Taiko no Tatsujin: Rhythm Festival Review

Originally released for the Nintendo Switch, the beat marches on with the release of Bandai Namco’s Taiko no Tatsujin: Rhythm Festival for new-gen consoles and the PC. Players have been joining Don-chan and his musical adventures for decades – does this release carry on the series’ storied legacy?

Taiko no Tatsujin: Rhythm Festival Review

Set in the hopping Omiko City, Taiko no Tatsujin: Rhythm Festival kicks things off with a drumroll (and then some) with its signature rhythm-based gameplay. Supporting drum controllers and regular controllers/keyboards, players time red and blue note overlaps with button presses. 

In true arcade fashion, players will set out to fill their Soul Gauge and try and go for a high score. There’s also Taiko no Tatsujin’s flashy presentation proudly on display, filled to the brim with color and excitement. Even the series’ longtime mascots make an appearance, along with newcomer Kumo-kyun for good measure.

From there, players can fly solo or with up to three friends in Taiko no Tatsujin: Rhythm Festival. In the case of the latter, its Party Mode gives players to team up for different parts of a song if they so choose – a nice touch. For those who’d rather duke it out, there’s also an Online Mode to see who’s the very best (like no one ever was).

Gameplay in Taiko no Tatsujin: Rhythm Festival stays true to the series, with drumrolls, different difficulty settings (including the aptly-named “Extreme,”), and pinpoint precision. The game is very strict with the proper timing, and some of the note strings can be relentless, but there’s the chance to adjust said timing to help dial things in.

For those looking to get good, Taiko no Tatsujin: Rhythm Festival’s “Improvement Support” functionality allows players to practice the more difficult sections of a song. This functionality adds a tremendous amount of replayability, and the chance to obtain “Section Crowns” based on hits makes it all the sweeter. 

The same goes with Taiko no Tatsujin: Rhythm Festival’s setlist. Featuring Demon Slayer’s “Gurenge,” Neon Genesis EVANGELION’s “A Cruel Angel’s Thesis,” and plenty of other hits, the base setlist of Taiko no Tatsujin: Rhythm Festival features mass appeal. There’s also VOCALOID and some game music (including Persona 5’s signature bop “Life Will Change”) to round things out.

Do note that those looking to experience every song Taiko no Tatsujin: Rhythm Festival has to offer will need to pony up for a subscription to the Taiko Music Pass. Featuring more than 500 songs, three months of the pass currently retails for $9.99. 

There’s also the question posed regarding the longevity of the Taiko Music Pass, especially with songs being discontinued. The base setlist of Taiko no Tatsujin: Rhythm Festival is still solid, but this still stings nonetheless. Do note that there are select song packs that can be purchased individually as well.

Taiko no Tatsujin: Rhythm Festival features a killer setlist, a great difficulty curve, and a splash of flash. While the subscription-based Taiko Music Pass is a questionable addition, this title is well worth a drum solo (or quartet).

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