Taiko Drum Master (zonder drum) - Sony PlayStation 2 (PS2)

I grabbed this to play with my old PS2 and the music selection is solid, even without the drum. The button mapping feels responsive and the mini-games between songs are a fun bonus.

The load times between songs are quick enough that you’re barely pulled out of the rhythm, and the difficulty curve ramps up nicely for a handheld controller. Just wish the disc case had a manual, but the gameplay itself is pure fun.

The song list is packed with Japanese pop hits I actually recognize, and the timing feels spot-on even on a standard controller. I’ve spent hours just chasing high scores on the harder difficulties, and it’s way more addictive than I expected for a rhythm game without the drum.