Nintendo dropped a Pokébomb this morning, with news including confirmation that Pokémon X and Pokémon Y are set in the new region of Kalos, whose capital Lumiose City boasts an awfully Eiffel-ish tower. The publisher lifted the wraps off another four new Pokémon, with the most exciting being the ridable Gogoat. It's a goat which goes.
Since the first Skylanders debuted, we've been wondering when Nintendo would apply that approach to Pokemon. It just seems so obvious. Now with the third Skylanders and Disney Infinity on the way, it seems Nintendo is finally jumping into the figure-collecting pool with Pokemon Scramble U. But its approach is slightly different than its competition.
There are 646 Pokemon (and rising). Yet, Pikachu has managed to maintain its star status over the years, even as new pocket monsters vie for popularity.
Pikachu will be the star of an upcoming limited edition 3DS XL. The "Pikachu Edition" system will be available on March 24th, featuring a bold yellow color and the "familiar outline" of the iconic mascot. Packaged with a 4GB SD card, the system will be available for $199.99, the price of a standard 3DS XL.
Nintendo has teased multiplayer for Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Gates to Infinity before, but kept quiet about it until today. It'll only be local, but up to four folks can join together to crawl through dungeons, gathering items and experience that carry over to the single-player campaign. Nintendo also announced a slate of DLC, starting with a new dungeon available for free at launch.
Nintendo's catch-'em-all series Pokémon is finally making the jump from the DS generation of hardware to the not-quite-so-shiny-and-new-anymore Nintendo 3DS, president Satoru Iwata announced during today's Nintendo Direct presentation. Pokémon X and Pokémon Y boast a new story, new Pokémon to poach, and new camera perspectives.
Just about everyone has at least tried out the main Pokemon series, which has its roots in traditional old-school RPGs. You may not have tried out its rogue-like spin-off, the Mystery Dungeon series. The fourth installment, or sixth if you count the pairs separately, is coming to the 3DS on March 24.
You know how it goes. You're waiting in line at the bank, and before you know it you're embroiled in a vicious argument with another patron over what level the Pokemon Dratini evolves into Dragonair. He insists it's level 28, and he's clearly out of his mind. But without your trusty DS in hand, how could you solve this common, everyday dispute?
Just in time for the launch of Pokemon Black & White 2, animal activist group PETA has released a parody game called Pokemon Black & Blue.
The organization claims that the animal-on-animal fighting gameplay central to the Pokemon series teaches children the wrong message on how animals should be treated. "The difference between real life and this fictional world full of organized animal fighting is that Pokemon games paint rosy pictures of things that are actually horrible."
Pokemon games tend to thrive on minor iteration. Through its long history, each game has added just a handful of new features. Even as an adult, I've been excited to try out each new game. I've been eager to pick my starter Pokemon and begin exploring, catching new monsters, and engaging in battles. I say all this to point out the sad truth: Black 2 is the first time I've felt so utterly fatigued with Pokemon.
Many lifelong Pokemon fans have been frustrated to see their beloved monster-collecting franchise never make the jump into a proper console adventure. With the impending launch of Pokemon Black & White Version 2 for Nintendo DS, one has to wonder: why hasn't developer Game Freak pursued making a 3D adventure?
Producer Junichi Masuda said that moving to 3D would make the franchise lose its distinct flavor. "The feeling and the control of the character is also very important to us. There is definitely a certain feeling you have when you control these 2D characters. It may be different if we switched over to 3D," he said.
Read more: Pokemon team wants game to 'look like an animation' »
Like their predecessors, Pokemon Black 2 and White 2 will feature a rare Pokemon for early purchasers. If you connect through to Nintendo WiFi sometime within roughly a month of the game's launch, you can get your hands on the mythical Genesect. The Bug and Steel type has its own signature move, the Techno Blast.
Pokémaniacs, get your calendars out and draw a big circle around October 7. That's the day revamped Poké 'em ups Pokémon Black Version 2 and Pokémon White Version 2 will launch for DS, Nintendo announced today, as well as 3DS augmented reality tie-in Pokémon Dream Radar.
Two downloadable 3DS Pokemon applications recently announced in Japan are making the trek to North America, Nintendo has announced. The Pokemon Dream Radar and Pokedex 3D Pro, announced in Japan as the Pokemon AR Searcher and Pokemon Zengoku Zukan Pro, are coming this fall to the 3DS.
Read more: Radar transfers to B&W2, Pokedex includes all 600 »
Pokemon is already getting a strategy title and numbered sequels on the DS, but its representation on Nintendo's newest platform, the 3DS, has been pretty low. In an online media announcement, the company announced two new half-steps for Japan, which may be enough to hold back demand for a full game a while longer.
Pokemon Black 2 and White 2 carry the dubious distinction of being the first main series Pokemon games to carry a numbered sequel. The announcement even called them "Version 2," so it's fair to wonder how much new content will be included. Some new details from a Japanese magazine shed more light on that subject.
"The tower bears some resemblance to the Tokyo Skytree as well. Go figure!"
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