It’s Pokémon vs. Pokémon as players take direct control of Pokémon fighters like Pikachu, Charizard and Lucario to battle it out (and look so cute in beautiful HD!) in the Pokkén Tournament game, now available for the Wii U. Developed in collaboration with BANDAI NAMCO, the creators of the Tekken fighting series, Pokkén Tournament employs multiple move sets and abilities for each character, offering hard-core fighting game fans and people new to the genre the chance to master the game.
“Pokkén Tournament will appeal to Pokémon fans, fighting game players and even casual gamers looking for an action-packed game,” said Pierre-Paul Trepanier of Nintendo. “It’s another example of the unique experiences players can only get on Nintendo systems.”
We’ve been told that each Pokémon in the game – 16 total fighters in all – possesses unique moves (composed of weak, strong and special attacks) that are specific to that character. Pikachu, for example, can use Thunder, which strikes down opponents with a bolt of electricity, while Lucario unleashes his patented Aura Sphere, enveloping fighters in energy.
In addition to the main 16 playable Pokémon, 30 additional Pokémon can apparently be called upon to support the player in battle. These support Pokémon include some beloved characters like Diglett and Magneton, and can turn the tide of battle by temporarily helping when called.
In the game’s single-player mode, players can level up a Pokémon’s stats like Attack and Defense as they battle other fighters in various leagues. Players can even personalize their trainer card with their preferred Pokémon fighter, customized clothing for their avatar and an online greeting. This online greeting will be used when battling other Pokkén Tournament players in the game’s online mode.
In addition to playing online, we are told that players can battle friends and family members in local multiplayer matches. When playing local multiplayer, one player plays on the Wii U GamePad controller, while the other uses the TV screen and either a Wii U Pro Controller, Classic Controller or the Pokkén controller (sold separately).
And good news if you are an Amiibo fan – Pokkén Tournament also includes amiibo support. Tapping any amiibo figure or card (sold separately) will unlock items in the game. As a bonus, players who purchase the physical version of the game at launch will receive a Shadow Mewtwo amiibo card bundled with the game. When used, this special card instantly unlocks Shadow Mewtwo as a playable character.
Pokkén Tournament is now available at $74.99, and can be purchased in stores, in the Nintendo eShop on Wii U and at Nintendo.com. For more information about the game, visit the official webpage here.
If you are a Pokémon fan and missed it, a key figure in the franchise passed away in a freak accident – check out the full story here.
SOURCE: Press Release