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Sunday, November 15, 2015

Demo/Promotional Taiko no Tatsujin Releases (Console Games)

Taiko no Tatsujin Wai Wai Happy Rokudaime boxart

Demo/Promo versions of Taiko no Tatsujin games began to be spread shortly before the release of the 6th Playstation 2 videogame, and since then they've been ranging across different platforms, in order to either promote a Taiko no Tatsujin game's release or being part of minor collaboration events.

The Taiko no Tatsujin demo/promo versions listed here are either modes/minigames that are part of games from other franchises or stand-alone demo versions for selected titles.

Kamen Rider Hibiki - Taiko no Tatsujin Demo
Release Date: December 1st, 2005

The Playstation 2 videogame of the Kamen Rider Hibiki (仮面ライダー響鬼) series includes a Taiko no Tatsujin minigame, featuring two songs from the eponymous series which can also be played with the Tatacon peripheral. Upon clearing both songs on any difficulty, the mode closes and an AD for the 6th Playstation 2 Taiko videogame (Wai Wai Happy! Rokudaime) is displayed, as its launch date is only 7 days away from the Kamen Rider Hibiki videogame's release date. See this video for a footage of the demo version in action.

Only Kantan through Muzukashii modes are available.

Title
 Kagayaki (輝)
Kamen Rider Hibiki Opening Theme
x2x2x4
 Shōnen'yo (少年よ)
Kamen Rider Hibiki Ending Theme
x1x2x2

Taiko no Tatsujin Iku Wa Yo! Nodame Special
Release Date: April 19th, 2007

This is a side mode of the Nintendo DS videogame Nodame Cantabile (のだめカンタービレ), which is based on the manga series of the same name. Five exclusive songs are made playable with the touchscreen control scheme as the only one available. Only Kantan to Muzukashii modes are available (without star ratings), featuring simple notecharts with only Don and drumroll notes.

Title
 Trepak from "The Nutcracker" (「くるみ割り人形」よりトレパーク)
Tchaikovsky
 Wedding March (結婚行進曲)
Wagner
 Piano Sonata No. 15 in C Major (ピアノソナタ第15番ハ長調)
Haydn
 Purigorota March (プリごろ太マーチ)
Nodame Cantabile
 Onara Taisou (おなら体操)

Gyōretsu no Dekiru Taiko no Tatsujin!
Release Date: February 25th, 2010

This is a minigame of the Nintendo DS videogame Gyōretsu no Dekiru Hōritsusōdantokoro (行列のできる法律相談所; lit. 'Line of the Law Center'), featuring two songs from pre-existing Taiko no Tatsujin games. Only Kantan to Muzukashii modes are available (with easier versions of the notecharts in other Taiko games), featuring several characters of the TV show the main game is based on as custom dancers.

Title
 Bolero (ボレロ)
Ravel
x2x2x4
 Lalala Happiness (ららら☆ハッピネス)x1x2x2

Taiko no Tatsujin: Chibi Dragon to Fushigi na Orb Demo Version
Release Date: June 27th, 2012

This is the first stand-alone demo for a Taiko no Tatsujin game, released as a digital-only title through the Nintendo eShop. Only two missions from the first chapter of the game's Story Mode are available to play, which also appear in the full version of the game.

Songs Featured: O Sole Mio, Kimi ni, Romantic.

Yakuza 5 - Taiko no Tatsujin Minigame
Release Date: December 6th, 2012

As part of a small Bandai Namco collaboration, this Sega game includes three Taiko no Tatsujin songs as part of a minigame, mimicking the visual style of the current arcade line. The available modes change according to the selected song, and Don-Chan's voice is being replaced by the game protagonist's (Kazuma Kiryu). See this video for a glimpse of the minigame in action.

This mini-game is also reported to be available in the localized versions of Yakuza 5 in North America and Europe, both of which are currently set to a 2015 digital-only release.

Title
 Mappy Ondo (マッピー音頭)x3x6
 Nijiiro Yumeiro Taikoiro (虹色・夢色・太鼓色)x3x5
 From the New World (新世界より)
Dvorak

x5x6

Taiko no Tatsujin: Don to Katsu no Jikuu Daibouken Demo Version
Release Date: June 11th, 2014

The second 3DS Taiko videogame also got a demo version, which (much like its predecessor) can be played only a maximum of 30 tries in the same system/Nintendo ID account combo. The first chapter of the game's Story Mode is available to play, together with is related encounter/mission songs and its boss track.

Songs Featured: Hyakka Ryouran, Mahou no Kissaten, Carmen Prelude, Soul Calibur II, Lightning Passion

Taiko no Tatsujin V Version - Trial Version
Release Date: June 18th, 2015

V Version's Trial includes a couple of songs that can be played in the regular Play Mode with all of the definitive game's modes and gameplay/score modifiers (save for the Takkun modifier). In addition, selected multiplayer missions from the full game's Donder Quest mode are also available, featuring a couple more songs that are not playable in the regular Play Mode.

Title
 Ridge Racerx4x7x8x8 (video)
 Day by Day!x3x5x7x8 (video)

Other Songs Featured: Gekkkabijin, Karyu

Taiko no Tatsujin Dokodon! Mystery Adventure - Demo Version
Release Date: June 15th, 2016

This demo version includes a couple of songs that can be played in the regular Play Mode with all of the definitive game's modes and gameplay/score modifiers (save for the Takkun modifier). It's also possible to try out a sample of the Mystery Adventure mode's Chapter 1, featuring some more tracks that can't be played in the regular Play Mode. The demo can be tried for a maximum of 7 tries in the same system/Nintendo ID account combo.

Title
 Lisdoonvarna no Tasogare (リスドンヴァルナの黄昏)x3x5x6x8 (video)
 DON'T CUTx4x7x8x8 (video)

Other Songs Featured: Sekai wa Itsudemo Mystery, March of the Ancient Army [Infantry], Soul Calibur III

Dondoko Paradise
Release Date: March 14th, 2017

Dondoko Paradise is a Taiko-themed minigame featured in the mobile game iDOLM@STER Cinderella Girls (アイドルマスターシンデレラガールズ), being added to the main game through an app update as the result of a collaboration campaign with the Taiko no Tatsujin series. This mode plays like any other official Taiko title with touchscreen-based control inputs, only that the available songlist only consists of Idolm@ster-related tracks from the Cinderella Girls franchise. Only Kantan to Muzukashii modes are available to play with.

Title
 Onegai! Cinderella (お願い!シンデレラ)x3x4x4
 Star!!x3x4x5
 Take me☆Take youx3x3x5 (video)

Taiko no Tatsujin Session de Dodon ga Don! - Demo Version
Release Date (Playstation Plus exclusive): September 29th, 2017-October 9th, 2017
Release Date (Free public demo, JP): October 10th, 2017
Release Date (Free public demo, NA and EU): October 14th, 2018

Six songs are featured in this PS+-exclusive demo version, all of which being fully available to enjoy in the regular Play mode. All difficulties and gameplay/scoring modifiers are available, as well as hi-score/collectible perks (crowns, bingo stamps, Don Kobans). This is also the first demo version to include Ura Oni variants to some of its featured songs from the get-go, as well as enabling the Guest Session gameplay option for EAT 'EM UP, before the full game's launch.

The PS Plus-exclusive demo could be downloaded and played up until October 9th; after which date said demo version is deactivated. The public demo, available since the day after, has the same gameplay/modifier features of the limited trial, but the songs Orpheus and the Underworld Overture/KAGEKIYO/Saitama 2000 are not available to play.

Title
 Carmen Prelude (カルメン 組曲一番終曲)
Bizet
x3x5x5x7 (video)
 Orpheus and the Underworld Overture (「天国と地獄」序曲)
Jacques Offenbach
x4x4x5x6 (video)
 EAT 'EM UP!
R4 -RIDGE RACER TYPE4-
x3x5x6x8 (video)
 KAGEKIYO
~Genpei Toma Den Medley~ (~源平討魔伝メドレー~)
x4x5x7x8 (video)
  KAGEKIYO
~Genpei Toma Den Medley~ (~源平討魔伝メドレー~)



x10 (video)
 Tsunagare! Hinogare! Uchi-agare! (つながれ!ひろがれ!打ち上がれ!)x4x5x7x9 (video)
 Saitama 2000 (さいたま2000)x5x7x7x7 (video)

Oira! Granblue Fantasy
Release Date (Japan App Stores): April 1st, 2018/April 1st, 2019 (only playable in that day)

An April Fools-exclusive minigame/companion app for CyGames's Granblue Fantasy, with Bandai Namco being credited for its creation.

Learn more about it on its dedicated song list page.

Taiko no Tatsujin Nintendo Switch Version! - Demo Version
Release Date (JP): July 19th, 2018
Release Date (NA and EU): October 14th, 2018

Released on the full version's launch day, the Nintendo Switch debut Taiko game's demo version only allows to play in the regular play mode, starring only two of the main song list's tracks and five of the Performance Characters available in the full version: Don-chan, Kat-chan, Calcutta=Dondi, Yomogimaru and Bachi o Sensei. There are no play limitations on this demo version.

Title
 Orpheus and the Underworld Overture (「天国と地獄」序曲)
Jacques Offenbach
x4x4x5x6 (video)
 Furi-furi♪Nori-nori♪ (フリフリ♪ノリノリ♪)x3x4x6x7 (video)

Taiko no Tatsujin Donderful Festival - Demo Version
Release Date (JP/General Asia): August 17th, 2022
Release Date (NA and EU): ???

Donderful Festival's demo version features three playable songs, with one of the three being a gated unlockable through early story progression. All tracks are available to play on the regular Play mode, as well as the game's signature multiplayer modes (Improvement Training, Don-Chan Band and Donkatsu Toy Battle). It's also possible to browse ingame the full game's publicly-revealed song list with related difficulty ratings, although Online Play and Taiko Music Pass support/access is blocked.

All the progress from a user profile that was made in the demo version can be ported to the full version, including Taiko drum level-up progression (up to LV.10), story progression (up to Section 2-3), Don Coins and early customization elements being purchased over the General Shop, although Taiko sounds and Donkatsu Toy Battle store section can't be selected at all.

Title
  Donderful Everyday (まいにちがドンダフル) x2x4x5x8 (video)
Hoshikuzu Struck (まいにちがドンダフル)
t+pazolite
x5x6x7x10 (video)
Hoshikuzu Struck (まいにちがドンダフル)
t+pazolite



x10 (video)
  Symphony No.5 "Fate" (交響曲第五番「運命」)
Beethoven
x4x5x5x6 (video)

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