New Taiko no Tatsujin DS game x Hatsune Miku

The well-known taiko drum rhythm game series by Namco is coming up with a 3rd installment for the NDS handheld, known as Taiko no Tatsujin DS: Dororon! Yokai Daikessen!! (鼓の達人ＤＳ ドロロン！ヨーカイ大決戦！！). And yep, as the blog title suggests, Hatsune Miku of Crypton's Vocaloid 2 voice synthesiser program is making a cameo appearance as well.


Taiko no Tatsujin is pretty simple: music notes come in red or blue across the screen from right to left, and you just have to hit the corresponding note at correct timing. Genres of songs vary from J-pop, anime songs, classics, to nusery rhymes, as well as songs originated from Namco.


Let's cut it to the chase - Hatsune Miku is making a cameo appearance in this game for the first time.





The song "MELT" (メルト) by ryo will be included as a playable song in the game. Here you can see Miku dancing along with other Vocaloid characters cheering at the corners on the 4th image (this happens when you are doing well in the song).

Here's MELT as seen played on PSP rhythm game Project DIVA:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kk8qIHNrR_g


Another thing to make cameo appearance will be some kind of collaboration between band YMCK and Okashi Deka お菓子刑事 (translated as Sweet/Candy Detective), which is a manga series published on monthly manga magazine CoroCoro Comic.

Apparently this will be the song in the game:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r8BZchSPRNQ


THE IDOLM@STER will also make cameo appearance in the game. A song called "relations" will be playable in the game.


For them this is not their first time already as they have appeared in a lot of the previous games too with their own songs. This is not too surprising to know given that THE IDOLM@STER is also made by Namco.

Here's relations sung by various characters:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ebkg0GzPj2E





The game will also include some sort of story mode with some elements of RPG in it. The main character Wada Don has to fight various kinds of ghosts in Japan. And judging from the screenshots it's got some kind of random encounter there too ^^;



A pair of styluses shaped as bachi (taiko drum sticks) will be bundled with the game. The initial batch will have them in bling bling gold colour in limited number.


To be released on 1st July 2010, official retail price 5040 Yen (tax inclusive).


I have several Taiko no Tatsujin games for my PS2 console along with 2 taiko controllers, and my sister has tried the 2nd instalment for the NDS before. It is genearlly a very casual and family-oriented game to play, suited for a variety of players from beginner to the hardcore rhythm gurus. The cute character designs are also greatly favoured by children and girls (my sister included). Didn't expect to see Hatsune Miku making a cameo appearance here, but I am not complaining at all. My sister may very well give this game a try too! ^^


Official site:
http://taiko.namco-ch.net/taiko-nds-yokai/

Wikipedia link:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taiko_no_Tatsujin_DS:_Dororon!_Yokai_Daikessen!!

Images from Dengeki Online