Finally, a “Pokemon” game that many fans have been waiting for.
“Pokken Tournament” is definitely the fighting game-player's “Pokemon” game. According to Kotaku, it is for those who have wished to be more exciting than just a pair of “Pokemon” taking turns at bashing each other's heads.
Simply put, it's “Pokemon” meets “Tekken” and “Street Fighter.” But wait, there's more.
“Pokken Tournament” combines the excitement of fighting games like “Tekken,” while maintaining the strategy, depth and charm of “Pokemon.” Back in the day, players can only imagine Raichu giving Rattata a Body Slam (poor fella), without actually seeing how it happened. This time, players will get to see Blaziken and Machamp in a physical fight a la UFC while looking “Pokemon” cute.
But it ever you're thinking that this is just another fistfight, think again. “Pokken Tournament's” fighting game mechanics is based on a simple principle of rock-paper-scissors, or in the game's case, is Normal Attacks over Grabs, over Counters, over Normal Attacks, notes Gamespot. Add in other fighting game mechanics such as light versus heavy attacks, and standing versus crouching attacks, and you've got for yourself a neat fighting game.
The fights are divided into two phases, the “field phase” wherein each player tries to hit the enemy with a long-ranged attack. When the enemy gets hit and sustains a certain amount of damage, the screen moves to “duel phase,” which is like a “Tekken” or “SF” kind of fighting: face-to-face.
For those who aren't adept or avid fighting game players, there's no need to fear, though. “Pokken Tournament” developers made sure that the gap between fighting game experts and casual gamers won't be too big, and the ease of controls or actions will help newbies enjoy bashing an advanced player in time.
“Pokken is not just a successful cross-pollination of two game series, it’s an outright excellent entry point into fighting games.” Gamespot put it just right.
Additionally, the uniquness of each “Pokemon” is embedded into the game, as well as the ability to ask for support from another “Pokemon” once in play. It beautifully retains the strategy of the earlier “Pokemon” games, while introducing a new, more exciting approach to Pokemon battles.
All this, and a whole lot more. Try “Pokken Tournament” for yourself when it releases March 18 for the WiiU.
