{{Infobox video game | title = Taiko: Drum Master | collapsible = | state = | image = Taiko Drum Master PS2 US front 400px.jpg | image_size = 250px | caption = PS2 US front cover | developer = Namco | publisher = Namco | series = Taiko no Tatsujin | engine = | released = PlayStation 2| genre = Music/Rhythm | modes = 1-2 Players | platforms = PlayStation 2 }}Taiko: Drum Master, also known as Taiko no Tatsujin: Taiko Drum Master (太鼓の達人 TAIKO DRUM MASTER) in Japan, is a rhythm game developed and published by Namco for the Sony PlayStation 2 as part of the popular Japanese video game franchise Taiko no Tatsujin. It was released in North America in 2004, and Japan in 2005. The game was notable for being the only Taiko no Tatsujin title to release in North America, until the releases of Taiko no Tatsujin: Drum 'n' Fun! and Taiko no Tatsujin: Drum Session! in 2018. The songs featured in Taiko: Drum Master were all in English and mostly taken from various Western artists, even in the Japanese release. Gameplay Symbols moving horizontally along a timeline show what to hit and when. Home versions distinguish single and double strikes, unlike the arcade versions of this franchise which register hard and soft strikes. A drum simulating the taiko is played in time with music. Successful play builds up a life meter. If the meter is past a certain point by the end of the song, the song is passed. In the Japanese version, subtitles under the symbols give the pronunciation of the sounds (e.g. "do don do don") using a traditional system called kuchi shoga (口唱歌). Despite the game's appearance, players may find the game challenging to master. Players need to accomplish at least a 65% clearance of a song which is determined by the tamashi gauge to pass, and can become challenging on harder difficulties as players progress. North American release track listing Pop and rock "ABC" by The Jackson Five "American Girls" - by Counting Crows "Are You Gonna Be My Girl" - by Jet "Girls and Boys" - by Good Charlotte "I'm a Believer" - by The Monkees "Killer Queen" - by Queen "Lady Marmalade" - by Labelle "Love Shack" - by The B-52s "Material Girl" - by Madonna "My Sharona" - by The Knack "Slide" - by The Goo Goo Dolls