Dokapon Kingdom: Connect Review (Memento Crepo)
------ Remote Play Together works on all platforms with no issues whatsoever. -----------------
It works even on Linux with no problems. If you have any problems using Remote Play Together on Linux with DK:C, it's because you don't know how to use Linux.
Also, there have been some graphical changes to Connect. Some have called this censorship. As a leotard, stocking, and tube top enjoyer, I call it titillation.
Now with that unpleasantness out of the way,
This game is a very solid port of the traditional Dokapon Kingdom, brought to Steam and given a matchmaking service for online play. That being said, this is a combination of a board game and a RPG rolled together. If you like, imagine Monopoly meets Dragon Quest. This means that if you're going to play a story game, you will tank a LOT of hours and days into a full story campaign playthrough. As such, you're not very likely to just find a group of random players out of the blue for the full campaign without first off setting up a board game session with your friends outside of DK:C's matchmaking service itself.
If you don't have any friends to play with, single player is still a fun option and you can even control all four players just by yourself if you don't want the AI to do that (Sneaky AI just shamelessly cheats), but I'd recommend joining the "Dokapon Server" discord... er. Server. There's usually people willing to either Remote Play Together if you don't own it, or to schedule a long campaign together. The discord's been active before Connect came out to help people do longterm playthroughs online, so it's probably your best bet for finding a player or three if you don't already know anyone. Please observe and follow server rules as you join.
When you go to fire up a game, there's three modes:
Story Mode: Long-term RPG campaign mode. The game is broken down into a series of chapters and plays out a lighthearted story that doesn't take itself too seriously. Each chapter has you taking out usually 3 boss monsters that take over a random city in a continent, then the goal of the chapter makes itself known. All while this is going on, mayhem generally ensues even if players don't attack each other due to random events.
Normal Mode: There's no "chapters", no story, and you play for as many weeks as you like. This means there's no border guards to keep you in check, you can happily wander into a level 50 area at level 1 if you really want. This mode makes for a nice one-off session with friends that you can start and have a clear winner for the whole game by the night's end.
Battle Royale: Three usually short game modes that challenge your knowledge of Dokapon. Players get to pick their starting level.
Town Race - One town gets picked at random. The first player that liberates this town wins the game. Usually a short game, but if the king picks an endgame town, good luck.
Kill Race - PVP match. First player to score a random number of kills on players wins. Given how lethal the combat is, this tends to be the fastest game mode.
Shopping Race - The king demands a random item. The first to get it to the king wins. Like town race, if you start at a low level, this can take some time if the king picks something incredibly off the beaten path. There's shops in ridiculously dangerous locales with equally ludicrous prices. Good luck.
Pick what mode suits the free time of you and your friends.
Complete any of the above modes and you'll unlock the Gallery. This is your "100% the game" option. Anything any player in the game acquires, be it local items, gear, hairstyles, jobs, or monsters fought? All of it will get logged here for you to view the full details of, usually with a little lore blurb. If you're a completionist, there's a LOT for you to unlock here that will keep you busy for hundreds of hours of gameplay. And the more friends you play with, the faster you'll unlock this all. There's no steam achievements for 100% gallery, but you have steam achievements to defeat Comacho, and the robo-assassin, so the one helps the other. If you know what those names mean? I'm so sorry.
You may notice I haven't described any of the combat and RPG mechanics in the game yet. It's turn-based and who goes first is done via a card shuffle. You pick one of four defensive options on defense, and one of four offensive options on offense. No, I won't explain anything more than this. It'd be like explaining how to break a REALLY good Dragon Quest game's class, combat and leveling system right out of the gate. It's amazing fun to figure this out with your friends and I refuse to cheat you of that joy.
Closing thoughts. Due to the RPG nature of the game, the Gallery mode, Steam achievements, Remote Play Together, and ability to have an infinite number of save files as I have SSD space, the game is easily worth the $50 asking price even as a single player game. I will admit - begrudgingly - that this is still just old Dokapon Kingdom with no new gameplay added in and a $30 asking price would have been more sensible, but counterpoint - the game is 100% free if a friend or even total stranger wants to Remote Play Together with you and owns the game. You'll even be helping them with their gallery collection and steam achievements too. Win-Win. At the very least, wishlist the game. If you see it on sale for $30 or less, this is a must-buy. If you're a streamer, this is an insanely good party game to play for your audience.