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The third Taiko no Tatsujin (Drum Master) rhythm game bops over to the PS2 as the winter of 2003 closes in. Play mechanics are simple, with five basic moves to tap on the TataCon drum controller as colored smiley face cues scroll across the screen on a continuous conveyer belt. For example, when a Red Smiley face hits the targeting marker, the player bangs the surface of the Tatacon drum controller with one beat. Should a Blue Smiley rush across the screen, the player rumbles sticks on the edge of the Tatacon to get kudos. Musical selections in the game include 39 new songs out of 103 total which range the J-Pop spectrum from recent favorites to chart topping hits such as "Good Bye Summer," "Door to Tomorrow," "One Night Carnival," "True Blue," "UFO," and then there are even Namco's own classics such as the theme from Galaga '88 and "Soul Calibur II Brave Sword, Braver Soul." A new mini-game mode may also be enjoyed where two rhythm-ready dogs raise and lower flags in time to your drum beats, which in turn are triggered by following onscreen cues. Three other mini-games are also available which test the mettle of rhythm artists with a penchant for banging the drum. Clearing two or three mini-games successfully will unlock additional mini-games for further deployment. The TnT3 Bundle includes a Tatacon-troller. Recent Sightings in Cinema
Thirty five minutes into the 2003 film "Lost in Translation" which stars Bill Murray and Scarlet Johansson, a Japanese chap may be viewed thundering along on a Taiko no Tatsujin coin-op. A few seconds later, a spiky-haired fellow may be seen enjoying another rhythm game, Guitar Freaks, whilst dragging lazily on a cigarette. Still further along, a whirling dervish of a teen may be seen slapping heartily on a Pop 'n Music machine. Bemani heaven, indeed.
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