Dokapon Kingdom[a] is a role-playing video game developed and published by Sting Entertainment for the PlayStation 2. It was released in Japan on November 22, 2007, and by Atlus USA in North America on October 14, 2008. It is a remake of the 1994 Super Famicom title, Dokapon 3・2・1 – Arashi o Yobu Yuujou. The PlayStation 2 version was later re-released in Japan on November 20, 2008. A port to the Wii was released on July 31, 2008, as Dokapon Kingdom for Wii. The Wii version was published in North America by Atlus USA on October 14, 2008, and in Europe by Bigben Interactive on March 26, 2010.[1][2] A Nintendo Switch remake published by Compile Heart, titled Dokapon Kingdom: Connect, was released in Japan on April 13, 2023,[3] which was followed by an international release by Idea Factory on May 9, 2023.[4] A Windows port of the remake was released on September 7, 2023.[5]

Dokapon Kingdom
North American PlayStation 2 cover art
Developer(s)Sting Entertainment
Publisher(s)
(Wii)
Connect:
SeriesDokapon
Platform(s)PlayStation 2
Wii
Nintendo Switch
Windows
ReleasePlayStation 2
  • JP: November 22, 2007
  • NA: October 14, 2008
Wii
  • JP: July 31, 2008
  • NA: October 14, 2008
  • EU: March 26, 2010
Nintendo Switch
  • JP: April 13, 2023
  • WW: May 9, 2023
Windows
  • WW: September 7, 2023
Genre(s)Role-playing
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Gameplay

edit

The game is a hybrid board game and role-playing video game with modes varying from story mode to battle royale in which four players are assigned a mission. Players spin a spinner and then move to any spot on the board that is reachable by moving that number of spaces. Players will have the freedom to choose the direction they want to go. Landing on an "empty" yellow space or another player will typically cause a battle, but sometimes the player will encounter a strange traveler that may allow them to play them at a minigame, or hire their services to steal or harm the other players. The battle system plays out in roshambo style, with the attack option beating counter, the counter option beating strike, and the defend option resisting the attack option. Multiple magics and stat changes play out both in battle and on the game board, while class-specific skills increase with player's job level.[citation needed]

Three starting jobs are available to the new adventurer (warrior, thief, and magician), and following a pattern of leveling, eleven character jobs and darkling (if someone hears the whisper of the dark revenge, usually the current last place player) are possible. The game is won by the player with the most money at the end. The winner gets to marry the king's daughter if the player is male; the king makes an offer himself if the player is female, but will be rejected. However, regardless of gender, the winner takes the control of the kingdom.

Plot

edit

The game takes place in a fictional land called "Dokapon Kingdom" which is being attacked by an army of monsters. Seeing this, the king offers Penny, his daughter, to be married to the player who finishes the game with the most money. 2–4 adventurers hear this, and attempt to save the kingdom. The game ends when each of the main bosses are defeated, although the player can select other game options to make the game end faster.

Reception

edit

The game received "mixed or average reviews" on both platforms according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.[19][20] In Japan, Famitsu gave the PlayStation 2 version a score of three sevens and one five for a total of 26 out of 40.[8]

The Wii version was nominated for Best Wii RPG by IGN in its 2008 video game awards.[21]

Notes

edit
  1. ^ Japanese: ドカポンキングダム, Hepburn: Dokapon Kingudamu

References

edit
  1. ^ "Bigben Interactive: annonce l'arrivée de Dokapon Kingdom". Actufinance (Press release) (in French). Boursier. March 8, 2010. Retrieved January 17, 2020.
  2. ^ Leuenberg, Christian (December 13, 2010). "Testbericht: Dokapon Kingdom". Wii Insider (in German). Archived from the original on October 14, 2019. Retrieved January 17, 2020.
  3. ^ Romano, Sal (January 17, 2023). "Dokapon Kingdom: Connect announced for Switch". Gematsu. Archived from the original on January 18, 2023. Retrieved January 18, 2023.
  4. ^ Romano, Sal (March 14, 2023). "Dokapon Kingdom: Connect launches May 9 in the west". Gematsu. Archived from the original on March 14, 2023. Retrieved March 14, 2023.
  5. ^ Romano, Romano. "Dokapon Kingdom: Connect coming to PC this fall". Steam. Retrieved August 28, 2023.
  6. ^ Fitch, Andrew (October 24, 2008). "Dokapon Kingdom Review (Wii)". 1UP.com. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on March 9, 2016. Retrieved January 21, 2019.
  7. ^ North, Dale (October 24, 2008). "Destructoid review: Dokapon Kingdom (Wii)". Destructoid. Enthusiast Gaming. Archived from the original on February 19, 2019. Retrieved January 21, 2019.
  8. ^ a b "Famitsu #989, reviews and utter lack of worthwhile news". NeoGAF. NeoGaf LLC. November 14, 2007. Archived from the original on January 22, 2019. Retrieved January 21, 2019.
  9. ^ a b Gudmundson, Carolyn (October 21, 2008). "Dokapon Kingdom review". GamesRadar+. Future plc. Archived from the original on January 22, 2019. Retrieved January 21, 2019.
  10. ^ Bedigian, Louis (October 14, 2008). "Dokapon Kingdom – PS2 – Review". GameZone. Archived from the original on December 30, 2008. Retrieved January 21, 2019.
  11. ^ Platt, Dylan (October 29, 2008). "Dokapon Kingdom – WII – Review". GameZone. Archived from the original on December 18, 2008. Retrieved January 21, 2019.
  12. ^ Bozon, Mark (October 17, 2008). "Dokapon Kingdom Review (PS2)". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on January 22, 2019. Retrieved January 21, 2019.
  13. ^ Bozon, Mark (October 15, 2008). "Dokapon Kingdom Review (Wii)". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on January 22, 2019. Retrieved January 21, 2019.
  14. ^ Reddick, Stuart (April 1, 2009). "Dokapon Kingdom Review". Nintendo Life. Gamer Network. Archived from the original on January 22, 2019. Retrieved January 21, 2019.
  15. ^ "Dokapon Kingdom". Nintendo Power. Vol. 235. Future US. December 2008. p. 100.
  16. ^ Rosenberg, Jared (December 2, 2008). "Dokapon Kingdom". Nintendo World Report. NINWR, LLC. Archived from the original on January 22, 2019. Retrieved January 21, 2019.
  17. ^ "Review: Dokapon Kingdom". PlayStation: The Official Magazine. No. 13. Future plc. December 2008. p. 82.
  18. ^ Cavalli, Earnest (October 15, 2008). "Review: Quirky Fun Makes Dokapon Kingdom the Perfect Wii Party Game". Wired. Condé Nast. Retrieved January 21, 2019.
  19. ^ a b "Dokapon Kingdom for PlayStation 2 Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on January 23, 2019. Retrieved January 21, 2019.
  20. ^ a b "Dokapon Kingdom for Wii Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on April 24, 2014. Retrieved January 13, 2014.
  21. ^ "Best of 2008 (Best RPG)". IGN. IGN Entertainment. December 18, 2008. Archived from the original on December 22, 2008. Retrieved December 19, 2008.
edit