Taiko No Tatsujin coming to America @ Gaming Target

Written by John Scalzo on January 24, 2004

News: The very popular Japanese drumming game is being localized for a U.S. release.

GameSpot is reporting, by the way of Bloomberg News Japan, that Namco is planning to bring it's popular series Taiko No Tatsujin to America.

Odds are, you've never heard of Taiko No Tatsujin. It's aаdrumming game that requires the player to keep the beat with the controller as the song plays. The game can also be played with a special drumming controller that includes a beat sensor and two sticks to actually drum along with the game. The game's simplicity caused a sensation is Japan and propelled Taiko No Tatsujin and it's sequel into theаJapanese Top 30 bestseller list for 2003аwith over 2 million copies sold.аThis listаis the first time many gamers (myself included) had ever even heard of it.

Taiko No Tatsujin features a lot of very "Japanese" music; from traditional Japanese music, to anime themes, to J-Pop. Unfortuneately for purists, Namco plans to Americanize the play list with more American style songs. So don't expect any J-Pop to take America by storm just yet.

Namco hasn't announced a release date or an American title for Taiko No Tatsujin yet, but we'll keep you posted.