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[L~A]

Edit: oops, should've mentionned it's for EU/NA release, not the games themselves (aka: they're not involved with YW3 or YWB development).

This was announced today during the Level-5 Vision Event. They didn't announce any exact date, though Hasbro did mention the toys would be launched in 2016 in NA (no change here). While the tweet below if from Nintendo of Europe, the announcement was for both EU and NA.

YO-KAI WATCH is on its way to European shores for Nintendo #3DS!

After selling millions and being a cultural phenomenon in Japan, the Nintendo 3DS family of systems role-playing game YO-KAI WATCH is coming to the United States. Published by Nintendo, YO-KAI WATCH centers on a boy who gets a special watch that lets him befriend and help mischievous Yo-kai* and later summon them to fight other Yo-kai. Players can overcome challenges and help various characters solve everyday problems with the help of Yo-kai friends. These eccentric Yo-kai resemble anything from inanimate objects to mythical creatures.

After the 2013 launch in Japan, the Nintendo 3DS game became a top seller and was well-received by both critics and players. Along with the anime and manga, the YO-KAI WATCH phenomenon evoked wide-spread popularity and demand for the brand among children.

“With sales of more than 7 million units in Japan, YO-KAI WATCH is coming to the U.S., where a new audience will be able to experience this irresistible franchise for the first time,” said Scott Moffitt, Nintendo of America’s executive vice president of Sales & Marketing. “It doesn’t matter if you’re a kid, parent, fan or fan-in-the-making: Everyone will be won over by this charming game.”

YO-KAI WATCH is launching in the United States, Latin America, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and Korea, demonstrating its global demand and appeal. Beyond video games, manga and anime television shows, YO-KAI WATCH has generated more than $1 billion in retail sales of toys and other merchandise in Japan, not counting games, music or publishing.

Remember that Nintendo 3DS features parental controls that let adults manage the content their children can access. For more information about this and other features, visit http://www.nintendo.com/3ds.

*Yo-kai: They are not ghosts, monsters or creatures. Yo-kai are, quite simply, Yo-kai. They cannot be seen by the human eye, but they are everywhere. Whether born from the soul of a deceased human, or an everyday object discovering its higher purpose, their personalities are distinctly humanlike.

Source

 

[TheSlySoul]

Oh man, this is going to be EU exclusive isn't it?
Glad I have a PAL N3DS then!

Edit: Timed exclusive it seems. 2015 for EU and 2016 for NA I guess?

 

[L~A]

Oh man, this is going to be EU exclusive isn't it?
Glad I have a PAL N3DS then!

No, EU and NA. And where's the timed exclusive from?

 

[TheSlySoul]

No, EU and NA.

Yeah, I missed out on the Hasbro statement. 2016 for NA is interesting.

 

[SpacePirate Ridley]

NoE doing good. Also this has a tv series right? More episodes for their marketing anime channel.
Edit, and also america it seems.

 

[jj984jj]

Why didn't they start with 2? Doesn't it have the same location and expand/improve on a lot? Is it story sensitive or something?

 

[Ragus]

I don't like the artstyle but I heard the games are ok.

 

[Bots are better than you]

Oh man, this is going to be EU exclusive isn't it?
Glad I have a PAL N3DS then!

Edit: Timed exclusive it seems. 2015 for EU and 2016 for NA I guess?

Why would Nintendo make a timed exclusive for one of its own published games, just by region?

I guess i won't be simultaneous, and i hope it won't be a "SMT 4 US -> EU" timeframe, but i think they launch rather close together.

 

[L~A]

Added the PR to the OP.

 

[ShogunDarius]

Why would Nintendo make a timed exclusive for one of its own published games, just by region?

I guess i won't be simultaneous, and i hope it won't be a "SMT 4 US -> EU" timeframe, but i think they launch rather close together.

not that I expect it to happen with this, but Inazuma Eleven comes to mind, which is also a Level 5 game, although i'm not sure why the US didnt get the first game until many years after the EU release, or that the UK didnt get that re release

 

[TheSlySoul]

Why would Nintendo make a timed exclusive for one of its own published games, just by region?

No clue. I figured NoE tweeted it because it was coming out sometime this year. The game may still come out in December 2015 here and the toys in January 2016 which would make Hasbro right.

 

[Aostia]

I hope the first game will arrive in 2015, tbh. Hasbor toys lineup for Spring could not be against my statement, because it happens that tv cartoons and videogame hit the market before the toy lineup.

 

[May16]

Why didn't they start with 2? Doesn't it have the same location and expand/improve on a lot? Is it story sensitive or something?

They can get your money more times.

 

[Currygan]

bueno...excellente

 

[Choomp]

Excited to see how this turns out. Love me some Level 5 and this game's always looked fun to me.

 

[Busaiku]

Starting off with the 1st game seems like a mistake.

 

[Somnid]

Smart, very smart. Nintendo is well positioned and has to ability to turn these sort of japanese franchises into a global hit. Nintendo themselves should have strong reason to care about Yokai Watch's success as well.

 

[Bots are better than you]

not that I expect it to happen with this, but Inazuma Eleven comes to mind, which is also a Level 5 game, although i'm not sure why the US didnt get the first game until many years after the EU release, or that the UK didnt get that re release

... Yeah ok ... fair enough. I forgot to take that into account. But the reasoning here can be the fact that Football/Soccer is insanely more popular over here in EU.

Yo-Kai Watch does not have a sport-background and carters the pokemon fans, there should be enough in both EU and US.

 

[Xion_Stellar]

Meh Pokemon,Monster Rancher,Digimon,some Yu-Gi-Oh! titles and Dragon Quest gets a pass from me out of nostalgia but I don't see my self picking up Yo-Kai Watch or any other Monster Collecting game at this point and looking at some of the monster designs I have to wonder if some of them will be cut.

 

[Zalman]

Great move for Nintendo.

 

[Benzychenz]

Been interested to try this out for a while.

Day 1.

 

[Forkball]

Why didn't they start with 2? Doesn't it have the same location and expand/improve on a lot? Is it story sensitive or something?

YW2 takes place in the same city as YW1, but it's expanded and there are other towns. The story is completely different, but easy to understand. You don't need to play the first game to really comprehend what's happening in the second game. I haven't played the first title, but I loved the second one and I imagine the first game is not as content rich. Maybe they are doing the "expansions" to YW3 in order for the US to catch up. That way when YW3 hits the states, it can be sort of like an "ultimate" edition.

 

[WonderzL]

I hope this is good! I want a relaxing game to play on the 3DS.

 

[Tizoc]

Oh we're not getting 3?

Ah well they want to squeeze my wallet for all 3 games that's fine, not like I buy many 3DS games these days anyways

 

[Koppai]

Yassss! Nintendo publishing means it will get a big push and will try to become the next Pokémon.

 

[Furfuryl Furforate]

Japanese kids are messed up..

Give them fantastical pets and the first thing they come up with is to have them beat the shit out of each other.

On topic. Any contender to Pokemon is very welcome, just so Gamefreaks have to steü it up for once.

 

[jj984jj]

YW2 takes place in the same city as YW1, but it's expanded and there are other towns. The story is completely different, but easy to understand. You don't need to play the first game to really comprehend what's happening in the second game. I haven't played the first title, but I loved the second one and I imagine the first game is not as content rich. Maybe they are doing the "expansions" to YW3 in order for the US to catch up. That way when YW3 hits the states, it can be sort of like an "ultimate" edition.

Oh so it's still easy to pick things up from the second game? Nice, I guess I'll wait and see when we get that then.

 

[Cbajd5]

So wait, Viz is releasing the manga in September 2015 and then everything else will be out in 2016? Although the same Viz PR says that the anime and toys should be coordinated around the same time, so I'm still confused especially in regards to the game.

 

[FourMyle]

I don't like the artstyle but I heard the games are ok.

I actually really enjoy the art style and the monster designs but that combat system is seriously one of the most boring I've seen in a while. They announced a new game called Youkai Battle something on the stream and that looked better.

 

[TheSlySoul]

So wait, Viz is releasing the manga in September 2015 and then everything else will be out in 2016? Although the same Viz PR says that the anime and toys should be coordinated around the same time, so I'm still confused especially in regards to the game.

Manga - September 15
Anime - Fall 15
Game - Late 15/Early 16
Toys - Early 16

Yeah it is an odd schedule...

 

[Deleted member 125677]

Does this game play like a Pokemon game? I'm kinda interested to find out what the fuzz is about

 

[18-Volt]

2016? That leaves fall 2015 with no 3DS game at all! Nintendo has to do something.

 

[Mr-Joker]

I kinda hope that the game releases in 2015 as Pokémon Z will be release in 2016 and my focus will be on that.

 

[Jpop]

2016? That leaves fall 2015 with no 3DS game at all! Nintendo has to do something.

Maybe we have E3 soon...

 

[Forkball]

Does this game play like a Pokemon game? I'm kinda interested to find out what the fuzz is about

It's more similar to Dragon Quest Monsters. You have three active youkai in a single battle and fight up to three other youkai. The youkai don't have four selectable moves like in Pokemon either. Youkai have their basic attack, some passive ability, and a special attack. They automatically do their basic and passives, but you have to play a short minigame to initiate their special attack. It seems very hands off, but you really have to focus on timing your specials and shifting your youkai in the tougher battles. There are elemental attacks, but its not as important as in Pokemon.

The anime is also quite different. Pokemon is more of an action/adventure show, but Youkai Watch is a comedy. The anime is a huge reason why it's so popular. The series really didn't take off until the anime came out.

 

[sixteen-bit]

dat Treehouse quality

 

[Exterminieren]

I remain highly doubtful that Yo-Kai Watch is poised to be a notable success in the West, but Nintendo is certainly the company to partner with if you want to try.

 

[Mr-Joker]

It's more similar to Dragon Quest Monsters. You have three active youkai in a single battle and fight up to three other youkai. The youkai don't have four selectable moves like in Pokemon either. Youkai have their basic attack, some passive ability, and a special attack. They automatically do their basic and passives, but you have to play a short minigame to initiate their special attack. It seems very hands off, but you really have to focus on timing your specials and shifting your youkai in the tougher battles. There are elemental attacks, but its not as important as in Pokemon.

Okay you kinda put me off Yo-Kai Watch if the battles are like that. :|

 

[ShogunDarius]

dat Treehouse quality

I highly expect Yo-kai to feature during Treehouse this year now that you mention it

 

[GeekyDad]

About farking time, jeez.

 

[Beartruck]

Yesssss. I was this close to breaking down and importing this. Now I can get it without modding my 3ds and I can still support the dev. Good move Nintendo.

 

[Qurupeke]

The title should be about the localization news.

Great news anyway! About time!

 

[ShikabaneHime13]

First game is being localized because it follows the anime storywise and original toy line. YW 2, introduced the Z model Yokai Watch and a differnt storyline more closely related to the movie. YW 3 seems to take on a different setting due to the first 2 games taking place in the same town (and they may want to expand upon the monsters in the game) so that the series doesn't grow stale

 

[Vertti]

I've heard about Yokai Watch but never understood what kind of game it is. Could somebody please explain?

 

[Velcro Fly]

Going to be so pissed when it's Bravely Default all over again and I have to wait two whole months for the game. Come on NoA just this once don't fuck us over.

 

[Aostia]

Manga - September 15
Anime - Fall 15
Game - Late 15/Early 16
Toys - Early 16

Yeah it is an odd schedule...

Well, toy lineups usually hit the market after the TV Cartoon/series have build the brand awarness.
Releasing the manga slighlty before probably is simply due to easiness of the distribution channel compared to the TV airing.

 

[Forkball]

Okay you kinda put me off Yo-Kai Watch if the battles are like that. :|

Yeah I can see a lot of people not liking the battle system. The game is pretty easy, so people might become very bored if the battles aren't challenging. However, you can really see the highs of the battle system if you play online where the rules are more strict (like a switch timer). The battles are real time, so in tougher battles, you have to be really on your toes to make sure everything goes perfectly. YW2 also has a ton of post-game content with extremely challenging foes. In a post-game dungeon, an enemy killed my team that I beat the final boss with in two hits.

The enjoyment of the game really comes from its emphasis on exploration, the different ways you can acquire youkai, the entertaining story, and the large amount of content. There's a ton of stuff to do, see, and collect.

 

[Hero of Legend]

.

 

[-Horizon-]

Finally time to see what all the hubbub is about.

 

[Kouriozan]

Hopefully Nintendo/Level-5 is finishing Inazuma Eleven GO Galaxy so they can be full on board with Yo-kai Watch.