The February Nintendo Direct was an exciting one. Though it may not have announced the long-awaited Breath of the Wild 2 or Hollow Knight: Silksong, players got glimpses at some famous Nintendo franchises with upcoming installments like Kirby and the Forgotten Land and Splatoon 3. Other lesser-expected announcements were made, like EarthBound Beginnings and EarthBound coming to Nintendo Switch Online, and a new Taiko no Tatsujin title, this time possible coming to the Switch as an exclusive.
Taiko no Tatsujin is particularly popular in Japan, as some might guess by the name, especially in arcades. The rhythm game has players holding hitting a taiko drum in time with the music, and in the arcade versions, by holding a pair of drumsticks. The long-running franchise has done collaborations with several gaming IPs including Tekken and Ace Attorney as well as animes like Assassination Classroom and One Piece. Now, Taiko no Tatsujin: Rhythm Festival is using some of the groundbreaking music from Undertale, and doing so could bring in a bigger audience due to how popular the music has become since the game's launch.
Undertale's Popularity
Up there with the likes of Celeste, Stardew Valley, and Cuphead, Undertale is one of the most popular indie games of all time. Though its creator, Toby Fox, did not anticipate such a resounding response to his game, Undertale's notoriously passionate fanbase would go on to be known as some of gaming's most toxic—though it stems from a place of love. Whether that adoration has gone a bit too far or not, Undertale was a huge hit for its all-around quality: its gameplay mechanics are challenging yet expertly designed, the dialogue is quirky and realistic, the cast of characters were eccentric yet charming, and its soundtrack is largely agreed upon to be some of gaming's best.
Though sometimes it may come in the form of a meme, Undertale's soundtrack is profoundly recognized in the gaming community, and while the entire score masterfully supports the underlying tones of the game, many agree that one of its strongest numbers is "Megalovania." Very different from Sans' theme music, "Megalovania" only plays if players make it to the end of the Genocide Route and face off against the pun-loving bonehead, and he's by far Undertale's hardest boss. It's an emotional and memorable moment for Undertale fans. However, the same could be said about many other numbers, including the Pacifist Runs' "Hopes and Dreams," "Heartache," "Bonetrousle," and many more.
Undertale Music is Great for Rhythm Games
Because of the sheer intensity and popularity of Undertale's soundtrack, it makes for excellent renditions in rhythm games. For example, players can find plenty of custom levels to remixes of "Megalovania," "Bonetrousle," and any other big Undertale song on Beat Saber, StepMania, and even Guitar Hero. While many gamers may not know because rhythm gaming isn't usually in the eye of AAA news, Undertale has proven to be a popular choice for fan-made levels, which is why using the officially licensed music legally is a great decision for making sales.
In fact, Undertale has already had a collaboration with Taiko no Tatsujin in the past via an older Nintendo Switch release, Drum'n'Fun's Undertale Pack DLC. It's only a few songs, however, containing "Heartache," Toriel's boss fight song, "Megalovania," and "Hopes and Dreams," some of Undertale's most impactful numbers.
It's unclear which numbers the latest Taiko no Tatsujin will include from the Undertale soundtrack aside from "Megalovania." But with 76 songs on its roster so far, hopefully, Rhythm Festival will include a longer list than the previous DLC pack, because many Undertale fans would enjoy the opportunity to play them out on the drums.
Taiko no Tatsujin: Rhythm Festival launches on Nintendo Switch in 2022.