Pokken Tournament

Release Date: March 18, 2016

Fighting, Pokemon, for 2 players, splitscreen, Nintendo exclusive, multiplayer, singleplayer, internet

7.7

OpenCritic

Rate It!

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.

Game mechanics
Game modes
Technical aspects

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

Videos and Screens

[0:30] Pokken Tournament trailer

7.7

OpenCritic Rating

Game is Recomended by 67% of Critics. There are 65 Critic Reviews.

OpenCritic

GameSpot: 9 / 10 by Tamoor Hussain

Bandai Namco has crafted a fighting game that is deep and rewarding, while also being accessible.

Full Review

Game Revolution: 4 / 5 by Ryan Bates

To the distraught fighting game purist that would criticize Pokkén Tournament as "not a legit fighting game," I counter with this: Oh my GOD!, could Pikachu Libre get any more damned cute? No! No, it could not. So grab a controller—not a fightstick—and whoop some Pokébutt!

Full Review

IGN: 8 / 10 by Darry Husky

Pokkén Tournament takes a lot of what we know from old fighting gaming favorites and sticks them into a blender, delivering a unique take on both Pokémon and on fighting games in general. Sometimes all those ingredients spill over a container that's a little too full - there is a surprising amount to learn beyond the beginner's level, and that may alienate some Pokémon fans without fighting game experience. Pokkén Tournament does do a good job, though, at alleviating this bloat of mechanics with single-player modes to help ease into the action.

Full Review

8.2