Doki Doki 2 Release... Today!

31.07.2008 by Eva

If you feel your heart fluttering, there is probably good reason.

Unveiled at last year's Tokyo Game Show, today the sequel to internationally controversial SNK Playmore title Doki Doki Majou Shinpan, playfully referred to as the "witch touching game" in internet circles, will hit Japanese shelves. The DS title was ranked as the best pre-order seller by Amazon.com, and the sequel was offered in two different pre-order package varieties.

The story revolves around teenage protagonist Akuji, who is chosen by the angels to rid his high school of witches. Though the witches themselves might be oblivious to their plight, they can be identified by a rune that appears on their bodies though a series of "investigative" measures, which include touching them via the DS stylus. The sequel, entitled Doki Doki Majou Shinpan Duo, employs a similar game mechanic and will also feature some of the same characters, including the protagonist. For a preview of the doki-doki (a Japanese onomatopoeia for pounding of one's heart) action, features a promotional video of the game; one of the first utilizations its new flash media player.

Though the game received quite a bit of criticism from international gamers and gaming magazines, the release of the first Doki Doki title did not spark much controversy at home. There is even speculation that the original title was planned for international release, due to the English, Chinese, and Korean versions of the game's homepage. These ideas were perhaps scrapped due to negative international reception, mainly founded upon speculation, but the release of this second title once again verifies its strong national fan base.