Taiko No Tatsujin: Drum Session! rolls out on 26 October

Bandai Namco’s Taiko No Tatsujin: Drum Session! is releasing simultaneously for Japan and Southeast Asia on 26 October 2017. The drum rhythm game, based on the popular arcade series, will be available on PlayStation 4 with more than 70 tracks comprising classical, anime, video game, and contemporary Japanese music. The SEA version comes with English subtitles, courting the attention of Taiko no Tatsujin fans worldwide.

Accompanying the announcement was a new list of songs confirmed for Southeast Asia. We’ve added some extra information in brackets, as well as official YouTube links for the Pop category.

POP

• LOSER [Kenshi Yonezu]
• 海の声 (Umi no Koe) [Kenta Kiritani; featured in au’s “Santaro” commercials]
• シュガーソングとビターステップ(Sugar song and Bitter step) [Unison Square Garden]
• ひまわりの約束 (Himawari no Yakusoku) [Motohiro Hata]
• ギミチョコ！！ (Gimme Choco!!) [Babymetal]
• 恋音と雨空 (Koi Oto to Amazora) [AAA]
• イケナイ太陽 (Ikenai Taiyou) [Orange Range]
• アポロ(APOLLO) [Porno Graffitti]

INTEGRATED MUSIC

• HELLO KITTY
• 最終鬼畜妹フランドール・S (Saishuu Kichiku Imouto Flandre S)
  [Touhou Project Arrange Beat Maria]
• チルノのパーフェクトさんすう教室 (Cirno’s Perfect Math Class)
  [Touhou Project Arrange Beat Maria]

GAME MUSIC

• Theme of Ryu [Street Fighter V]
• Heat Haze Shadow 2 [Tekken 7]
• Urban Striker [Critical Velocity]
• EAT’ EM UP! [R4: Ridge Racer Type 4]

ANIME MUSIC

• トライ・エヴリシング (Try Everything) [Zootopia]
• 限界突破×サバイバー (Genkai Toppa × Survivor) [Dragon Ball Super]
• 紅蓮の弓矢 (Guren No Yumiya) [Attack on Titan]
• ウィーアー！(We Are!) [One Piece]

VOCALOID MUSIC

• エイリアンエイリアン (Alien Alien) [NayutalieN feat. Hatsune Miku]
• ロストワンの号哭 (Lost One no Goukoku) [Neru feat. Kagamine Rin]

CLASSIC MUSIC

• ハンロック (Hung-rock)
• ウィリアム・テル序曲 (William Tell Overture)
• クラシックメドレー（ロック編） (Classical Medley (Rock))

Taiko No Tatsujin: Drum Session! comes with additional game modes such as Friend Session Mode, Guest Session Mode, Taiko Rank Match Mode, Best Play Mode, and Practice Mode.

Friend Session essentially lets you play against AI versions of your PSN friends, utilizing their game completion and session data. The confusingly titled Guest Session on the other hand lets you face-off against popular licensed characters such as Hatsune Miku, Pac-Man, and Doraemon – most of them are fully-voiced and even come with custom animations.

The other two modes make use of ghost data. Taiko Rank Match kicks off with five placement matches before pitting you against similarly-ranked players. Even though you’re competing against ghosts, you’ll still need to be online for it to work. Best Play Mode simply pits you against personal best records, and can be played in conjunction with Practice Mode to improve one’s skills. That last mode is worth mentioning as they’ve included fast-forward, rewind, and playback speed controls so players can focus on the sections they’re having trouble with, saving plenty of time.

We recently had some hands-on time with the game, withTaiko no Tatsujin proving to be an effortless charmer as always.

Being a rhythm game, Taiko No Tatsujin: Drum Session! supports an optional USB drum controller manufactured by Hori, which can be purchased separately or as part of a bundle. No local prices have been revealed by Bandai Namco Entertainment Asia so far.