Unbeknownst to me, the Taiko no Tatsujin series has been a staple in rhythm game culture for over two decades. It originated in arcades and steadily expanded into consoles. The franchise is best known for its rhythmic drumming mechanics and quirky soundtrack choices. While it retains the series’ core strengths, it also has some notable shortcomings that prevent it from being a truly standout title in the rhythm game genre.
The gameplay revolves around using either the face buttons on the controller or, for a more fun experience, the Taiko Drum Controller—which I sadly did not get to try out—to hit notes as they come across the screen in time with the music. Notes appear on the screen in various circle sizes and colours, which are represented by the lower and upper face buttons.
The gameplay is simple to understand, but its challenge lies in the precision required to hit the right notes at the right time. The rhythm tracks are well-designed, and the game provides solid difficulty progression as you work through different songs. The difficulty is adjustable, so whether you’re a casual player or a rhythm game veteran, there’s a suitable challenge waiting for you. Rhythm Festival offers a good learning curve for new players to the genre while also offering enough challenges for rhythm game enthusiasts.
“Rhythm Festival offers a good learning curve for new players to the genre while also offering enough challenges for rhythm game enthusiasts.”
One of the stranger experiences is in the “Festival Mode,” which is the main single-player experience. In this mode, players can participate in themed challenges, unlocking new songs, costumes and other rewards as they progress. The story is nonsensical, and since you can only move forward by levelling up by playing songs, things get repetitive very quickly. This mode gives players a sense of progression and encourages them to keep playing to unlock more content. It’s a solid addition that adds a bit of structure and replayability, but it doesn’t necessarily revolutionize the overall experience.
The game also offers a variety of songs to choose from, spanning various genres and including both Japanese and Western tracks. While the soundtrack is undoubtedly one of Rhythm Festival‘s strengths, a few standout songs feel somewhat generic compared to some of the more iconic tracks found in previous Taiko no Tatsujin entries. There is also an odd balance of songs, with a ton of anime and Vocaloid-based tracks, but when it comes to video game-based songs, there are few and far between. There are quite a few filler tracks that don’t quite match the energy and excitement of the more bombastic tunes. The lack of some high-profile songs left me wishing for more diversity and variety.
One of the most appealing aspects of Taiko no Tatsujin: Rhythm Festival is its multiplayer. The game supports both local and online multiplayer modes. The multiplayer aspect is neat, as the competitive and cooperative modes offer some of the more hilarious moments. That said, while multiplayer is fun, it’s also where the game shows its limitations. Online play can sometimes feel inconsistent, with noticeable lag or connection issues. In rhythm games, timing is everything—even the slightest delay can throw off your performance. While generally smooth, the local multiplayer could have benefited from more diverse gameplay options.
“Visually, Taiko no Tatsujin: Rhythm Festival is extremely vibrant, cute, and features some wild cartoonish designs.”
Visually, Taiko no Tatsujin: Rhythm Festival is extremely vibrant, cute, and features some wild cartoonish designs. The game uses a colourful and simplistic aesthetic that is visually pleasing but also overwhelming at times. The character designs are charming, and the various themed stages and costumes add a playful element to the game. The background animations during gameplay are lively and match the beat of the music, which helps keep the energy up during each song.
Frustratingly, while these animations are fun, it is easy to feel overwhelmed; if you miss a beat or get lost in the chaos happening in the background, it’s very easy to lose focus completely. One area where Rhythm Festival does well is in its customization options, particularly regarding the appearance of your in-game character and drums. As you progress through Festival Mode, you’ll unlock new costumes, accessories and drum designs that let you further personalize your game. It’s also worth mentioning that while the game offers the ability to purchase additional songs—of which there are already many—it never feels great when a game launches with a hundred dollars’ worth of DLC available.
Taiko no Tatsujin: Rhythm Festival is a solid rhythm game that provides a fun experience for longtime fans of the genre. Its core gameplay mechanics, colourful presentation and multiplayer modes are enjoyable, but the game doesn’t offer enough innovation to make it stand out in the crowded rhythm game genre. The soundtrack, while decent, could have been more diverse. The game’s reliance on DLC for additional songs also feels like a missed opportunity to offer a more comprehensive experience out of the box.
