Konnichiwa minna-san (everyone)!👋
In Nippon Marathon 2: Daijoubu, you’re not just racing… You’re also competing in a Japanese gameshow, and the audience is watching your every move.
Sure, winning the race is great.
But if you really want to stand on top of the podium, you'll need to win over the crowd too.
That’s because the audience doesn’t just cheer - they score you too!
Win them over, and you'll increase your Popularity — one of the game’s key scoring mechanics, and often the difference between victory and defeat.
🧑🤝🧑Popularity Explained
Every stage in Nippon Marathon 2 is lined with spectators. They may not look judgmental, but trust us - they are.
They know what they like.
They definitely know what they don’t.
And they’re not afraid to show it.
We didn’t just add the popularity system for laughs; it’s a strategic layer that can boost your final score, even if you don’t finish first, your popularity could even push your score over the top.
Here’s how to win them over:
👋 Wave To Your Fans [NEW FEATURE]
The crowd loves watching the chaos unfold - but they really love it when you acknowledge them.
Wave to the crowd as you run by for an instant popularity boost.
Want more? Stop and wave right next to them like a true icon.
⚠️Caution: While waving, you can’t use items, so you're vulnerable to attacks
🌎 Interact with the World Around You
The crowd is here to be entertained, and they’re especially partial to slapstick comedy. So remember to give them a show.
Set off fire hydrants to hose down the competition.
Use banana peels and heat-seeking melons to trip or blast your opponents into oblivion.
Drop smelly mushrooms near crowds for others to pick up - they’ll lose popularity from the mushroom cloud they leave.
⚠️ Caution: Chaos is fun, but watch that your actions don’t backfire. If a spectator gets caught up in the action, they’ll blame the nearest contestant and deduct popularity. Make sure that’s not you.
🐕 Be Chased by Shiba Inu
The crowd loves watching contestants be chased by Shiba Inu.
The more Shiba Inu you get chasing you, the bigger the popularity boost you’ll receive.
⚠️ Caution: Don’t slow down, if they catch you, they’ll bite, knock you over, and maybe even get you eliminated.
😬 DO NOT Knock Over the Crowd
Sometimes you can find a shortcut through the crowd… but tread carefully.
Knocking them over makes them sad, and sad crowds tank your popularity.
Sure, they fall over like bowling pins, and yes, it is hilarious.
But the audience won’t find it amusing.
⚠️ Caution: Tempted to do it anyway? We get it. Just be ready to take the popularity loss.
🔄 Bonus Tactics: Blame Swapping
The crowd always blames the nearest contestant when things go wrong. Use that to your advantage.
Launch a well-timed, heat-seeking melon into the crowd when your rival is close by.
The explosion hits the crowd, they’ll assume your rival did it.
You stay squeaky clean. They take the heat.
A classic switcheroo.
⚠️ Caution: Just remember, your rivals can do it to you too.
❤️🔥 Even If You Lose the Race…
Master these moves and the crowd might crown you their favourite, and that just might tip the final score in your favour.
This is just an overview of the popularity system; we’re continually improving it during development to include as many wild, weird, and wonderful scenarios as we can think of.
For now, just focus on learning what the crowd loves (and hates).
Because in Nippon Marathon 2: Daijoubu, the popular vote might be your secret weapon.
🎤 Wait… Where Are the Mid-Race Interviews?
Remember the mid-race interviews with everyone's favourite green haired journalist (me... Wedy Jones) from the original game?
They’re not in the game yet, but we are hoping to bring them back during the Early Access period.
🛒 Help Nippon Marathon 2 Win Over Steam Crowd
Help make Nippon Marathon 2: Daijoubu the crowd favourite - both in the game and on Steam.
👏 Wave to the crowd in-game = popularity boost.
💖 Wishlist the game on Steam = bonus points with the devs.
You know what to do 👉
🔜 Coming Up Next: Meet the Contestants
In a marathon where getting chased by Shiba Inu earns cheers, and mushrooms are your worst enemy: what kind of bizarre athlete signs up for this madness?
Next time, we’re pulling back the curtain on the wonderfully weird line-up of Nippon Marathon 2: Daijoubu, and teasing some of the new (and downright ridiculous) contestants joining the race during Early Access.
Get ready to meet the stars… Will your favourite return for round 2?
Stay Daijoubu,
Wedy Jones