Taiko no Tatsujin V Version [太鼓の達人 Vバージョン] (PlayStation Vita) Quick Look

Taiko: Drum Master Vita Version (太鼓の達人 Vバージョン), also known as Taiko no Tatsujin V Version, is a music rhythm game developed and published by Bandai Namco. The Vita version is one of many installments released on the PlayStation platform (because there were so many on the PlayStation 2 era and I have lost count) and was released in Japan in 2015. It was brought over to Asia with Chinese support for the first time but was never released outside Asia in English.

Background:

Taiko is a relatively simple music rhythm series. During the gameplay, you have one bar that will have notes appearing from the right side moving to the left. The goal is to hit the notes as the song plays.

The notes, which are shaped like a Taiko drum, are in red and blue colours depending on its appearance. A small red or blue note will need to be pressed with one button at the correct position (and it can be any button depending on which control scheme you decide to choose), while a larger red or blue note will need more than one button to be pressed. There are other ones as well like a Yellow streak that will let you button mash to earn more points.

Taiko has a lot of games for the same reason that Guitar Hero did – the setlist. Each Taiko game features a wide variety of songs, from Bandai Namco music to J-Pop music to even licensed anime theme songs. Here is the setlist for the base game of the V Version (there is downloadable content, but you can read that large list over on the Taiko Wiki page), which contains a total of 88 songs:

J-Pop list:

• “Digital Mole (デジタルモグラ)” by Gesu no Kiwami Otome
• “Follow Me” by E-girls
• “Gimme Choco!! (ギミチョコ！！)” by BABYMETAL
• “Hana Furumai (華振舞)” by Wagakki Band
• “Koisuru Fortune Cookie (恋するフォーチュンクッキー)” by AKB48
• “Natsu Matsuri (夏祭り)” by Whiteberry
  [from Fushigi na Hanashi]
• “RPG” by Sekai no Owari
  [from Crayon Shin-chan: Very Tasty! B-class Gourmet Survival!!]

Anime list:

• “Butter-fly” by Kouji Wada
  [from Digimon Adventure]
• “BLAZING” by Garnidelia
  [from Gundam Reconguista in G]
• “crossing field” by LiSA
  [from Sword Art Online]
• “A Cruel Angel’s Thesis (残酷な天使のテーゼ)” from Yoko Takahashi
  [from Neon Genesis Evangelion]
• “Guren no Yumiya (紅蓮の弓矢)” by Linked Horizon
  [from Attack on Titan]
• “Ideal White” by Mashiro Ayano
  [from Fate/Stay Night [Unlimited Blade Works]]
• “Imagination (イマジネーション)” by SPYAIR
  [from Haikyu!!]
• “Kimi no Shiranai Monogatari (君の知らない物語)” by Supercell
  [from Bakemonogatari]
• “Maji LOVE 1000% (マジLOVE1000%)” by STARISH
  [from Uta no Prince-sama: Maji Love]
• “Only my Railgun” by fripSide
  [from A Certain Scientific Railgun]
• “Seishun Satsubatsu-ron (青春サツバツ論)” by 3-E Utatan
  [from Assassination Classroom]
• “Star!!” by Cinderella Project
  [from The Idolm@ster Cinderella Girls]

Variety list:

• “Donut Hole (ドーナツホール)” by Kenshi Yonezu
• “RAINMAKER” by Yonosuke Kitamura
  [also used in New Japan Pro Wrestling]
• “Sachi Sachi ni Shite Ageru♪ (さちさちにしてあげる♪)” by Sachiko Kobayashi
• “Senbonzakura feat. Sachiko Kobayashi (千本桜 Ver. 小林幸子)” by Sachiko Kobayashi
• “Yawaraka Sensha (やわらか戦車)” by Rarecho

Vocaloid list:

• “+♂ (Plus Danshi) (+♂ (プラス男子))” by Giga/Reol feat. Kagamine Len
• “Amanojaku (天ノ弱)” by 164 feat. GUMI
• “-EDY- Electrical Dancing Yoga (-EDY- エレクトリカルダンシングヨガー)” by feat. Rin, Len Kagamine
• “Lost One no Goukoku (ロストワンの号哭)” by Neru feat. Rin Kagamine
• “Noushou Sakuretsu Girl (脳漿炸裂ガール)” by Reruriri feat. Hatsune Miku and GUMI
• “Renai Saiban (恋愛裁判)” by 40mP feat. Miku Hatsune
• “Roku-Chounen to Ichiya Monogatari (六兆年と一夜物語)” by kemu feat. IA
• “Seisou Bakuretsu Boy (聖槍爆裂ボーイ)” by Reruriri/Moja feat. Len Kagamine
• “Senbonzakura (千本桜)” by Kurousa-P feat. Hatsune Miku
• “Streaming Heart (ストリーミングハート)” by DECO*27 feat. Miku Hatsune
• “Yobanashi Deceive (夜咄ディセイブ)” by Jin (Shizen no Teki-P) feat. IA

Classic list:

• “Charlie Dash! (チャーリー ダッシュ！)”
• “Dokadoka (弩蚊怒夏)” by Katsuro Tajima
• “Fantaisie-Impromptu (幻想即興曲)” by Frédéric Chopin (Original), Yuji Masubuchi (Arrange)
• “Kare Kano Canon (カレ・カノ・カノン)” by Johann Pachelbel (Original), Keiichi Okabe (Arrange), Mamechiyo Nakamura (Vocal)
• “Swan Lake ~still a duckling~ (白鳥の湖 ~still a duckling~)” by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (Original), Satoru Koosaki (Arrange), Mari Kano (Vocal)

Video Game list:

• “Abyss of hell” by Shinji Hosoe
  [from Tekken Revolution]
• “Angel Halo” by Rio Hamamoto
  [from Ridge Racer 3D]
• “Ashita he no Kodou (明日への鼓動)” from Kanako Kotera
  [from The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel]
• “BLAZING VORTEX” by George Nishigomi (Composer)
  [from Critical Velocity]
• “Blood Rage” by Go Shiina
  [from GOD EATER 2: RAGE BURST]
• “Comona” by Tetsukazu Nakanishi
  [from Ace Combat 04: Shattered Skies]
• “DADDY MULK” by Hisayoshi Ogura
  [from The Ninja Warriors]
• “Densha de Densha de GO!GO!GO!GC! -GMT remix- (電車で電車でGO!GO!GO!GC! -GMT remix-)” by Hirokazu ‘COSIO’ Koshio feat. Ciharu Sawashiro
• “DIGITAL HORIZON” by Aimee Blackschleger (Vocal), Rio Hamamoto (Composer)
  [from Ridge Racer]
• “Dual Moon” by Yasuhisa Watanabe
  [from METAL BLACK]
• “Fantasy Zone OPA-OPA! -GMT remix- (ファンタジーゾーン OPA-OPA! -GMT remix-)” by Hiroshi ‘Hiro’ Kawaguchi
• “THE IDOLM@STER” by Im@s Allstars
  [from The Idolm@ster]
• “Let’s Kouken! ～Koi no Choueki ha 1,000,000-Nen～ (Let’s貢献！～恋の懲役は1,000,000年～)”
  [from Freedom Wars]
• “Oshiete Kumatomo (おしえて くまとも)” by mitsu
  [from Kuma Tomo]
• “Ridge Racer” by Shinji Hosoe (Sampling Masters MEGA)
  [from Ridge Racer]
• “Ridge Racer (RIDGE RACER USA MIX)” by feat. Takenobu Mitsuyoshi (SEGA)
  [from Ridge Racer (US Version)]
• “RIDGE RACER STEPS -GMT remix-“ by Yuji Masubuchi
  [from Ridge Racer]
• “Tales of Zestiria Medley (テイルズ オブ ゼスティリア メドレー)” by Motoi Sakurai
  [from Tales of Zestiria]
• “TO MAKE THE END OF BATTLE” by jdk BAND (Artist), Yukihiro Jindo (Arrangement), Yuzo Koshiro (Original)
  [from Ys I & II Chronicles]

Namco Original list:

• “≠MM” by LindaAI-CUE
• “Chiriyuku Ran no Tsuduru Uta (散りゆく蘭の綴る詩)” by Keiichi Okabe
  [from Taiko no Tatsujin: KATSU-DON Version]
• “Cross Blue (クロス・ブルー)” by Sariya-jin
• “D’s Adventure Note” by Dan@Yomii
  [from Taiko no Tatsujin: Sorairo Version]
• “Day by Day!” by Kazuaki Miyaji (Peformed under the name of TONES Project)
  [from Taiko no Tatsujin: Kimidori Version]
• “Donkama 2000 (ドンカマ2000)” by LindaAI-CUE
  [from Taiko no Tatsujin: Momoiro Version]
• “G Ishiki Kajou (G意識過剰)” by Ciharu Kaneko
  [from Taiko no Tatsujin: Kimidori Version]
• “Gashadokuro (がしゃどくろ)” by Hisui
  [from Taiko no Tatsujin: Kimidori Version]
• “Gekkabijin (月下美人)” by Kakumi Nishigomi
  [from Taiko no Tatsujin: Doka! to Oomori Nanadaime]
• “IOSYS Aki no Nikushoku Matsuri 2014 (イオシス秋の肉食祭2014)” by D.watt of IOSYS feat. Np Hiko Inuta & Hakase
  [from Taiko no Tatsujin: Kimidori Version]
• “Jikuu Chou Sousa 2-Ka (時空庁捜査２課)” by Sachi (Harineko)
  [from Taiko no Tatsujin: Kimidori Version]
• “Jotei ~Imbiratuula~ (女帝～インバラトゥーラ～)” by Saori Terai
• “Karyu (夏竜 ～Karyu～)” by Azu♪
  [from Taiko no Tatsujin: Kimidori Version]
• “Kibou e no Melody (希望へのメロディー)” by Ari Ozawa
  [Theme song for V Version]
• “Kokushin Chronicle (黒神クロニクル)” by Yura Hatsuki
• “Megamina Sekai I (女神な世界Ⅰ)” by Yuji Masubuchi
• “Megamina Sekai II (女神な世界ⅠⅠ)” by Yuji Masubuchi
• “Norudon 2000 (ノるどん2000)” by LindaAI-CUE feat. Komado
• “Purple Rose Fusion” by Tatsuya ‘Xeami/Tatsh’ Shimizu
  [from Taiko no Tatsujin: KATSU-DON Version]
• “Saitama 2000 (さいたま2000)” by LindaAI-CUE
  [from Taiko no Tatsujin: Appare! Sandaime]
• “Toryu (冬竜 ～Toryu～)” by Azu♪
  [from Taiko no Tatsujin (2011)]
• “X-DAY 2000” by LindaAI-CUE
  [from Taiko no Tatsujin 12]
• “Xa” by Tatsuya ‘Xeami/Tatsh’ Shimizu
  [from Taiko no Tatsujin: Kimidori Version]
• “Yamatai★Night Party (ヤマタイ★ナイトパーティー)” by Yuya Kobayashi of IOSYS feat. Chiyoko
  [from Taiko no Tatsujin: Kimidori Version]
• “Yami no Mahou Shoujo (闇の魔法少女)” by NYO of Silver Forest feat. Aki
  [from Taiko no Tatsujin: Kimidori Version]
• “Yureru Pleats Jikkouin (ゆれるプリーツ実行委員)” by Danchi no Miyami-ko
  [from Taiko no Tatsujin: Kimidori Version]
• “Zetsubo e no Toccata (絶望へのトッカータ)”

So yeah, that’s quite a lot of songs for the Vita version. The other details to mention with regards to the Vita version is that it has its own story mode called Donder Quest, which is noted to be similar to Dororon! Yokai Great Decisive Battle! on the Nintendo DS, and a special difficulty mode called Tokkun (とっくん) where if you miss a note, you have to restart the song (basically like surviving a game with only 1 HP and no way to heal).

Overall Taiko: Drum Master Vita Version is import friendly! And its well recommended if you have an interest in music rhythm games, especially on the go. As mentioned there is downloadable content available but you will need to have a Japanese account in order to purchase them (and due to how the Vita works, that means you need to play the game using a Japanese account if you want to play the songs). This Vita game is sadly not compatible with the PlayStation TV device.

Cartridge Specs:

Distributor: Bandai Namco
Released: 9th July 2015

Region	Japan
HDD Space	10MB
PlayStation TV Support	No
Trophy Support	Yes
Local Players	1
Online Players	1-4

Unboxing Photos:

Final Notes:

Taiko: Drum Master Vita Version has never been made available for the west in English but copies are available for the PlayStation Vita in both Japan and Asian territories in physical and digital form. You can order the game through the following retailers:

Play Asia (JP ver.): Original Release
Solaris Japan (JP ver.): Original Release – Welcome Price Edition

If you are still interested in Taiko, there are tons of versions available across multiple platforms; Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Wii, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 4 and even the Nintendo Wii U. Japanese versions of the PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch versions will have English support included.