Yo-kai Watch 3

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Yo-kai Watch 3
Yo-kai Watch 3 (North American cover art).png
North American cover art
Developer(s) Level-5
Publisher(s)
Director(s) Ken Motomura
Producer(s) Akihiro Hino
Designer(s) Tatsuya Shinkai
Programmer(s) Yuji Mori
Tetsuo Mori
Artist(s) Takuzo Nagano
Miho Tanaka
Writer(s) Akihiro Hino
Keitaro Sato
Composer(s) Kenichiro Saigo
Series Yo-kai Watch
Platform(s) Nintendo 3DS
Release
  • JP: July 16, 2016
  • EU: December 7, 2018
  • NA: February 8, 2019
Genre(s) Role-playing
Mode(s) Single-player, multiplayer

Yo-kai Watch 3 [1] is a role-playing video game developed by Level-5 for the Nintendo 3DS and the third installment in the main series of Yo-kai Watch video games. It was initially released in two versions, Sushi and Tempura, in Japan in July 2016. [2] A third version of the game, Sukiyaki, was released in Japan in December 2016, adding new content and enhancements on the original versions. An English version based on Sukiyaki published by Nintendo was released in PAL regions in December 2018 and in North America two months later. [3] [4]

Contents

The game follows the interconnected stories of dual protagonists Nathan "Nate" Adams, an 11-year-old boy who recently moved to the fictitious city of BBQ in the Southern United States, and Hailey Anne Thomas, a self-styled otaku "outcast" who opens a detective agency in the upstate city of Springdale and replaces Katie Forester as the female protagonist. They both possess the Yo-kai Watch, allowing them to see, befriend, and summon Yo-kai.

The game received generally positive reviews from critics, but was considered a commercial failure outside of Japan; to date, it is the last title in the series to be released internationally.

Gameplay

Yo-kai Watch 3 retains the series' core gameplay elements, combining exploration, puzzle-solving, and turn-based combat. However, it introduces new gameplay mechanics, most notably having a grid-based combat system, the Tactics Board, rather than rotating Yo-kai using a wheel. [5] [6] It also features two distinct regions: Springdale, returning from previous games, and BBQ, an American-inspired town, each with various areas to explore.

Minigame

In Yo-kai Watch 3, the Zombie Night event takes place in St. Peanutsburg on random nights when a bell rings, causing zombies to rise from their graves and roam the town. The player controls Nate, who wields a hammer to defeat zombies and must reach and ring the Mourning Bell, which ends the curse and wakes the town. Once the bell is rung, players may trigger a second wave of stronger zombies, which offers greater rewards but is more difficult. [6]

Plot

The plot of Yo-kai Watch 3 initially follows dual protagonists Nate Adams and Hailey Anne Thomas, whose stories eventually intertwine into one narrative. The game's humor leans heavily into parody, often poking fun at pop culture, science fiction, and classic tropes of mystery-solving. [7] [8]

Nate's story follows him as he moves from the upstate American city of Springdale to the southern town of BBQ for his father's job and encounters 'Merican Yo-kai. There, he meets Buck Hazeltine, a boy who can see Yo-kai because of the UFO Stone he wears on his necklace, and they investigate local mysteries as FBY agents Blunder and Folly investigate rumors of a UFO in town. [9]

Hailey's story follows her as she befriends Usapyon and they open the "Hapyon Detective Agency", a detective agency in Springdale, to solve mysteries and requests from Yo-kai and humans. [9]

After their stories converge, they fight against the Ghoulfather, who is styled as a satirical nod to mob boss archetypes from classic gangster films and aims to remake the world in his image.

Development

Level-5 announced details for Yo-kai Watch 3 at a press conference in April 2015. The developers promised at least three large-scale feature updates would follow the release of the game. [10]

Details for the third version of the game, Sukiyaki, [11] were announced in October 2016. Sukiyaki included a separate multiplayer mode, Blasters T, based on the spinoff game Yo-kai Watch Busters 2: Secret of the Legendary Treasure Bambalaya , the ability to unlock "Deva Yo-kai" by linking all three versions together, and a sidequest based on the third movie, Yo-kai Watch: Soratobu Kujira to Double no Sekai no Daibōken da Nyan! . [12] The Blasters T mode was added to Sushi and Tempura as the first major update, after the release of Sukiyaki. [13]

Version 3.0 of Yo-kai Watch 3 was launched in Spring 2017, adding new quests, locations, dungeons, and Yo-kai. [14] The next major feature update, version 4.0, was launched in Summer 2017. [15]

Localization

The original Japanese release of Yo-kai Watch 3 involves a culture shift from the Japanese setting of Springdale to the American setting of the United States. The Western release instead frames the shift as a move from a Japanese interpretation of an average American city to a representation of the Southern United States. The cultural contrasts that Nate experiences are changed to highlight the cultural clash between what he is used to in upstate America and the culture of a city in the American South. To make the localization feel more "realistic", the nature of this cultural clash is often played for comedy. For example, an early plot element in the original Japanese release involved Nate not understanding the residents because he does not know English, with minimal straight comedy. In the localized release, he now fails to understand their thick southern drawl, turning into a full-on comedic premise. [16] [17] [18]

According to prerelease coverage and marketing, the localization turned America into the fictitious country of BBQ, with Nate moving to the city of St. Peanutsburg within BBQ. [19] [20] However, in-game dialogue makes it clear that this is not the case and that BBQ is within the same state, as it makes frequent reference to Springdale being "upstate" and Nate and his family having moved across the state rather than overseas. [21]

The International versions of Yo-kai Watch 3 are a modified version of Yo-kai Watch 3: Sukiyaki.

Marketing

The covers for the initial Sushi and Tempura versions were released alongside the announcement that the game would be split into two versions in April 2016. The cover for Sushi features the Koma Knomads, 'Merican Yo-kai based on Komasan and Komajiro,; the cover for Tempura has Tomnyan, a 'Merican Yo-kai based on Jibanyan. [22] Sushi & Tempura sold 632,135 copies combined during its release week, less than half the combined first-week sales of Yo-kai Watch 2 . [23]

Sushi and Tempura were bundled together as the Sushi/Tempura Busters T [Treasure] Pack(スシ/テンプラ バスターズTパック), released on December 15, 2016, alongside Sukiyaki. Sukiyaki sold 337,979 copies during its release week; the Sushi/Tempura Busters bundle sold 17,709. [24]

Reception

Yo-kai Watch 3 was positively reviewed in Famitsu , scoring 37/40 for both the Sushi & Tempura versions; [26] the Sukiyaki version received the same score. [27]

In the United States, GameSpot scored the game 6/10, calling it "a fun time" and "a cheerful, wacky playground where Pokémon-like creatures happen to live." [28] Nintendo Life was significantly more enthusiastic, scoring the game at 9/10 and declaring it "a triumphant last hurrah for one of the [3DS] platform's most beloved series." [29] Overall, the game was rated 80/100 on Metacritic. [25]

Despite positive reviews, the game sold less than its two predecessors in Japan, selling 2 million copies overall.[ citation needed ] The game was also a commercial failure in the United States.[ citation needed ] In the years since its release, Yo-kai Watch 3 has become one of the 3DS's most expensive games. [30] [31]

Sequel

The fourth game in the series, Yo-kai Watch 4 , was released for the Nintendo Switch in Japan on June 20, 2019. [32] [33] A western release was confirmed at a panel held during the Anime Expo in July 2019, however, in October 2020, Level 5's North American operations shut down, putting into question the chances for the game to be released for North American players. However, with Level 5 returning to the international market in February 2023, the status of the localization remains uncertain. [34] [35]

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References

  1. ↑ 妖怪ウォッチ３
  2. ↑ Seedhouse, Alex (April 13, 2016). "Yo-kai Watch 3: Sushi & Tempura Announced in Japan". Nintendo Insider. Retrieved April 27, 2019.
  3. ↑ "Western Yo-Kai Watch 3 Release Is Like 'Sukiyaki+'". Siliconera. December 7, 2018. Retrieved February 11, 2019.
  4. ↑ "Yo-kai Watch 3 launches December 7 in Europe". Gematsu. October 30, 2018. Retrieved February 11, 2019.
  5. ↑ "Yo-Kai Watch 3 Is Finally Headed To Europe And North America This Winter". Nintendo Life. September 27, 2018. Retrieved November 17, 2024.
  6. 1 2 "Two heroes, one big Yo-kai adventure!". Nintendo of Europe AG. Retrieved November 17, 2024.
  7. ↑ Jenni (February 21, 2019). "Yo-kai Watch 3's Dual Protagonists Give The Game More Personality". Siliconera. Retrieved May 28, 2019.
  8. ↑ Z (February 8, 2019). "Coming to 'Merica – GeekDad Reviews 'Yo-kai Watch 3'". GeekDad. Retrieved November 17, 2024.
  9. 1 2 Romano, Sal (April 12, 2016). "Yo-kai Watch 3 launches in Sushi and Tempura versions on July 16 in Japan". Gematsu. Retrieved April 27, 2019.
  10. ↑ Romano, Sal (April 7, 2015). "Yo-kai Watch 3 announced for 3DS". Gematsu. Retrieved April 27, 2019.
  11. ↑ Rafael Antonio Pineda (November 30, 2016). "Yo-kai Watch 3: Sukiyaki 3DS Game's Promo Previews Theme Song". Anime News Network. Retrieved December 4, 2020.
  12. ↑ Romano, Sal (October 13, 2016). "Yo-kai Watch 3: Sukiyaki announced". Gematsu. Retrieved April 27, 2019.
  13. ↑ Romano, Sal (October 15, 2016). "Yo-kai Watch 3: Sukiyaki debut trailer, details". Gematsu. Retrieved April 27, 2019.
  14. ↑ Romano, Sal (March 14, 2017). "Yo-kai Watch 3 version 3.0 update launches this spring in Japan". Gematsu. Retrieved April 27, 2019.
  15. ↑ Romano, Sal (August 29, 2017). "Yo-kai Watch 3 version 4.0 update now available in Japan". Gematsu. Retrieved April 27, 2019.
  16. ↑ Craddock, Ryan (September 27, 2018). "Yo-Kai Watch 3 Is Finally Headed To Europe And North America This Winter". Nintendo Life. Retrieved May 26, 2019.
  17. ↑ "Darn tootin': Yo-Kai Watch 3 review | Technobubble". Reno Gazette Journal. Retrieved May 26, 2019.
  18. ↑ rawmeatcowboy (February 8, 2019). "GoNintendo Review - Yo-Kai Watch 3". GoNintendo. Retrieved May 26, 2019.
  19. ↑ "Yo-Kai Watch™ 3: World | Welcome to St Peanutsburg". Nintendo UK. Retrieved May 28, 2019.
  20. ↑ Sato (January 24, 2019). "Yo-kai Watch 3 Trailer Introduces Nate, Hailey Anne, an And Some Of Its New 'Merican Yo-kai". Siliconera. Retrieved May 28, 2019.
  21. ↑ Παπαμήτρου, Κώστας. "Yo-Kai Watch 3 - GameOver.gr - Νέα, Reviews, Previews Παιχνιδιών, Gadgets". gameover.gr (in Greek). Retrieved May 26, 2019.
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  23. ↑ "This Week In Sales: Yo-kai Watch 3, Trails in the Sky the 3rd Evolution, And Uppers Make Debuts". Siliconera. July 23, 2016. Retrieved April 27, 2019.
  24. ↑ "This Week In Sales: Yo-kai Watch 3 Cooks Up Its Sukiyaki Version". Siliconera. December 23, 2016. Retrieved April 27, 2019.
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  26. 1 2 "Famitsu Reviews Yo-Kai Watch 3". My Nintendo News. July 31, 2016. Retrieved April 27, 2019.
  27. 1 2 Romano, Sal (December 13, 2016). "Famitsu Review Scores: Issue 1463". Gematsu. Retrieved April 27, 2019.
  28. 1 2 Clark, Justin (February 15, 2019). "Yo-kai Watch 3 Review - Tokyo To Texas". Gamespot. Retrieved May 3, 2019.
  29. 1 2 Reseigh-Lincoln, Dom (December 5, 2018). "Yo-kai Watch 3 Review". Nintendo Life. Retrieved May 3, 2019.
  30. ↑ Drake, Jeff; Yildizhan, Muhammet Kerem (January 13, 2021). "The 15 Rarest 3DS Games (& How Much They're Worth)". Game Rant. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
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  35. ↑ "Ni No Kuni Developer Level-5 Is Shutting Down In North America-Report". GameSpot. Retrieved April 21, 2021.
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