Monday, January 21, 2013

I'm really liking the looks of Level-5's Pokémon-esque 3DS game, Youkai Watch, which of course means it ain't coming to North America

I wish I weren't as cynical as I am when it comes to the localization prospects of the Pokémon-esque RPG that is Youkai Watch, but it's hard not to be a bit of a grump when you consider how many great-looking 3DS titles have been Japan-only affairs thus far. (Yes, I'm looking at you Bravely Default, Fantasy Life, Labyrinth no Kanata and Taiko no Tatsujin: Chibi Dragon to Fushigina Orb, among others.)

Still, I'm crossing my fingers and toes in the hopes that my negative prediction is proven wrong, as it looks pretty darn awesome to these (horribly nearsighted) eyes.



I'm especially intrigued by Youkai Watch's weirdo "battle wheel," which can be spotted at the 42-second mark in the trailer above (and here).

Ol' Level-5 is really hitting it out of the park these days when it comes to the 3DS, isn't it? Not too long ago the company found a surprising amount of success with its Animal Crossing wannabe, Fantasy Life (which I've heard is pretty stellar, by the way), and now it's looking to capture a smidge of the Pokémon crowd with the still-without-a-release-date Youkai Watch.
Posted by Bryan Ochalla
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24 comments:

Justin Difazzio said...

That battle wheel opens the floor up for some very interesting strategizing. I like it!

8:28 AM
thegaygamer.com said...

Yeah, I really like it when companies try to do something new with RPG mechanics. Sure, it may not end up being enjoyable in the end, but at least they tried. I do hope that this one ends up being enjoyable, though--and ends up being brought to the US, of course.

8:38 AM
Kimimi said...

I can't wait for my Jp 3DS to arrive, this is exactly the sort of thing I bought it for! :D

8:44 AM
Sonji Goodman said...

This looks to be ten shades of awesomeness that needs to be in my 3DS. Like right now. And I want to snuggle that Neko-chan :3 I'll keep my toes and fingers crossed, too!

8:55 AM
alan cavazos said...

to me it looks more like a dragon quest mosters-esque game :P

9:23 AM
thegaygamer.com said...

I can't remember if you've said, Kimimi, but which kind of 3DS did you buy? Did you buy the original model or an LL? Also, which color? And did you buy any games alongside the system?

9:24 AM
thegaygamer.com said...

Ha ha! I like the way you think, Sonji. I need this 10 shades of awesomeness in my 3DS now, too :) Anyway, thanks for the comment and for keeping your fingers and toes crossed, too!

9:25 AM
thegaygamer.com said...

That works for me, too, Alan! I only said Pokemon-esque because that's how lots of folks on line have been describing it. Regardless, I want it!

9:26 AM
Kimimi said...

I went for a cobalt blue standard one in the end, and a copy of the Project X Zone LE to start with. Got my eye on a few more games too, but I don't have the cash!

10:40 AM
thegaygamer.com said...

Ah, the cobalt one is nice! Or at least it looks that way in photos I've seen of it :) Anyway, can't wait to hear what you think of the system and of Project X Zone.

10:53 AM
Kimimi said...

I'll let you know as soon as it's all here :)

11:01 AM
Javadoze the swift said...

Definitely loving the unique battle wheel mechanic for seamlessly switching out your party members. The folktale monster/ghost/thing designs are definitely no slouch either, e.g. the tofu and kappa creatures. As for its chances in America, I wouldn't give up on it just yet: Nintendo might localize it seeing that they've brought other Pokemon-esque RPGs like Dragon Quest Monsters and Fossil Fighters here.

11:11 AM
thegaygamer.com said...

Great! Hope it's soon--for your sake, of course :)

11:17 AM
thegaygamer.com said...

You're right, Javadoze, I/we shouldn't give up hope on it being brought to North America. I do worry about the game's seemingly overt, uh, Japanese-ness, though. Hopefully neither Nintendo nor Level-5 will consider it "too Japanese" to be released here :(

11:21 AM
Lizzi said...

This looks so awesome!!!!
I bet this one won't make it to Europe eh?
Grrrr... Fantasy Life, Bravely Default, SMT IV, Beyond the Labyrinth...
What's wrong with you Japan?!

11:38 AM
thegaygamer.com said...

Yeah, the Japan-only 3DS games are starting to pile up, aren't they, Lizzi? Makes me sad, too :(


That said, don't give up hope on this one. It hasn't even been released in Japan yet, so it really isn't too weird that it's yet to be discussed in Europe or North America.


I do hope we'll hear something about it sometime this year, though. Fingers crossed!

11:54 AM
Tom Badguy said...

This isn't really up my alley but it does look like you can interact with a lot of stuff.

12:17 PM
Lizzi said...

Oh I really hope this one get's a chance...

And I still hope Fantasy Life get's an release for NA and EU.

BTW: I decided to make a backlog-list for 2013:

Ok I already played 3 Prof. Layton games through in january but that wont stop me-

1.Zelda Skyward Sword
2.Uncharted 2
3.God of War 1
4.Paper Mario (one of all 4 titles)
5.Little Kings Story
6.Mario Galaxy
7.Kirby Mouse Attack
8.Eternal Sonata
9.Final Fantasy X
10.Kingdom Hearts 3D
11.Enslaved
12.DmC (Devil May Cry 5)

Most of this games I played halfway through and then stopped for some reason. But now I want to change this awful situation.

12:17 PM
thegaygamer.com said...

I hope Fantasy Life makes it out of Japan, too, Lizzi. In fact, I think I want that game to be released a little more than this one!


As for your backlog list: it looks good to me! Are you planning to tackle them in that order, or just as you see fit?

12:52 PM
thegaygamer.com said...

Yeah, I like how interactive it looks, too, Tom. It'll be interesting to see just how interactive the environments and battles are in the end, though.

12:53 PM
miruki said...

Wasn't Ni No Kuni already Level 5's try at something Pokemon'ish? At least it made me feel like a Ghibli movie and a Pokemon game had a child.. XD

I really do hope this will come over.. but Nintendo hasn't given me much hope for youkai related games so far.. there was this one game on the DS, Tsukibito (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cTjDLgSfwms) which I'd really like to have seen in English (I actually even attempted to translate it myself with a couple of friends, but we gave up after we ran into some programming related problems.. orz) ...

I'm also still a little mopey about Level 5 dropping the one game I really, really wanted to see them release... even if just in Japanese:Ushiro. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vrpsg2KDGh4) WHY? Why did they cancel it? ;___;

1:39 AM
diaglyph said...

I'm very curious about this game too :)
I hope it sees a western release!
We need more different types of RPGs that mix it around (that dial feature in combat!!)

1:52 PM
thegaygamer.com said...

I agree, Igor. It'll be interesting to see what happens with this one. Honestly, I have a feeling it's going to be yet another Japan-only 3DS release. I could see Nintendo giving it a try elsewhere, though, if it really takes off in Japan. I guess we'll see!

2:26 PM
diaglyph said...

I cant see why games like this can be released in eShop tho? Do they need a physical box release?? Especially if they deem it "risky"

2:28 PM

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