Can’t wait to get more Detective Pikachu? We have new gameplay footage, as well as some initial impressions from a fan who has finished the game. We even have some screenshots.
Spoilers follow below. Specifically, the impressions will be recounted below, to be followed by tweets that include impressions and screenshots, and finally, the gameplay videos. You can choose to skip to the tweets or gameplay below, or just stop here if you don’t want anything spoiled.
Detective Pikachu is five hours twenty four minutes long, and it ends with a ‘to be continued’ cliffhanger.
As some people guessed, it’s a point and click adventure. You go to different areas, talk to people and Pokemon, look for clues, solve puzzles, pick up items here and there, and end solving the case.
Your character is Tim Goodman, and you enter Rhyme City looking for your father Harry. Harry was a detective, and Pikachu was his partner before he went missing for two months.
The tone is irreverent, but as you guessed from early previews of the slightly crazy, human lady-loving Detective Pikachu, it is a bit edgy and mature as well. It really does not feel like a conventional Pokemon title, as no mention is ever even made of Pokeballs or Pokemon Battles.
Pokemon generation representation leans towards the later generations. This can lead to interactions like feeding Garbodor trash to make him belch gases in different colors.
Overall Detective Pikachu is fun, but maybe a little pricey at 1500 yen (around $ 12.5), especially since it’s only the first episode. Our source expects the final product to be released as a single retail title with all episodes within.
You can get more impressions via Serebii’s Joe Merrick below. Lastly, watch over an hour of footage of Detective Pikachu below.
Seriously, this game is very good looking for a 3DS game. I am astonished. pic.twitter.com/p6Gro01Ozu
— Joe Merrick (@JoeMerrick) February 3, 2016
Don’t worry, that’s not blood pic.twitter.com/8B8SMy7hxU
— Joe Merrick (@JoeMerrick) February 3, 2016
— Joe Merrick (@JoeMerrick) February 3, 2016
— Joe Merrick (@JoeMerrick) February 3, 2016
Basically, when discussing things with @Sab_Mas, we postulated that this game could be episodic, and well… pic.twitter.com/8XI3zyQS6x
— Joe Merrick (@JoeMerrick) February 3, 2016
Totally agree. Wouldn’t surprise me if the west skipped episodic and went straight to retail, too https://t.co/ytRWkvJweJ
— Joe Merrick (@JoeMerrick) February 3, 2016
The Pokémon Company has really been experimenting with new pricing/distribution models for their games. I like it.
— Joe Merrick (@JoeMerrick) February 3, 2016
Unfortunately, until the next game/update, Tim & Pikachu are stuck in their apartment. pic.twitter.com/xzMSnBW4Ot
— Joe Merrick (@JoeMerrick) February 3, 2016
