Taiko no Tatsujin 2011 Arcade Machine is a High Definition rebranding attempt by Namco, released in November 2011, on the 10th anniversary of the first Taiko release!
The cabinet design has been changed for a slimmer, sleeker look, and the cabinet has also been modified in terms of efficiency, now using less electricity and is lighter than the old model. It has widescreen HD visuals on a new LCD screen and the number of speakers is bumped up to three for surround sound.
Another huge change in the High Definition revamp is the emphasis on networking, as the cabinet is able to connect online to download updates such as new songs, etc., removing the need for complicated secret password sequences and frequent hardware revisions. Songs can also be unlocked in this version by accumulating Don Points.
This is the first Taiko to use its 3rd official GUI (graphic user interface), and this time it is very sharply colored, bright and colorful, a lot more so than the previous one. The song/difficulty selection screen allows you to choose a genre before choosing a song, much like everything from Taiko 12 onwards, and the tutorial is now here alongside the genre list as well.
Difficulty and song selection is made much more flexible and convenient than ever before. 2 players can now choose different difficulty levels and gameplay modes so both are able to perform at their own skill level and pace, while for the first time ever, players are able to alternate between playing on regular and Ura Oni, and are also able to play the same song more than once in a single play. For the first time, the random modes Kimagure and Detarame appear in an arcade. The Yam Note has also been replaced with an equivalent, called the Kusudama Note.
Don-chan and Kat-chan also get a slight redesign, their mouths are at a slightly lower position and their legs slightly longer, and animate fluidly in pseudo-3D style during play. While playing, a few elements have swapped places including the score number, Tamashii bar and difficulty icon.
The results screen is a mixed bag of give and take, looking a lot neater but has greatly reduced font size for the final score and hit percentage taken out. Through a software patch, players with access to Banapassports can also view how much they have improved in a song over their personal best.
Banapassport support is also confirmed allowing finally for some personalization to every player's Taiko arcade experience. Through their profile, players can unlock secret songs, costumes and Taiko sounds for use in the arcade, and their scores and play records (in the form of gold and silver crowns just like in a home console) are also taken with them!
It is unknown yet whether the songs unlocked through Banapassport will be open to the general public. Of course, anybody would want to play the new songs as there's a metric ton of them. A title system was also put in place which allows for unlocking even more content in addition to giving players a taste of an achievement system in the arcade Taiko.
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Features:
- Same name as first arcade
- Namco System 357, new graphic and interface update
- Backlit LCD screen, surround sound speaker system
- Player profiles through Banapassport added, network and DLC support
- Able to choose same song more than once per play
- First arcade with costume and color select
- 2 players can choose different difficulties and gameplay mods
- Scoring system changed, result screen overhauled
- First Taiko to congratulate a Normal Clear
- Yam Note replaced with Kusudama Note, Kimagure and Detarame modifiers added
- Revival Drumroll is available after every song
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