In fact, Dokapon Kingdom: Connect is the second remake of this game, but since we only know of Dokapon Kingdom for the PS2 and Wii, you’re not here to learn about its history. If you’ve played Dokapon Kingdom, then you’ll know exactly what to expect. The old strategies and paths of Dokapon Kingdom are preserved to flex against online players around the globe. However, some updated systems can be found, so let’s begin at the beginning.
Dokapon Kingdom: Connect‘s Story Mode introduces the Kingdom of Dokapon under attack. The king announces that anyone who has the most money will be able to marry his daughter. The jokes in this game don’t stop, as each chapter is closed out with a funny interaction between the king and his daughter. Players will create a character by choosing a Job Class, with Advance Job classes available through gameplay. While customization is fairly limited in the game, more ways to customize your experience will be unlocked as you progress. The advanced job classes will definitely shake up strategy, as their field actions open possibilities for interference.
The story isn’t really the highlight here. Instead, players will make their way through various locals and dungeons until they reach their goal or rage quit. The option to become a Darkling is also available, where players can become demon characters for a few weeks to take out opponents. In general, players spin a roulette wheel to find out how many spaces they can move. Whatever they land on will start a scene. Battles are commonplace on the board, but shops, equipment, or other events can also appear. The different paths allow players to earn money, advance, and become stronger.
Dokapon Kingdom: Connect is way more fun to play than it is to read about. There are so many moving parts, and what makes it fun varies from player to player. A few mini-games allow you to enter fashion competitions or test your luck, and you can even play pranks after beating players. As if taking their money and pride wasn’t enough. The arguments between players come after they race to secure properties around the game board. Tax collection is introduced here, but late gameplay becomes incredibly chaotic, as players take other players’ lands, slow them down, or steal their stats. The shit gets real when money is involved.
You can also choose from Story Mode or Normal Mode. It allows you to select several weeks, and the winner is the one with the most money. In the Story Mode, you can explore the vast gameboards in a quick manner, but when playing with friends I prefer the Town Race, Kill Race, or Shopping Race. Each mode has a specific goal, and the first person to complete it wins.The online mode is where the most fun is to be had, and it is the most significant feature of this remaster. It has a separate objective that isn’t based on money. There are three players in a game. They can drop out and switch to a computer since these games can be long. Records are kept, but depending on who you’re playing with, the experience may go off the rails.
In terms of graphics, Dokapon Kingdom: Connect looks like the original. Despite the fact that the Switch release in the West has a few altered clothes on female characters, I find it odd. Normally, I can understand why these alterations were discussed. But here, I don’t think there was a reason for these alterations. The unique mini-games and systems return to bring this unconventional party game to modern players. Playing with friends is still fun over a decade later, and the online options make it even more accessible. Still, its nuanced systems and limited new gameplay features may make it more of a novelty than a game with significant staying power.
