Nintendo released a demo for upcoming RPG title YO-KAI WATCH on Thursday and I sat down to give it a whirl. Truth be told I enjoy these sorts of games though it has been a while since I’ve really had a chance to get into one. And while this is only a very short demo (with limited plays) I booted it up and sat down to play.
I even got the kids to test it out and both my boy and girl gave the Yo-Kai a thumbs up.
YO-KAI WATCH features hundreds of sometimes cute, sometimes spooky and usually mischievous Yo-kai that inhabit our world. Players must use their Yo-kai Watch to find Yo-kai, befriend them, and turn them into a team to battle other Yo-kai. More than 200 Yo-kai are hidden all around the world, and each Yo-kai has its own unique skills and characteristics.
The demo start off with a note saying that some content in the demo might differ from the final game, which is due for release in just under two weeks. The game really has fun look and style to it and it really reminds me of the way that Pokémon looks in their 3DS games. The environments in YO-KAI WATCH do seem a bit more detailed however.
The demo starts with you taking the role of Nate in his room. He’s told by his Yo-kai pal Whisper that he should head out and find some Yo-kai. That’s your first task in the game, though it does feel like this is a bit into the game as you’ll already have a stock of six Yo-kai to battle with when you do get to that point. You also aren’t allowed to open your menu in the demo, which makes the items that you find along the way and earn in victories somewhat frivolous.
So you start by heading out the door where you are stopped by a lady who informs you that there are three bad Yo-Kai are causing trouble in Springdale and she would like you to take care of them.
When you’re out and about you will have your Yo-kai radar on the screen which will rise and fall as you get nearer to hidden Yo-Kai. Think of it as a metal detector at the beach but this can find Yo-kai instead of hidden coins. When your radar begins to pulse you can press (Y) to open the lens and look for the hidden creature.
What is neat about this game is that the folks at Level 5 have really taken the time to diversify the controls. Not only can you use the buttons on the 3DS to play the game (aside from a few points that require the touchscreen) you can also use the touchscreen exclusively to play the game. From opening your radar and lens, zooming in the map of the area on the lower screen, opening your menu and rotating the camera, but you can also move around by sliding the stylus on the screen. It’s really intuitive and refreshing.
The novelty wears off quickly in games which force the use of touchscreen controls to move around. Having the option to do so in YO-KAI WATCH while you can also simply use the circle pad to move around is great. There are points when you use the lens to find and chase a hidden Yo-kai. You can use the stylus to slide around and keep them in your sights to uncover it, but you can also use the circle pad to move the reticule. The stylus is so much easier to use for this task, but it’s nice that Level 5 gives you both options.
The battle system is also very interesting with the player not having direct control over the battle and acting more in a support role. Instead of choosing which Yo-kai will attack and where the attack will take place, you are instead in control of other things in battles.
Your Yo-kai are on a wheel on the touchscreen. The top three in the wheel are your active battlers with the bottom three your reserve, which you can swap in by spinning the wheel. I’m sure it’s possible to set these in any order you want but that wasn’t an option in the demo with no access to the menu. Your Yo-Kai each have a special move which you can access with the “Soultimate” button. When their meter is charged you tap that button followed by the Yo-kai which is about to attack. You’ll then be treated to a very brief minigame to initiate the attack. Either tapping on a few moving orbs, tracing a shape or spinning a wheel with the stylus. These are all very brief, but all require the stylus. Once you charge up the attack your Yo-Kai will do more damage.
You can also choose to have your Yo-kai focus their attacks on a specific opponent with the “target” button. You can also “purify” your Yo-kai on the bottom of the wheel if they become “inspirited” by the enemy in battle.
On the whole this demo has further peaked my interest in the game. You can download the demo in the 3DS eShop now. YO-KAI WATCH will be released for the Nintendo 3DS on November 7th and will also be available pre-installed in a special Nintendo 2DS bundle.
Definitely check it out.
