Although Namco's Taiko series of rhythm games has been popular in Japan since its 2001 arcade debut, Taiko Drum Master is the first game in the series to make the journey across the international date line to North America. The J-pop and Japanese festival music from previous entries has been dropped en route, and Namco has seen fit to replace them with an extremely eclectic tracklist that boasts licensed rock and pop songs alongside classical pieces and tunes from other Namco titles. Taiko Drum Master still has a distinctly Japanese flavor, though, thanks to its oh-so-cute characters, some bizarre minigames, and, of course, the fact that you play the game using a traditional (plastic) Japanese (made in China) taiko drum and two sticks.

You'll play Taiko Drum Master by hitting the drum peripheral, which is supplied with the game, on its surface and rim as red and blue notes (represented by cute Taiko faces) travel across the screen. Furthermore, both the surface and the rim of the drum contain left and right sensors that you need to hit simultaneously when larger notes appear. More difficult tracks also require you to perform drum rolls on occasion, and you will even start having notes thrown at you at different speeds to make things a little more confusing. All of the notes you're required to hit work well in the context of the track that's being played, and this is especially true when playing head-to-head with a friend which, although it's a competitive game, feels very much like a cooperative duet.