卡普空 (CAPCOM) 是日本知名的電子遊戲開發與發行公司，其公司名取自Capsule（膠囊）與Computers（電腦）的開頭三個字母，不過，我猜很多人沒聽過這家公司，不過，只要提到這家公司所推出的經典遊戲，可能不少人都聽過，遊戲有快打旋風、魔物獵人、洛克人等名作，這些遊戲，可能是大家的童年回憶，至少，我小時候因為常和好友們玩街機，很多經典的街機遊戲是由卡普空所製作的，遊戲一開始時，有時候會打出 CAPCOM 字樣，如1942及快打旋風，所以，還算略有耳聞這家公司。
這家卡普空直營店大概半年多前，就正式開幕了，剛開幕時，不少粉絲紛紛去朝聖，那時候，每天一開門時，還需要排隊拿「整理券」入場，以控管人流，根據我對台灣人一窩蜂特性的了解，這種一頭熱持續不了太久，過了熱頭，就會降溫，所以，我很少會去湊這種熱鬧，這天，我是吃完午餐後，一看到一尊等同人高的《快打旋風6》主角龍（Ryu）大型立體雕像，我就知道，逛到卡普空直營店了，現在果然已經不需要拿「整理券」，就可以直接入場了。
門口的遊戲試玩區，有兩位外國人在試玩最新版的快打旋風，我駐足看了十來分鐘，遊戲的角色更精緻、更多元，角色的絕招也更炫酷、更華麗了，讓我忍不住手癢，很想下場玩個幾場，可是那兩位外國人玩瘋了，完全不想停手，我只好轉身，看看店內其它有趣的玩意，這家店因為位於台北這座城市，所以放入很多城市元素，如西門町紅樓或士林夜市等，需要仔細找找，才會發現這些小巧思。
此外，我覺得店內最值得買的是官方原創 Q 版絨毛趴娃，以卡普空旗下的經典遊戲角色， Q 版圓滾化為設計理念，而這些外型圓潤、短手短腳的可愛趴娃，真是人見人愛，不過，臉盲的我，要花很多時間，才能看的出來這些經典遊戲角色，一整面壯觀的 CAPCOROM 趴娃牆，也是很多人打卡拍照的好地點，下次，要挑禮物的話，倒是可以來這邊挑一隻可愛的趴娃。
CAPCOM is a well-known Japanese video game developer and publisher. The company’s name comes from the first three letters of “Capsule” and “Computers”. However, I guess many people might not be familiar with the company itself. But once you mention some of its classic games, chances are quite a few people will recognize them. Some of its most famous titles include Street Fighter, Monster Hunter, and Mega Man. These games may bring back childhood memories for many people. At least for me, since I used to spend quite a lot of time playing arcade games with my friends when I was young, I remember quite a few classic arcade games developed by CAPCOM. Sometimes, the word “CAPCOM” would appear on the screen when a game started, such as 1942 and Street Fighter. So, I was at least somewhat familiar with the company.
This official CAPCOM store opened a little over six months ago. When it first opened, plenty of fans rushed to check it out. In the early days, visitors even had to line up before opening time to get an entry ticket, known as a “numbered admission ticket” to control the crowds. Based on my understanding of how people in Taiwan tend to follow trends, I figured this kind of excitement wouldn't last forever. Once the initial hype died down, things would gradually return to normal. That's why I rarely join the crowds when a new place becomes popular. On this particular day, after having lunch, I happened to spot a life-size statue of Ryu, the main character from Street Fighter 6. That's when I realized I had stumbled upon the CAPCOM official store. Sure enough, there was no longer any need to get an admission ticket. I could simply walk right in.
At the gaming area near the entrance, two foreign visitors were busy trying out the latest version of Street Fighter. I stood there watching them play for about ten minutes. The characters looked much more detailed and diverse, while their special moves were flashier and more spectacular than ever. Watching them made me itch to grab a controller and play a few rounds myself. Unfortunately, those two guys were having way too much fun and showed no signs of stopping, so I had no choice but to move on and explore the other interesting items inside the store. Since the store is located in Taipei, I noticed that its interior design incorporates quite a few local city elements, such as the Red House in Ximending and Shilin Night Market. You have to look around carefully to discover these little details, which I thought was a nice touch.
Another thing I found particularly worth buying was the store's original collection of chibi-style plush toys. They feature classic characters from CAPCOM games, redesigned with a cute, rounded appearance. With their chubby bodies, tiny arms, and short legs, these adorable little plushies are simply hard to resist. However, since I'm not very good at recognizing characters, I would probably need quite some time to figure out who they actually are! There's also an impressive wall covered with CAPCOROM plush toys, making it a popular spot for visitors to take photos and check in on social media. Anyway, if I ever need to pick out a gift for someone, this might be a good place to visit. I could always find a cute little plushie and take one home!