TAIKO: Drum Master

100 HIT COMBO!!!!! NOW LET'S PLAY THE SONG!!!!! NOW, LET'S BEGIN!!!!!

TAIKO: Drum Master was Namco's first attempt in bringing their Taiko no Tatsujin rhythm game series to the West, complete with western licenses and western voice acting. Curiously, five months later, the game was also released in Japan.

NOTE: All of the offsets take in consideration the file DATA.000 unless stated otherwise.

Sub-Pages#

Notes Unused GraphicsIt's not a phase, da-don.

Unused Chart Data#

ABC#

Of the charts that can be extracted from this game's filesystem, ABC‍ '​s are the first in the American release, as their ID (abc) is the first when arranged in alphabetical order (in the Japanese release, however, they are the second, as the ID of the song I'm A Slave 4 U (4u) predates it). With that said, this song has two unused charts, labeled abc1p_b (Meant for Battle charts, seen in arcades from Taiko no Tatsujin 3 to 6, but removed from console releases as of Yondaime) as well as abc1p_d (a dummy slot, previously used for Donderful! charts in Taiko 2). They are placeholder charts, consisting of 50 measures of Small Don notes on every beat at roughly 200 BPM (counting offset compensations, the chart's average BPM is 200.2111).

William Tell Overture#

This song's 1P Hard chart has its Advanced and Master branch paths, as seen in this song's appearance in Taiko no Tatsujin: Doki! Shinkyoku Darake no Haru Matsuri, Taiko no Tatsujin 5, and Taiko no Tatsujin 6 completely filled, though no quota parameters are present, leaving them unused. In this game, the 1P Oni chart is a duplicate of the 1P Hard chart, and so this also applies to there.

Unseen Notations#

Notably, both releases of TAIKO: Drum Master lack notations below the notes, save for drumrolls and balloon notes. It seems this game's charts were created with this in mind, as they, for the most part, only make use of one variation of the Small Don (01, notation ドン) and Small Ka (04, notation カッ) notes. Despite this, there are a few songs that have the remaining variations of the Small Don (02, notation ド; 03, notation コ) and Small Ka (05, notation カ), most of them being from previous games, as follows:

Common#

SOULCALIBUR II Brave Sword, Braver Soul#

This song's 1P Oni chart, known as cal1p_m in the filesystem, still has its extended notations, as seen in Taiko no Tatsujin: Appare Sandaime and Taiko no Tatsujin 6, completely intact. This does not happen to any of this song's other charts.

Carmen Prelude#

All of this song's 1P charts (cca1p_e, cca1p_n, cca1p_h, and cca1p_m) have their extended notations, also seen in Sandaime and Taiko no Tatsujin 6, left intact. The 2P Easy (cca2p_e) and Normal (cca2p_n) charts appear to be based on those, as many Small Don/Small Ka notes have this extended notation as well.

Hungarian Dances No.5#

All of this song's charts, which have the id ch, have extended notations. The 1P charts appear to be directly taken from Taiko no Tatsujin: Atsumare! Matsuri da!! Yondaime, with the 2P charts being directly based on those as well.

Dragon Spirit#

This song's Easy and Normal charts, on both 1P (drs1p_e, drs1p_n) and 2P (drs2p_e, drs2p_n) modes, have extended notations, The former appear to also be taken from Yondaime, with the latter being based on those as well.

The Genji and The Heike Clans#

This song, which is more commonly known as KAGEKIYO, has its 1P Oni chart (gen1p_m) still having its extended notations from Sandaime, Taiko no Tatsujin 5 and 6 intact.

Taiko March#

This song's Hard and Oni charts, on both 1P (mar1p_h, mar1p_m) and 2P (mar2p_h, mar2p_m) sides, have extended notations. The former appear to have been converted from the data as seen in Taiko no Tatsujin: Doki! Shinkyoku Darake no Haru Matsuri and Taiko no Tatsujin 5, while the latter are based on those charts.

Ridge Racer#

All of this song's charts, which have the id rr1, have extended notations. The 1P charts appear to be directly taken from Yondaime, with the 2P charts being directly based on those as well.

US Only#

Bowling For Soup - Jimmy Neutron Theme#

This song, which was introduced in this game, has two cases of the extended Small Ka in its 2P Hard chart (jim2p_h), found on the 2P side of measure 22, and the 1P side of measure 66, which have the same content. Unlike most of the other songs mentioned in this section, this case appears to have been purely an oversight during the charting process.

Katamari On The Rocks#

All of this song's charts, which have the id kat, have extended notations. The 1P charts appear to be directly taken from Yondaime, with the 2P charts being directly based on those as well.

JP Only#

I'm A Slave 4 U#

All of this song's charts, which have the ID 4u, have extended notations. The ones in the 1P charts appear to be the same as what would later appear in Taiko no Tatsujin Portable, indicating both games were being developed at the same time.

I Was Born To Love You#

This song's 1P Hard (born1p_h), 1P Oni (born1p_m), and 2P Hard (born2p_h) both have an extended Small Don (ド), with the former two charts having them at measure 26, and the latter chart on the 2P side of measure 51.

1P Hard m26
1P Oni m26
2P Hard m51 (2P)

MOJIPITTAN Medley#

This song's Easy charts (moji1p_e and moji2p_e) have extended notations. As with I'm A Slave 4 U, they appear to be the same as what would later appear in Taiko no Tatsujin Portable.

Saitama 2000#

This song's Easy (rot1p_e and rot2p_e) and Oni (rot1p_m and rot2p_m) both have extended notations. They appear to be taken directly from the song's appearance in Taiko no Tatsujin 6.

Unused Audio#

800 and 900 Combos#

Like with Taiko no Tatsujin Yondaime, the game's sound effect data has announcer voice lines for achieving 800 and 900 combos, which is not possible in the final game; the chart with the most notes, which is the Extreme/Oni chart of The Genji and the Heike Clans, has 765 notes.

Waiwai Taiko Kassen#

The Waiwai Taiko Kassen mode, present in Taiko no Tatsujin Yondaime, still has its associated music file in the data, found at offset 0xC5AB800 (US)/0xC630800 (JP).

Unused Text#

Towards the end of the archive file found at offset 0x2000 in the American release is a series of leftover strings from Taiko no Tatsujin Yondaime‍ '​s Waiwai Taiko Kassen mode. Line breaks were added for readability.

出演したちびキャラはどれ？
ちびキャラに注目！
わたがし
ひよこ
カール
すずどん
ピポサル
水マリ子
ちょうちん
たこやき
きんぎょ
出演しなかったちびキャラはどれ？
どんチームに出演したちびキャラはいくつ？
どんのちびキャラに注目！
どんのちびキャラに注目だドン！
ちびキャラだけに注目だドン！
かつチームに出演したちびキャラはいくつ？
かつのちびキャラに注目！
かつのちびキャラに注目カッ！
ちびキャラだけに注目カッ！
出演したちびキャラは全部でいくつ？
ちびキャラに要注目！
算数に自信ある？
どんから抜けたがっかりたましいはいくつ？
どんのがっかりたましいに注目！
がっかりたましいに注目だドン！
かつから抜けたがっかりたましいはいくつ？
かつのがっかりたましいに注目！
がっかりたましいに注目カッ！
抜けたがっかりたましいは全部でいくつ？
がっかりたましいに注目！
どんチームのスコアの百の桁はズバリどれ？
どんチームのスコアに注目！
どんチームのスコアに注目だドン！
結果に注目だドン！
どんチームのスコアの万の桁はズバリどれ？
かつチームのスコアの百の桁はズバリどれ？
かつチームのスコアに注目！
かつチームのスコアに注目カッ！
結果に注目カッ！
かつチームのスコアの万の桁はズバリどれ？
どんチームとかつチームのスコアを足すと？
スコアに注目！
ところで今何回戦？
記憶に頼れ！
記憶は確か？
何回たたかったっけ？
第1回戦
第2回戦
第3回戦
第4回戦
第5回戦
第6回戦
第7回戦
第8回戦
第9回戦

Build Date#

A build date can be found in the game's executable:

Regional Differences#

Title Screen#

• In Japan, the game is known as Taiko no Tatsujin: Taiko Drum Master, and received a slightly different logo, as well as different announcer calls, one of which recycles part of Yondaime‍ '​s title call.

US	JP

Songlist#

• Each release of the game has its share of exclusive songs, with the Japanese release having two more songs than the American one:

• In addition to this, the song Lady Marmalade was moved from the Rock category to the Pop category in the Japanese release.
• As a result of Saitama 2000 being added, the Japanese release is also the only version of the game with branched charts, as the song's Oni chart features them. Its graphics were previously found unused in the American release, being leftovers from Yondaime.

Charts#

ABC#

• ABC's Easy charts were rerated from level 1 to 2.
• Almost all of the measure offsets in each of the song's charts (notated in ms) are slightly different. Overall, the charts in the Japanese release are mostly synced 10ms earlier than in the American release. The BPM is set to 189 for all measures.

• In the 1P Easy, 1P Normal, 2P Easy, and 2P Normal charts, there is a drumroll at measure 34. The length of this drumroll differs between regions:
  • 1P Easy: Shortened from 1095ms in the American release to 1085ms (10ms less) in the Japanese one
  • 1P Normal: Shortened from 1888ms in the American release to 1879ms (9ms less) in the Japanese one
  • 2P Easy: Shortened from 936ms in the American release to 926ms (10ms less) in the Japanese one
  • 2P Normal: Shortened from 1571ms in the American release to 1561ms (10ms less) in the Japanese one

American Girls#

• This song received a new 1P Oni chart, rated level 7. It also received a 2P Oni chart, though it is identical to the 1P Oni one. In the American release, both charts are duplicates of the Hard charts on their respective player modes, and also have the same rating (2).

Symphony No.25 in G Minor#

• Many of the measure offsets in each of the song's charts (notated in ms) are slightly different. There are many fluctuations, but the changed portions are often 10ms earlier.

SOULCALIBUR II Brave Sword, Braver Soul#

• The final three measures (63, 64, 65) are positioned 10ms earlier in the Japanese release.
• In the 1P Oni chart, the drumroll at measure 62 had its length changed from 572ms in the American release to 562ms (10ms less) in the Japanese release.

Carmen Prelude#

• All charts are 2 measures shorter in the Japanese release. However, the notecounts themselves are still the same, as the erased measures are empty. Those measures have the following data:

Foster's Medley#

• Almost all of the measure offsets in each of the song's charts (notated in ms) are slightly different. Overall, the charts in the Japanese release are mostly synced 20ms earlier than in the American release.

• In the 1P Hard/Oni, as well as all 2P charts, there is a drumroll at measure 28. The length of this drumroll differs between regions:
  • 1P Hard/Oni, 2P Hard/Oni: Shortened from 1588ms in the American release to 1568ms (20ms less) in the Japanese one
  • 2P Easy, 2P Normal: Shortened from 1863ms in the American release to 1843ms (20ms less) in the Japanese one

William Tell Overture#

• Several measure offsets in each of the song's charts (notated in ms), mainly near the beginning are slightly different. Overall, these sections in the Japanese release are mostly synced 10ms earlier than in the American release. The BPM is set to 153 for all measures.

• In the 1P Easy and 2P Easy charts, there is a drumroll at measure 49. The length of this drumroll differs between regions:
  • 1P Easy: Shortened from 1553ms in the American release to 1543ms (10ms less) in the Japanese one
  • 2P Easy: Shortened from 1160ms in the American release to 1150ms (10ms less) in the Japanese one

Girls & Boys#

• This song received a new 1P Oni chart, rated level 6. It also received a 2P Oni chart, though it is identical to the 1P Oni one. In the American release, both charts are duplicates of the Hard charts on their respective player modes, and also have the same rating (5).

The Genji and the Heike Clans#

• Almost all of the measure offsets in each of the song's charts (notated in ms) are slightly different. Overall, the charts in the Japanese release are mostly synced 10ms earlier than in the American release.

Slide#

• This song received a new 1P Oni chart, rated level 7. It also received a 2P Oni chart, though it is identical to the 1P Oni one. In the American release, both charts are duplicates of the Hard charts on their respective player modes, and also have the same rating (4).
• Many of the measure offsets in each of the song's charts (notated in ms) are slightly different. Overall, the charts in the Japanese release are mostly synced 10ms earlier than in the American release.

Lady Marmalade#

• This song received a new 1P Oni chart, rated level 4. It also received a 2P Oni chart, though it is identical to the 1P Oni one. In the American release, both charts are duplicates of the Hard charts on their respective player modes, and also have the same rating (2).

Love Shack#

• This song received a new 1P Oni chart, rated level 7. It also received a 2P Oni chart, though it is identical to the 1P Oni one. In the American release, both charts are duplicates of the Hard charts on their respective player modes, and also have the same rating (3).
• The song's charts are synced 10ms earlier in the Japanese release, with nearly all measures being placed accordingly. The measures that are not, which are measures 4, 19, 27, 34, 39, and 40, are placed 11ms earlier than the American version.

The Impression That I Get#

• The song's Hard charts were rerated from level 5 to 6.
• This song received a new 1P Oni chart, rated level 7. It also received a 2P Oni chart, though it is identical to the 1P Oni one. In the American release, both charts are duplicates of the Hard charts on their respective player modes, and also have the same rating (5).
• The 2P Normal chart received two changes in the Japanese release:
  • A Small Don note was added at beat 2 on the 2P side of measure 5.
  • Three Small Don notes were added at beats 0, 1, and 2 on the 2P side of measure 6.

US
JP

Material Girl#

• This song's Oni charts were rerated from level 4 to 7.
• The song's charts are synced 10ms earlier in the Japanese release, with nearly all measures being placed accordingly. The measures that are not, which are measures 5, 6, 20, 21, 28, 35, 42, 43, 50, 57, 64, and 65, are placed 11ms earlier.

Killer Queen#

• This song received a new 1P Oni chart, rated level 5. It also received a 2P Oni chart, though it is identical to the 1P Oni one. In the American release, both charts are duplicates of the Hard charts on their respective player modes, and also have the same rating (4).
• This song received an updated sync in the Japanese release, tweaking offsets, and even several BPM values in the beginning of the charts:

Walking On Sunshine#

• This song received a new 1P Oni chart, rated level 7. It also received a 2P Oni chart, though it is identical to the 1P Oni one. In the American release, both charts are duplicates of the Hard charts on their respective player modes, and also have the same rating (5).
• The song's charts are synced 10ms earlier in the Japanese release, with nearly all measures being placed accordingly. The measures that are not, which are measures 3, 10, 17, 24, 31, 38, 45, 52, 59, and 66, are placed 11ms earlier than the American version.

Tubthumping#

• This song received a new 1P Oni chart, rated level 6. It also received a 2P Oni chart, though it is identical to the 1P Oni one. In the American release, both charts are duplicates of the Hard charts on their respective player modes, and also have the same rating (5).

That's The Way (I Like It)#

• The song's Normal charts were rerated from level 1 to 2.
• This song received a new 1P Oni chart, rated level 7. It also received a 2P Oni chart, though it is identical to the 1P Oni one. In the American release, both charts are duplicates of the Hard charts on their respective player modes, and also have the same rating (2).