The release of Pokkén Tournament is nearly here, with the game hitting store shelves in North America this Friday. This finally brings the high-definition game play and over-the-top action to never-before-seen battles between some of the most recognizable Pokémon characters.
Pokkén Tournament is of course a collaboration between The Pokémon Company and BANDAI Namco Entertainment Inc. The game is a new fighting game for Wii U that lets players use their favorite Pokémon characters to battle it out in fighting arenas. This looks and feels like a combination of the turn-based battles fans will recognize from the role-playing series with what can be typically seen from the anime series.
Pokkén Tournament is the Ferrum region. Due to the effects of mysterious stones called Synergy Stones, humans and Pokémon are connected in the world of the Ferrum region. In the game’s Ferrum League mode, you’ll take on the role of the main character, with aims to reach the pinnacle of the Ferrum League. As you win your way through the Ferrum league, the number of support Pokémon available and the number of selectable stages will increase.
In these battles, it isn’t the Pokémon’s type match-ups or levels that are tested, but the strength of the Synergy between the player and their Pokémon!
The mysterious Pokémon Shadow Mewtwo will appear before you if you can win your way through the Ferrum League! Those who purchase a first-run version of the game at retail stores will receive a limited-edition Shadow Mewtwo amiibo card that immediately unlocks the character in the game after tapping it to the Wii U GamePad controller.
There are quite a few playable Pokémon to choose from in the game, though if you’re looking to fight as all of the 700+ Pokémon you’ll need to scale that back just a bit.
You can play as Pikachu Libre, Machamp, Lucario, Gengar, Gardevoir, Garchomp,
Charizard, Shadow Mewtwo, Chandelure, Braixen, Blaziken, Mewtwo, Pikachu, Weavile, Sceptile, and Suicune.
The game also has eight pairs of support Pokémon to help you out in battles, including Emolga + Fennekin, Snivy + Lapras, Frogadier + Eevee, Mismagius + Ninetales, Jirachi + Whimsicott, Croagunk + Sylveon, Farfetch’d + Electrode, and Pachirisu + Magikarp.
It’s unknown at this point if there will be DLC fighters or any other DLC. And while the game is compatible with all amiibo accessories unlocking in-game items, what the extent of those isn’t known just yet.
We haven’t had a chance to get our hands on this one yet, but you can pick up your copy of Pokkén Tournament when it launches exclusively for the Nintendo Wii U this Friday, March 18th at a suggested retail price of $79.99 CAD.