Yo-kai Watch (game)

Yo-kai Watch (妖怪ウォッチ, Yōkai Wotchi) is a role playing-game developed by Level-5 for the Nintendo 3DS and is as well the very first game of the Yo-kai Watch series.

Yo-kai Watch
[[file: File:Yo-kai Watch US cover.PNG|250px]] Boxart cover of Yo-kai Watch.
Publisher	JPLevel-5 WWNintendo
Developers	Level-5
Designer	Tatsuya Shinkai
Genre	Role-playing game
Platform	Nintendo 3DS Android iOS
Release dates	Nintendo 3DS July 11, 2013 November 6, 2015 April 29, 2016 December 5, 2015 November 26, 2015 Android/iOS 2017
Ratings	CERO : All Ages ESRB : E+10 PEGI : 7
Website	Official Japanese website Official Japanese smartphone website Official North American website Official Australian website Official South Korean website
Successor	Yo-kai Watch 2

Level-5 announced the game at their Level-5 World 2011 conference in Tokyo on October 15-16, 2011, and the title was revealed to be Yo-kai Watch. The game was released on July 11, 2013 in Japan and on April 2015, Level-5 announced that Nintendo would handle the localization of the game in the west. At the E3 of 2015, Nintendo revealed that the game will release in North America on November 6, 2015. The game was released in South Korea in the same month, November 26, 2015, and Australia and New Zealand on December 5, 2015 In February 2016, Nintendo of Europe revealed that Yo-kai Watch will release in Europe on April 29, 2016.

Akihiro Hino, the president of Level-5 announced during LEVEL-5 Vision 2016 that Yo-kai Watch would be released for both Android and iOS devices in the fall of 2016 as Yo-kai Watch for Smartphone (妖怪ウォッチforスマートフォン, Yōkai Wotchi for Sumātofon). However, on October 26, 2016, Akihiro Hino announced that the game is delayed until 2017 to feature high-end graphics, and that it’ll be easily playable on smartphone with new controls and network compatibility.

Pre-release information

Yo-kai Watch was first officially announced during the Level-5 World 2011, Level-5 Vision 2011, in Tokyo. During the footage, it was strongly revealed that the game was meant to be for the Playstation 3 before their shift on the Nintendo 3DS. The Yo-kai that appeared in the footage were Dismerelda, Jibanyan, Hungramps, Tattletell, Ake, Whisper, Negatibuzz, Noko and Walkappa. All of these Yo-kai's designs were re-designed for their official debut on the Nintendo 3DS. Level-5 revealed that the game would be a multimedia project same as other franchises developed by the same company.

On October 14, 2011, screenshots of the game has revealed as well the screenshots of the series animation. On October 13, 2012, Level-5 revealed that the game would be released for the Nintendo 3DS systems in an issue of CoroCoro Comics skipping their initial Playstation 3 release.

On Decemeber 28, 2012, more information about the game were revealed explaining in which location the game takes place and how it is the same as the real-life world. Further explained are the characters Nathan, Katie, Eddie and Bear and about the environment the characters are living in. Further, information about Jibanyan, Whisper, Walkappa and Tattletell were revealed by the company as well.

On January 17, 2012, Level-5 revealed the first official trailer of the game during 2013 Winter World Hobby Fair and a new trailer was shown during the Nintendo Direct presentation of February 21, 2013. On March 15, 2013 it is revealed that the game would release during the summer of 2013. Later during the year, Level-5 revealed new footage of gameplay about the game such as its battle system.

In the April, 2013 issue of CoroCoro Comics, Level-5 revealed that the game would be released on July 11, 2013. Afterwards, Level-5 also announced that the first copies of the games would contain a Jibanyan mascot figure. On April 15, 2013, Level-5 showed footage about town exploration and battles the player will encounter in the game. Later on, more information about the Yo-kai that makes an appearance in the game were revealed. It also confirmed that the player can choose between a boy or a girl at the start of the game and more about the main characters that make an appearance in the game. The game was also known as a "everyday life with Youkai".

Level-5 revealed a new feature named "Oni Time", were during the feature, the atmosphere of the town changes and the enraged Oni Yo-kai will chase the player and revealed that it is best that the player must run away from it and if the Oni manages to capture the player they'll have to fight it. Level-5 hints that players might be able to overcome the Oni, if they’re strong enough. On June 18, 2013, Level-5 revealed new footage of gameplay. It revealed that the player can freely explore the town that they are living in and hunting Yo-kai around the town and forests as well. Level-5 revealed on July 1, 2013 that a demo of Yo-kai Watch would release on July 3, 2013.