO」より
★3★4★6★8
Leviathan
  NeLiME 「DEEMO」より
★?★?★?★?
Wish upon a shooting star
  SUi 「DEEMO」より
★?★?★?★?
MagiCatz
  Sakuzyo 「DEEMO」より
★?★?★?★?
ANiMA
  xi 「DEEMO」より
★?★?★?★?
Key: red = series debut

The four series-debut tracks will hit arcade Taiko no Tatsujin (March 2020/Nijiiro ver.) one by one in "weekend warrior" style for four consecutive Saturdays starting from this upcoming one: (NB. Saika is already in AC0/ACN since 2017/10/27)
  • September 19 - Leviathan
  • September 26 - Wish upon a shooting star
  • October 3 - MagiCatz
  • October 10 - ANiMA
On the home console front, Taiko no Tatsujin Nintendo Switch Version/Drum 'n' Fun will receive all five songs in the DEEMO Pack (DEEMOパック) DLC for 500 yen (+tax). The pack is just currently slated for October 2020 with no exact date yet.


As for Taiko no Tatsujin Plus Shinkyoku Tori Houdai (iOS/Android), a collaboration event will be held in Winter 2020, with no further details yet.

[NS1] Online Ranking Match: Weekly Battle Songs for 2020/09/10~09/16

Thanks to Nedmara from the Taiko no Tatsujin Discord for the info!


Title
Memeshikute Golden Bomber
女々しくて/ゴールデンボンバー
★3★4★5★8
Itsumo Nando Demo Spirited Away
いつも何度でも/「千と千尋の神隠し」より
★2★1★2★1
Sanpo My Neighbor Totoro
さんぽ/「となりのトトロ」より
★1★1★4★5X
Alphabet Song
ABCの歌
★2★2★2★7
Omae Butamen! Oyatsu Company & The Puh
おまえブタメン!/おやつカンパニー&ザ・ぷー
★3★4★5★7
PAC-MAN CHAMPIONSHIP EDITION 2
  PAC TOY-BOX
★4★6★7★9
Angel Dream
エンジェル ドリーム
★3★6★7★8X
Boku wa Synth
ボクハシンセ
★3★3★4★8
Himawari no Yakusoku
ひまわりの約束
★3★4★5★7
Ambivalent
アンビバレント
★2★2★4★7
Key: blue = unlockable; purple = DLC song (lower chance if not owned); red X = difficulty not used

Saturday, September 12, 2020

[Plus/STH] Gakkyoku Tori Houdai New Songs (September 10 2020)

太鼓の達人プラス★新曲取り放題!

The second part of September 2020's Gakkyoku Tori Houdai update coincides with the subject song's console appearance in Nintendo Switch Version. Licensing agreements sure are pesky sometimes...

Gakkyoku Tori Houdai Adds: September 10 2020

Title
Tada Kimi ni Hare Yorushika
ただ君に晴れ/ヨルシカ
★2★2★3★5
Key: red = series debut; green = GTH debut

Song of the Week! 12 September 2020

 

We're back with our monthly Ura Oni feature, once again touching upon the soon-to-be-pruned pool of songs from the modern arcade legacy.

Considering that we're dealing with quite the popular tune in Taiko shores, so much so that some of its former versions are also playable in older games... why don't just feature them all today?

Wednesday, September 9, 2020

Namco Taiko Blog (September 9 2020): Fall for the Nijiiro ver. Fall Update


We do this pro bono so we don't have the money to make a Fall **** pun for the title, so instead we'll cut the chase. As we tap into the traditionally autumn months, a pretty thematic firmware update is coming to arcade Taiko no Tatsujin (March 2020/Nijiiro ver.) on September 16 2020.

March 2020/Nijiiro ver. New Songs: September 16 2020

Title
PP
Yoru ni Kakeru
夜に駆ける/YOASOBI
★?★?★?★?
KD
Smile! Smile! Smile! Shounen Ashibe GO! GO! Goma-chan
  「少年アシベ GO!GO!ゴマちゃん」より
★?★?★?★?
NO
Fly again! feat. Takayoshi Tanimoto
  feat. 谷本貴義
★?★?★?★?
NO
Genkai Creator Ouenka
限界クリエイター応援歌
★?★?★?★?
NO
Clapolpolska
クラポルポルスカ
★4★5★7★10
NO
Rei-wadaiko Hisui
令・和太鼓/翡翠
★4★4★7★8
Key: red = series debut; blue = arcade debut

Song previews are again available for some of our Namco Original additions:

Don Medal Shop Season Change
This update also brings the Don Medal Shop to Nijiiro ver. Autumn (2020), giving us the four Namco Originals to spend your Don Medals on. Remember the usual Don Medal reset with season changes though; your Summer Don Medals will not be usable after September 15.

Like last season, the Summer (2020) songs will still be available to purchase at a slashed rate after the season change, as well as older revivals (Green Winter and AI Battle Performance) that are already in the lineup.

New additions:
  [NO] Fly again!
  [NO] 限界クリエイター応援歌 Genkai Creator Ouenka
  [NO] クラポルポルスカ Clapolpolska
  [NO] 令・和太鼓 Rei-wadaiko
To be newly discounted:
  [NO] エリンギのエクボ Eryngii no Ekubo
  [NO] Freeway3234
  [NO] 愛なんだぜ Ai Nandaze
  [NO] memoria ficta
Already discounted:
  [NO] カッティアワールの宝剣 Kathiarwar no Cutlass
  [NO] via lactea
  [NO] ナマハゲノウタ Namahage no Uta
  [NO] クラシックメドレー(ロック編) Classic Medley (Rock ver.)
  [GV] TD -28619029byte remix-
  [NO] 流浪の琥珀姫 Rurou no Kohaku Hime
  [NO] UFO Swingin’
  [NO] 氷竜 ~Kooryu~
  [NO] カラフルボイス Colorful Voice
  [NO] 疾風怒濤 Shippudotou
  [NO] Goldfish City
  [NO] What's in the box?
  [NO] アムピト♢リーテー Amphit♢rite

Back to the Future and the Artificial Intelligence
As foreshadowed in the New Asian Version product presentation, AI Battle Performance mode is due to return in the 4th generation after a brief suspension to work on improvements. For Japan, the return will be in this upcoming update.


A quick recap for the uninitiated, Machina (まきな) and her creation AI Don (AIどん) hails from the year 2765 to challenge our present-day Don-chan in battle. AI Don can simulate your actual drumming skill level by adjusting his performance in realtime. Each song is divided into either 3 or 5 intervals, and you have to win over AI Don on Great hits for a majority of the intervals to be considered overall victorious.

Looks like we will have a fully-fledged tutorial too, instead of just still-shot explanations

Aside from a refreshed list of rewards including titles, outfit items and songs, the return of the mode brings us more detailed by-interval results at the end screens. One main new addition is the Interval Crown (区間王冠), where for each interval:
  • Silver Interval Crown = at least 70% hit rate (i.e. less than 30% missed)
  • Gold Interval Crown = Full combo
  • Rainbow Interval Crown = Donderful Combo


The Interval Crowns will also be recorded (only for 4th-generation scores) and can be viewed at the AI Battle Performance song select and credit conclusion.

 

Other things to note with the big revamp and return:
  • Battle Rank is removed
  • Only wins attained in Nijiiro ver. onwards will be counted in the "number of wins" count (for the purpose of rewards)
    • Your AI Battle results from Green ver. AI Battle Performance is still kept and later viewable from Donder Hiroba
  • Some of the titles awarded through Green ver. AI Battle will NOT be obtainable again, but Nijiiro ver. AI Battle also has its fair share of new titles for you to get
    • In addition, all titles that you can get from Nijiiro ver. AI Battle will have a new design (which one of the above shots has already revealed)
  • You can now get Don Medals as usual from AI Battle Performance as well
    • You can also buy Don Medal Shop songs straight from the AI Battle song list as usual too
  • The use of gameplay modifiers in AI Battle Performance is still fair game as from Green ver.

The Finish Line is Near
...for the Start Dash 2020 Campaign that is, given we are two seasons in already. The original deadline was expected to be August 31, but since the actual summer vacations have been cut short by [you know what], the campaign will be extended to September 15.


Small right-aligned text is a recap on the New Asian Version for Nijiiro
See our previous coverage for details