Pokkén Tournament facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Pokkén Tournament |
|
|---|---|
|
|
| Developer(s) | Bandai Namco Studios |
| Publisher(s) |
|
| Director(s) | Haruki Suzaki |
| Producer(s) |
|
| Designer(s) | Yasuhito Kobayashi |
| Programmer(s) | Sei Nakatani |
| Artist(s) |
|
| Composer(s) |
Hiroki Hashimoto
|
| Series | Pokémon |
| Platform(s) | Arcade Wii U Nintendo Switch |
| Release date(s) | Arcade
|
| Genre(s) | Fighting |
| Mode(s) | Single-player, multiplayer |
Pokkén Tournament is an exciting fighting video game that brings together the worlds of Tekken and Pokémon. It was created by Bandai Namco Entertainment. The game lets you control your favorite Pokémon in battles, mixing moves from both the Tekken series and other fighting games.
Pokkén Tournament first came out in Japanese arcades in July 2015. Later, it was released worldwide for the Wii U in March 2016. An improved version for the Nintendo Switch, called Pokkén Tournament DX, came out in September 2017.
Contents
What's in a Name?
The name Pokkén is a mix of two words: Pokémon and Tekken. It combines the names of the two popular game series that inspired it. In Japan, the game's logo uses the Japanese characters ポッ拳. In Germany, the game is officially called Pokémon Tekken. This might be because Pokkén sounds a bit like the German word for smallpox, Pocken.
How to Play Pokkén Tournament
Pokkén Tournament is a fighting game where two players pick different Pokémon to battle. The game has two main parts:
- Field Phase: In this part, your Pokémon can move freely around the battle area. It's a bit like games such as Power Stone.
- Duel Phase: After a certain amount of damage, the game switches to this phase. Here, your Pokémon move mostly side-to-side, similar to how characters move in Tekken games.
Unlike many arcade fighting games that use a joystick, the arcade version of Pokkén Tournament uses a controller that feels more like a home console controller. This makes it easier for new players to jump in and play.
The game focuses on action, so it's fun for both experienced fighting game players and those who are just starting. You can use special moves and even make your Pokémon Mega Evolve! Mega Evolution uses a "Synergy Gauge" that fills up as you fight. You can also get help from "Support Pokémon" during battles. These Support Pokémon can give you special boosts, like making your attacks stronger or your defense better.
When the Wii U version first came out, some copies included a special Amiibo card for Shadow Mewtwo. This card would immediately unlock Shadow Mewtwo as a playable character. The game also lets you play against others online in "friendly battles" or "ranked battles."
Playable Pokémon
There are 23 different Pokémon you can choose to play as across all versions of the game. Sixteen of these Pokémon are available in every version (Arcade, Wii U, and Switch). The table below shows which Pokémon are available on each platform.
| Pokémon | Arcade | Wii U | Switch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aegislash |  |
|
 |
| Blastoise | |
|
|
| Blaziken | |
|
|
| Braixen | |
|
|
| Chandelure | |
|
|
| Charizard | |
|
|
| Croagunk | |
|
|
| Darkrai | |
|
|
| Decidueye | |
|
|
| Empoleon | |
|
|
| Garchomp | |
|
|
| Gardevoir | |
|
|
| Gengar | |
|
|
| Lucario | |
|
|
| Machamp | |
|
|
| Mewtwo | |
|
|
| Pikachu | |
|
|
| Pikachu Libre | |
|
|
| Sceptile | |
|
|
| Scizor | |
|
|
| Shadow Mewtwo | |
|
|
| Suicune | |
|
|
| Weavile | |
|
|
How the Game Was Made
The idea for Pokkén Tournament was first hinted at in Japan in August 2013. It was officially announced a year later, in August 2014. Important people like The Pokémon Company CEO Tsunekazu Ishihara and Tekken series producer Katsuhiro Harada were there. They said they wanted to find new ways to play Pokémon.
When they were making the game, Ishihara wanted to include mostly fighting-type Pokémon. However, producer Masaaki Hoshino wanted to have many different types of Pokémon, which is what ended up happening in the final game.
At the 2015 Pokémon World Championships, it was announced that the game would be coming to the Wii U. Players could even try out a demo there. In 2016, special controllers inspired by the arcade version were released for the Wii U.
In June 2017, an improved version for the Nintendo Switch was announced. It was called Pokkén Tournament DX and came out on September 22, 2017. This Switch version included four new fighters from the arcade game, plus one extra fighter just for the Switch. It also added new game modes. Later, in 2018, two DLC (downloadable content) packs were released for the DX version, adding more fighters like Aegislash and Blastoise, and new Support Pokémon.
In 2021, Katsuhiro Harada mentioned that he would like to make a sequel to Pokkén. However, he said that the decision would be up to Nintendo and The Pokémon Company.
See also
In Spanish: Pokkén Tournament para niños
