Pokken Tournament
Release Date: March 18, 2016
Fighting, Pokemon, for 2 players, splitscreen, Nintendo exclusive, multiplayer, singleplayer, internet
OpenCritic
A three-dimensional fighting game with Pokémon. Pokkén Tournament has been made by the key creators of the Tekken and Soulcalibur series. It was initially released in Japanese arcades in July 2015. Wii U console version introduces many fixes, as well as a single player mode. Fights take the form of one on one duels on closed arenas.
Videos and Screens
[0:30] Pokken Tournament trailer
DualShockers: 9 / 10 by Allisa James
From the humble beginnings of the simple, singular image above to the fully fleshed out title we have now, it's been quite the journey. And considering the high quality product we've gotten for our patience, Pokkén Tournament has been worth the wait.
Metro GameCentral: 8 / 10 by David Jenkins
A Pokémon fighting game may not seem like the most obvious spin-off idea, but the end result is a surprisingly fun and inventive multiplayer game.
God is a Geek: 7.5 / 10 by Greg Hill
Despite its shortcomings, Pokkén Tournament is a delightfully entertaining experience that will blossom with populated online servers and a dedicated fanbase.
GAMERS Score
Average score from 47 votes.
Pokken Tournament Description
Pokkén Tournament for WiiU is classic fighting game with the Pokémon as fighters. It is a result of collaboration between Nintendo and the devs from Bandai Namco, led by Katsuhiro Harada (known for his work on Tekken series) and Masaaki Hoshino (who supervised the Soulcalibur franchise). It debuted in Japanese arcades in July 2014, and then there came the console version, which added new single player options and fixed many things, thanks to the players’ feedback.
Game mechanics
The basics of Pokkén Tournament for WiiU follow schemes of the most popular three-dimensional fighting games. Two contestants face each other on an enclosed arena, with players being able to choose from several Pokémon, including those from old and new entries in main RPG series. The list includes e.g. Lucario, Machamp, Suicune, Gardevoir, Pikachu, Gengar, Weavile, Charizard and Blaziken. Each of them has different fighting style and unique combos. Additionally, other Pokémon can be summoned for a few seconds to support player’s character, like Frogadier, Eevee, Lapras or Whimiscott, all with single-use, powerful attacks.
Game modes
Pokkén Tournament lets us face both artificial intelligence, or real players – through LAN or the Internet.
Technical aspects
Colorful visuals offer many details, both in Pokémon models and carefully designed arenas. Additionally, veterans of main RPG series will recognize familiar sound effects and music.
Last updated on December 23, 2016
Pokken Tournament Summary
Platforms:
Nintendo Wii U
Developer: Bandai Namco Entertainment
Publisher: Nintendo
Age restrictions: none
