One of my favorite games of all time is Dokapon Kingdom: sort of like Mario Party crossed with an RPG.  Billed as “the friendship destroying game,” it was released in 2008, and in the 12 years since, I’ve yet to introduce someone to it who hasn’t had a great time.  And given that it’s been so long, I never thought we’d see a sequel…I was wrong, and I can only imagine that’s another sign that the world’s ending.

Last week, Dokapon UP! was announced for the PS4 and Switch, with a release date of December 10th in Japan (no Western release date yet, but I’ll import this game if I have to).  For some reason, it’s a crossover title with Utawarerumono, a series I have virtually no knowledge of, but I’ll get acquainted, because I love Dokapon that much.  So to celebrate, I wanted to go with one of the words that game has taught me.

kiviak, noun –  a traditional food of the Inuits in Greenland, made from auks fermented in sealskin

Learned from:  Dokapon Kingdom (Playstation 2, Wii)

Developed by Sting

Published by Sting, Atlus (2008)

Dokapon Kingdom is a game about earning as much wealth as you an, while screwing everyone else over.  So, Monopoly, but actually fun.  And like Monopoly, wealth isn’t just measured by raw money; property plays a big role, but so do things like side quests, and favors to the king.  One of those types of favors is sending him food that you think he’d like–and the king hates kiviak.  As luck would have it though, you can send gifts in the name of another player, meaning you can offload all the unpalatable tripe you want, and tank someone else’s value in the king’s eyes.  The game is full of mechanics like that, but it’s all part of the fun.  It’s no exaggeration when I saw Dokapon UP! is one of my most anticipated games, because this series deserves to continue.

I have no idea who these characters from Utawarerumono are, but I’ll be spending the next few months learning.