Pokkén Tournament

Pokkén Tournament, launching on Wii U on 18th March, allows you to experience a new kind of Pokémon battle. Developed by BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment, creators of the renowned King of the Iron-Fist tournament series TEKKEN, Pokkén Tournament lets you take direct control of various Pokémon characters in intense real-time battles. While this is exciting enough on its own there are plenty more reasons for Pokémon fans to be excited about Pokkén Tournament…

An accessible, real-time fighting game!

Pokkén Tournament presents Pokémon battles in a dynamic real-time setting, where Pokémon move and attack in direct response to the player’s commands. The simple, intuitive controls make this a fighting game that’s accessible to players of all skill levels while still offering plenty to learn and master. Alongside this are the stunning visuals and animations that truly emphasise the abilities and characteristics of each Pokémon.

Pokémon as you’ve never seen them!

Pokkén Tournament offers a great line-up of Pokémon to suit all players including Blaziken, Braixen, Chandelure, Charizard, Garchomp, Gardevoire, Gengar, Lucario, Machamp, Pikachu, Pikachu Libre, Sceptile, Suicune and Weavile.

Considering that this is a fighting game first and foremost you may have expected a roster comprised entirely of fighting Pokémon, but what you’ll actually find is a mix of Pokémon to suit all types of trainers! Whether you’re someone that prefers to launch direct ranged attacks, manipulate the arena or if you just want to get up close and personal, there’s a Pokémon for you!

It’s worth noting that Pokémon types such as Water, Fire and Grass aren’t super effective against their corresponding element in Pokkén Tournament, but Pokémon are split by Power, Speed, Standard and Technical combat styles and you will definitely see each Pokémon fighting in its own, unique way.

Pokkén Tournament is also the first Pokémon game in full high definition! What’s more, in single player and online multiplayer* battles Pokkén Tournament runs at a slick 60 frames per second!** Whether it’s Charizard delivering a ground-rupturing Seismic Toss, or Lucario hurling an onslaught of Aura Spheres, you won’t have seen Pokémon like this before, and that’s before we even start talking about Synergy Bursts…

Customise for victory

Alongside standard battles Pokkén Tournament does let you tweak your character and Pokémon in a number of ways, some fun and some functional, to help make the experience truly your own…

Level Up – While you can play Pokkén Tournament as a pure fighting game you also have the ability to level up each Pokémon individually, assigning skill points to specific attributes as you do. This allows you to build your own Charizard that could specialise in one of the four areas - attack, defense, strategy, or synergy – or be even across the board.

Support Pokémon – Alongside your main combatant you’ll also select Pokémon to support you in battle. Support Pokémon come in pairs and it’s up to you to select which set is best depending on your personal tactics. If you know you won’t have much health you can call in the Pokémon that restores HP. Alternatively you can send in a Pokémon to deal a devastating attack if you subscribe to the school of offense over defence. Perhaps, in true Pokémon style, you realise that there’s one support Pokémon that all Machamp players fall prey to. It’s all about reacting to the flow of the battle so you can land that critical hit.

Trainer Style – Convinced that your battle strategy is the very best? The best there ever was? Well you’ll want an iconic look, too, to round off the package! Pokkén Tournament offers an array of ways to customise your avatar, from the basics of skin tone, eye colour and hair style up to decision between the pink leopard print shirt, snazzy purple scarf, chef’s garb or the Santa outfit! There is a lot of scope to make your trainer your own, showing off your style every time you battle.

Play it your way

There are many ways to play Pokkén Tournament. You can dive into Ferrum League and work your way up through the leagues to prove you’re the best battle trainer around, discovering the story of Shadow Mewtwo on the way! Or, if it’s all about bragging rights, you can take on your friends and family in local*** and online multiplayer modes.

When playing in local multiplayer one player will always play on the Wii U GamePad touch screen because of Pokkén Tournament’s unique combat design having the camera follow behind your Pokémon. Online you can match yourself against specifically friends, take down random opponents in both friendly and ranked modes, or accept specific challengers with a unique battle code you can generate at any time. The online rankings are a great way to see how you stack up against the very best in the world , so make sure you practice before hitting the big stage!

amiibo support

Did you know that every amiibo, yes every amiibo, works in Pokkén Tournament? If you tap an amiibo on the Wii U GamePad, you can unlock in-game items up to five times a day. This includes in-game currency, accessories and titles. You never know, that hat you were always after may become available after scanning your favourite amiibo. Handy! Alongside this there is the Shadow Mewtwo amiibo card which has a special function – it unlocks Shadow Mewtwo for use right away. You’ll have to be quick if you want a Shadow Mewtwo amiibo card, though, as they will only be available in first print editions of Pokkén Tournament!

Find out how battles work in Pokkén Tournament by reading our combat system breakdown

Want to see some of Pokkén Tournament's fighters in action? Check out the Countdown Clash! You could even win a copy of Pokkén Tournament and the Pokkén Tournament Pro Controller!

Pokkén Tournament will be available from shops and as a downloadable version from Nintendo eShop on March 18th 2016, only on Nintendo Wii U.

^{*Internet connection required during play. The registration of Nintendo Network ID and acceptance of the Nintendo Network Agreement and Privacy Policy are required.}

^{**Game images on the TV and GamePad screen during Local Battles will be displayed at 30 frames per second. All other battle modes will display at 60 frames per second.}

^{***Additional accessories required for multiplayer mode, sold separately. Pokkén Tournament-compatible controllers: Wii U GamePad, Wii U Pro Controller, Wii Remote and Nunchuk, Pokkén Tournament Pro Pad and Classic Controller Pro. Please note: a Wii Remote or Wii Remote Plus is required to use the Classic Controller Pro.}

If you’re a fan of fighting games then you’ll know that BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment, creators of TEKKEN and developers of Pokkén Tournament, know how to make a solid beat ‘em up. What you may not know, however, is how Pokkén Tournament evolves the genre in its own unique way to create something that’s simultaneously familiar and fresh. So what can you expect from Pokkén Tournament’s combat? Read on for an overview of this new kind of Pokémon battle…

Simple controls

Taking a cue from the Super Smash Bros. series, Pokkén Tournament’s special moves forego complicated finger gymnastics in favour of a direction + attack button system. By simply combining a direction with one of your three attack buttons (weak attack, strong attack and Pokémon move), it’s easy to deploy an effective offence and, more crucially, hard to mess up that vital counter blow. This means that mind games can instantly take precedence over execution.

Another thing that will be familiar to Super Smash Bros. series fans is Pokkén Tournament’s block mechanic. Hold the R Button and you can defend against any attack move! It doesn’t pay to be overcautious, mind; defend for too long and your opponent will break your block, giving them a free combo opportunity. You’re also susceptible to a grab while your block is raised. Smashing!

Rock, paper, scissors

Back to those mind games… Pokkén Tournament’s core combat is largely designed around a core rock, paper, scissors foundation that is attributed to Normal Attacks, Counter Attacks, and Grabs respectively; ideas that should sound familiar to any fighting game fanatic. In short, Normal Attacks beat Grabs, Counter Attacks absorb and crush Normal Attacks, and a Grab stops a Counter Attack in its assumptive tracks. Easy stuff with which to form a basic battle of wits.

Obviously this breakdown ignores the nuances that lead to those rock, paper, scissors scenarios (some characters will naturally prefer to pepper their opponent with a plethora of projectiles for instance, relying on the attack/counter/grab question should they get too close), but a focus on this core will give you a mix-up foundation upon which to build your Pokkén Tournament legacy.

Combos!

Understandably, considering its TEKKEN heritage, Pokkén Tournament will allow for some stylish and damaging attack combinations. When it comes to this sort of thing a video says things far better than words, so here’s a glimpse at the kind of combos you can land in Pokkén Tournament…

Fast, frantic fighting

The core mechanics explained thus far would make Pokkén Tournament compelling enough, but the game takes things one step further with its two phase combat system that keeps combatants constantly on their toes.

Every battle starts in Field Phase. In this mode you’re free to move in 360 degrees and you’ll have access to more elaborate projectile attacks. Skilful movement, jumping and dashing will be essential to avoid your opponent’s attacks while looking for an opportunity to land that essential hit that shifts the combat into Phase Two: Duel Phase.

Duel Phase moves the combat into a scenario more akin to a traditional fighting game. When in Duel Phase you’ll be locked to a 2D plane of movement, only able to move backwards and forwards. Projectiles are still useful, but effective spacing with normal attacks becomes key, with fighters trading blows, chipping away at each other’s defences and looking to capitalise on their opponent’s mistakes. After enough damage is dealt in Duel Phase the combat will automatically shift back into Field Phase.

This ever-changing combat setup creates a dynamic system that keeps players on their toes, and this is before you factor in additional dynamics such as different arena shapes and the absurdly powerful but limited Synergy Burst mechanic. In a similar fashion to the shifting dynamics of on-stage and edge-guarding in the Super Smash Bros. series, Pokkén Tournament forces reactive play to a shifting battlefield which leads to energetic and surprising bouts!

A fighter for every style of play

On top of all these mechanics and ideas sits the essential component for any quality fighting game; a roster of unique and varied combatants to suit any combat style. Here are but a few examples…

Blaziken is a glass cannon with some interesting unique abilities, such as an air dash. Blaziken’s Pokémon Moves often damage Blaziken, meaning it’s important to execute attacks with planning and precision for fear of whittling away your own HP reserves…

Charizard is a hard hitting fighter with the ability to hover in the air, giving him access to unique combos that often end in a terrifying seismic toss. His flamethrower is an effective spacing tool as well, giving him great command over the battlefield.

Gengar is a mix-up specialist able to launch huge attacks that can catch opponents offguard while teleporting around the screen to play with his rival. His ranged grab gives him strong potential to surprise, but this mischief does come at the cost of a smaller health gauge.

Pikachu Libre is a rush-down master, with her ability to transition from strings of attacks into graceful grabs she is a fighter with great potential to stun and stagger her opponent, giving them little room to breathe.

This is but a taste of the characters available and you can customise your style further still with the various Support Pokémon sets. A Support set is a pair of Pokémon that you take into battle alongside your actual fighter, you can then summon the help of one Support Pokémon during a match when they are ready. These Support Pokémon can do a number of things, from simply attacking your opponent to setting traps and even buffing and healing your fighter. The Support Pokémon you choose will inevitably alter your personal approach to a fight, adding an extra layer of personalisation to your chosen fighter.

There's more to Pokkén Tournament than simply playing versus! Find out about the other features await in this new kind of Pokémon battle.

Want to see some of Pokkén Tournament's fighters in action? Check out the Countdown Clash! You could even win a copy of Pokkén Tournament and the Pokkén Tournament Pro Controller!

Pokkén Tournament will be available from shops and as a downloadable version from Nintendo eShop on March 18th 2016, only on Nintendo Wii U.

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