NIDZUMI+

Taiko Drum Master 2 is one of the latest titles within the Japanese Taiko franchise. Having spand across several consoles with many titles Taiko Drum Master 2 is the 2nd Taiko game to be available on the Nintendo DS and it is has made quite some great improvements in terms of options and gameplay. The game is only available in Japan though meaning reviewing this title had been difficult as you can’t understand what characters are saying but get the idea of the great gameplay this title offers players.

Drumming, it’s all you really do within this game but Taiko Drum Master 2 makes it exceptionally fun in the way you do drum and what your requirements are within levels. From my understanding the game gives you the option to do normal mode in which you just choose from the available songs and then play away normally on the Taiko drum. Then there is story mode, which wasn’t featured in the first DS Taiko title, which is a great improvement.

Story mode sees you going around different islands with each island containing several levels and a boss level. At first I was under the impression that all I would be doing is drumming away on the Taiko correctly while the notes, you have to hit, stream past on the top screen but it is a whole lot more complex than that. Each level has you first speaking to a character who explains what you will be doing, I do believe, and then they will send you off playing in the level. Some levels have you versing off against three evil Taikos and they are playing the same song as you and you must manage to hit as many notes as possible to have the higher score while some levels require you hitting a certain amount of ‘perfect’ notes to advance. Containing many different types of levels it will take you a while to understand what each level requires, unless you understand Japanese easily then you don’t have to work everything out.

At the end of each island you will come across a boss, who sometimes requires you to be wearing a certain garment or be using a certain drumming instrument. Within a boss battle you will be battling a boss who has the same amount of life and each time you do hit a note it hurts the boss but for each one you miss or for every bomb you hit your greatly damaged. Bosses also try to sabotage you also by doing distracting things or actually blocking your view on what notes you are to hit which adds even more of a challenge.

The title also contains a section in which you can unlock things from doing certain objectives. Some things I have come across that you can unlock are different outfits for Taiko, like a ninja garment. Probably the most valuable thing you can unlock would be the different instruments you can drum on such as a grand bell or a tambourine which does create different sound effects when drumming away.
‘Taiko Drum Master 2′ is probably one of the few titles that requires you to use a stylus in each respective hand like actual drumming sticks which does make the game more realistic. One stylus is usually to hit the Taiko, or whatever instrument your drumming on directly, while the other stylus is to hit around the instrument when your required to.

Using two stylus does make it sometimes uncomfortable to play as you can’t directly hold the Nintendo DS but if your in a spot where you can place the DS then you will enjoy drumming away.

Containing 2D animations the art style does really suit the game itself and there really is nothing I can complain about. Each character and instrument are detailed quite well and is what you would be expecting within a title like this.

The stages and islands are also well detailed, with the stages containing well placed animations and become are lot more better looking if you do well on the song you are currently playing as on screen characters start dancing on the stage.

Consisting mostly of a J-Pop album players probably won’t be understanding what singers are saying within a song which doesn’t really matter as the songs are catchy as they are. There are however several songs, out of the 40+ song soundtrack, which some people will recognise out of some games and anime shows themselves which will make some people feel at home when playing the song.

The actual drumming matches up perfectly for when there is banging or drumming within the song making it seem like you are creating those sounds.

Dual screen use is done pretty well here using the bottom screen with the two stylus, as that is where the drum, or instrument is located, for you to bang on. The top screen is where you character is located along with the notes streaming across notifying you of what you have to hit.

Although ‘Taiko Drum Master 2′ is a Japanese only DS title it is one that gamers should consider importing, especially if they are fans of the music genre like myself, as it is a title easy to pick up with no knowledge of Japanese. The title’s story mode is quite unique but a great addition to it along with a soundtrack, that many won’t understand, but will enjoy the songs nonetheless.