9 Facts About ‘Pokemon Pokkén Tournament’

Pokkén Tournament, developed by Bandai Namco Entertainment, departs from the typical turn-based fighting style seen in most major Pokémon games. Instead, Pokkén Tournament is a fighting video game where popular Pokémon characters – such as Mewtwo and Pikachu – battle it out in the same style as the Japanese fighting game Tekken. Take a look at eight facts about Pokkén Tournament below.

Release date

Pokkén Tournament will hit the US on Nintendo’s Wii U next spring. Nintendo has not given a specific western release date for spring, but Nintendo has announced a March 18, 2016, release for the Wii U’s Japanese version.

Although Nintendo has not yet released the Wii U version of Pokkén Tournament, since July 16 – if you’re in Japan – you can play the game at arcades.

However, the popularity of the arcade version hasn’t been great. In fact, the game wasn’t bringing in enough revenue for Amusement Fantasista, an arcade in Okayama Prefecture, so the arcade decided to remove the consoles, according to Nintendo News.

Pokkén Tournament’s Wii U version will support Nintendo’s amiibo system. Amiibo’s are toys, figurines or cards that can be registered with the Wii U console, often unlocking bonus features in a video game. As of now, only one amiibo is confirmed for Pokkén Tournament, a Shadow Mewtwo card that will unlock the character that comes bundled with the first Wii U release.

Pikachu Libre

Pikachu gets a new luchador look in Pokkén Tournament inspired by Mexican lucha libre wrestling. The outfit follows in the footsteps of various other Pikachu outfits (remember Surfing Pikachu?).

Shadow Mewtwo

Japanese players of the arcade version of Pokkén Tournament noticed a special battle with Shadow Mewtwo on Oct. 30.

Nintendo later announced, via their Nintendo Direct series, that the first release of Pokkén Tournament will contain a Shadow Mewtwo amiibo card which allows buyers to play as Shadow Mewtwo from the beginning of the game. Normally, Shadow Mewtwo would be acquired only after meeting certain requirements.

There are mega evolutions

When Pokémon power up in Pokkén Tournament they can change into their mega evolution form, an evolution type first introduced in Pokemon X and Y. However, not all Pokémon in the game have a mega evolution, such as Machamp, Suicune and Pikachu.

Pokkén Tournament is built up from the same engine that Tekken runs on. So fans of Tekken will find themselves right at home playing the Tekken-inspired Pokémon game.

Playable characters in Pokkén Tournament include: Blaziken, Pikachu, Lucario, Gardevoir, Gengar, Machamp, Suicune, Weavile, Charizard, Pikachu Libre, and Shadow Mewtwo.

Supporting characters in Pokkén Tournament include: Emolga, Fennekin (attacks opponent with ember), Snivy, Lapras, Frogadier (attacks opponent with water pulse), Eevee, Jirachi, Whimsicott, and Mismagius.

Watch the official Pokkén Tournament trailer below.

[Header Image via YouTube]