Topic: Atlus Announces RPG-Board Game Dokapon Kingdom for Wii

[Nick DiMola]

It's like Mario Party… with monsters, hit points, and backstabbing.
 http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/newsArt.cfm?artid=16268

 Atlus announced early last month their answer to shallow party games for Wii. A group of four friends can vie for the throne of Dokapon by defeating monsters, completing challenges, unlocking secrets, and betraying each other.    

Players are required to destroy the monsters that are ruining the kingdom's towns and stealing all of the wealth. As a result the King is forced to give up his throne because he is unable to collect taxes from the now poor citizens.    

Atlus has declared that Dokapon Kingdom is not a "boring game of hack-and-slash," but a full-fledged RPG complete with a fleshed out magic system and battle mode. Atlus promises everything from "zany characters" to "tons of battles" and "magic spells." And the battle system will have players "covertly choose their actions in an intuitive battle interface that guarantees every fight will surprise."    

And since claims that players can work to sabotage their opponents, it's a good thing that they also promise that "after your friendships are broken, the game is just as much fun to play alone."    

Dokapon Kingdom will be available for Wii in America on October 14.    

HAVE FRIENDSHIPS? LET ATLUS RUIN THEM WITH PARTY RPG DOKAPON KINGDOM    

The Friendship-Destroying Game for Wii and PlayStation 2    

IRVINE, CALIFORNIA — JUNE 3rd, 2008 — Atlus U.S.A., Inc., triumphantly friendless, today announced Dokapon Kingdom, an addictive new multiplayer RPG for Wii™ and PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system. The King of Dokapon has offered you his throne; all he asks for in return is that you dispose of an invading horde of thieving monsters. Trouble is - you’re not the only one he asked. Contend with up to three friends as you navigate playfields littered with challenges, monsters to defeat, and rare secrets to unlock. Warning: Relationship counseling not included.    

Dokapon Kingdom is currently scheduled for release on October 14th, 2008.    

Visit the official Dokapon Kingdom website:   http://www.atlus.com/dokapon    

About Dokapon Kingdom  

 The Kingdom of Dokapon is a land of wealth and riches ruled by a gold-loving King and his daughter Princess Penny. One day, monsters begin appearing all over the realm, assaulting the towns and stealing all of the empire’s wealth. The King, unable to collect taxes from his impoverished citizens, calls for heroes from across the land to come and rid his monarchy of these monsters. The prize for the hero who is able to free the land: The hand of Princess Penny and rule of the Kingdom itself!    

Key Features  

 - Innovative board game-RPG crossover – Tired of shallow gameplay in party games? The genre gets retooled in this exuberant mix of role playing and board games! Encounter zany characters, collect rare items, and explore a fascinating kingdom on your quest to vanquish monsters, gather treasure, and level up!
 - The friendship-destroying game – Turn the heat up on your rivalries! Take on up to three other soon-to-be-ex-friends in the race for Princess Penny and the crown. Battle, steal, deface – playing dirty is the name of the game – through a variety of locales and challenges. After your friendships are broken, the game is just as much fun to play alone.
  - Never the same game twice – Tons of battles, magic spells, mini-games, and multiple play modes add up to endless replayability!
 - Easy, intuitive, and effective combat system – This is no boring game of hack-and-slash. Players covertly choose their actions in an intuitive battle interface that guarantees every fight will surprise.  

 Dokapon Kingdom has not yet been rated by the ESRB.

[Kairon]

This sounds... so awesome...

You know, I really hope that for Atlus' sake Nintendo doesn't announce Mario Party 9 at E3.

[NWR_Neal]

Atlus continues to make nifty games in a world that doesn't seem to appreciate them. This might be the kick in the ass that Mario Party needs to evolve. Too bad it'll probably sell awfully and we'll never hear of it again .
Even still, it's been a year without a Mario Party, I'm sure we'll see it in some form soon.

[ReverendNoahWhateley]

I will buy this.  It brings to mind the old boardgame Talisman (which was very fun).

EDIT: IF it's nothing like Culdcept Saga for the 360.  I'm a card-flopping, 4-sided-die-rolling dork, and that game was too plodding even for me.

[redgiemental]

New hands on impressions over at IGN really brought this game to my attention. I think I shall be getting this and whipping it everytime I have friends over.

http://uk.wii.ign.com/articles/898/898979p3.html

[Flames_of_chaos]

Even though it does not use any motion or pointer features Wii version is the lead SKU with 480p and widescreen. Both versions are 39.99

Dokapon Kingdom doesn't have IR support, it doesn't support waggle, and it's nearly identical to the soon-to-be-released PS2 game, shipping in mid-October right along the Wii version. With only 480p and 16:9 support to make the Wii version the lead SKU


...So you've got random fights, which lead to items, cash, and experience. When in battle, you've got four main options, including an attack, your magic, or a huge skill...The starting fighter is decided with a random card draw at the beginning of the game. Once the fight is over, you'll gain your reward, the enemy (if random) will simply die, or, if it's another player, will be at the mercy of you. You can either rob them, forgive them, or mock them, adding silly haircuts, changing their name, or screwing with their character's face. Classic.


Where Dokapon really gets deep though, is in all of its random RPG-inspired ideas and random happenings. For example, if you die, you may encounter an angel that'll revive you instantly at Dokapon Castle for a certain price. In one of our videos included with this hands-on, you can see someone hiring a thief to steal equipment (extremely valuable in the game) from other players, or hire a futuristic robot to seek them out.


It goes even deeper though. Say you go into a shop, buy some new items...and want to rob the place. You can, but you risk losing, and being on a wanted list, where players get a huge bounty for killing you within seven turns of your failure. Instead...buying a disguise at a previous shop, and then rob another one dressed as another player in the game. If you win, amazing items are yours to keep. If you lose, it's not your face on that wanted poster -- it's your "friend's" instead. Genius.


We're still early on with the game, but already it's obvious that for hardcore gamers, Dokapon Kingdom is a must-play. It's quirky, and we have no idea if it'll sell, but it's fun.

Sounds like mario party except smothered in awesome and win sauce.