“Detective Pikachu” Game Coming to Japan

[Crossroads Bulletin]

Pokemon’s Japanese YouTube Channel revealed a new game called Detective Pikachu ~ Birth of a New Duo~. This game features a “smug, talking, lovable, detective” Pikachu who solves crimes with his human partner named Tim Goodman in Rhyme City. Detective Pikachu is a single player game with no communication features. The game will be available on the Nintendo 3DS eShop in Japan on February 3rd 2016.
Detective Pikachu was originally hinted three years ago on the Japanese television program The Professionals. The program toured GameFreak and had taken footage of a detective game featuring a Pikachu.
There is no word on when or if Detective Pikachu will be available outside of Japan.
You can watch the trailer for Detective Pikachu ~ Birth of a New Duo~ below.

Source: Serebii
The post “Detective Pikachu” Game Coming to Japan appeared first on Pokémon Crossroads.


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[Neo Emolga]

That little, brown hat totally sells it.

[Palamon]

I have no interest in this game whatsoever. Maybe if it were more than just Pikachu, I'd play it, if it were to come out in the states.

[MC Elesa]

I can't believe this game is actually happen. It only took them three years to finish it.

Also...This Pikachu looks and acts so funny. I can't stop laughing at it.

Granted. I am totally going to buy this.

[Chakramaster]

Ahh, my kind of game. Mystery with a Pikachu solving it. I've got a really great theory behind it already just from the vibes it gives me. Keen instincts and eyes or maybe I've just seen too many mysteries since 2005 and I've become more perceptive to it all.

Imagine a well-known detective suddenly getting turned into "this" Pikachu. Would explain why no random stranger listens to him. More specifically why he can talk OUR language. Would explain the random affection the girl shows him in that scene. Kinda gives me the Case Closed/Detective Conan feel honestly and....it would kinda make sense. He'd be perfectly safe as a Pikachu hidden solving mysteries while trying to find a way to change back.

Kinda farfetch'd, but I guess we will see.....if it makes it outside of Japan which I REALLY hope it does..... ;_; please?

EDIT: oh and to fix any issue with a question like (Why isn't the human form of the Pikachu shown then?" Mystery shows LOVE showing shaded figures.) I'd imagine that's how it would start if so.

[Vishnal]

I'm going to wait for reviews and stuff before I consider whether to get this. Even though I love mysteries, I'm not a fan of Pikachu, and I'm worried this might just turn out to be very similar to Pokémon Channel in terms of gameplay (which got dull after a while) and lack of replay value. Of course, since it's listed as being a puzzle-solving game, it's possible it might have elements similar to those found in the Professor Layton, Zero Escape, and Ace Attorney series, which would be pretty cool.

Another worry of mine is the content/story. Since it's Pokémon, I imagine they wouldn't want to touch on more violent/"mature" topics (such as death) and stick to cartoon violence and more childish content, making it less appealing to older mystery fans. Also, Arceus knows what the difficulty will be like—I'm afraid the detective game won't be as challenging as the aforementioned series, which would also likely detract from its appeal to older audiences.

Lastly, there's the matter of Pikachu's voice. I was already put off by how it sounded in Japanese (and that's rare for me because I usually like the Japanese voice acting) because it didn't seem to fit the mouse Pokémon. Of course, if Chakramaster's theory about Pikachu being a famous detective turned into an electric mouse is true, I suppose it becomes more tolerable. Back to the matter at hand, I have found many video game dubs to be mediocre, so I worry that Pikachu's English voice will turn out horrible.

[Corey]

Hm, I'm not too sure about this either. I'm not a puzzle-lovin' guy, as literally every recent Pokemon f2p game has taught me (Shuffle was fun when I could still hack jewels for free lol). I just wasn't crazy for Shuffle, Battle Trozei!, or Picross. Though this seems to be a different type of puzzle, puzzles are puzzles. This seems like it could be a game my dad used to play a while back, where you'd have to find items in a really cluttered room to solve a mystery (I couldn't tell you the name, though). I wouldn't be very against that idea. Of course, that was a murder mystery, I believe, and I doubt this game will involve any murder. But I do like to at least try all the stuff Pokemon releases, so I guess we'll see if I wanna blow $10-$15 on it. Who knows, I may happen to really enjoy it.

Also, is there no option to be a girl in this game? And can you not change your name, either?!

[Chakramaster]

Hm, I'm not too sure about this either. I'm not a puzzle-lovin' guy, as literally every recent Pokemon f2p game has taught me (Shuffle was fun when I could still hack jewels for free lol). I just wasn't crazy for Shuffle, Battle Trozei!, or Picross. Though this seems to be a different type of puzzle, puzzles are puzzles. This seems like it could be a game my dad used to play a while back, where you'd have to find items in a really cluttered room to solve a mystery (I couldn't tell you the name, though). I wouldn't be very against that idea. Of course, that was a murder mystery, I believe, and I doubt this game will involve any murder. But I do like to at least try all the stuff Pokemon releases, so I guess we'll see if I wanna blow $10-$15 on it. Who knows, I may happen to really enjoy it.

Also, is there no option to be a girl in this game? And can you not change your name, either?!

That's where another theory comes into play. Depending on what we see soon (since I doubt more info will come before the game is released in Japan). IF, however, the camera function still has a major feature in this..."maybe" the main character is somehow supposed to be taken or created from your camera function (which is why Pikachu looked so creepy in that 2013 photo we saw....and early early early screenshots). Maybe somehow they still use that to create the character or have a choice funtion or something. Dunno, but the more I look at it the video, the more human the Pikachu seems, but I have counter arguments against my own theories to be frank. So I guess we will see in due time.

Yeah I did somehow mix up the character you play as (since you play as the human). Somehow I feel like I'm looking to deeply into something that may just be oddly made scenes or details. Feels like a suit theory either way though...

----------------------------------------------------

EDIT: (I could do a series explanation on my analysis if anyone wanted)

Upon a further analysis I did (looking closer over each scene) I noticed most my points seem like they would fit. I never once see the Pikachu run on all 4 (which is normal for a "normal" Pikachu). Even in scene's where it looks like they/he's being chased by a Trevenant. It's slight, but even his color is different (though I know we can't expect all Pokemon to look the exact same or shade of color of skin/scales/fur/etc (maybe it's just the lighting). Love how in one scene they are getting tea/coffee from a Ludicolo lol (after seeing that I really got my hopes up for seeing something like Spinda's Cafe xD).

One major point I'm missing which we will just have to figure out....Tim. Who is he (even though we play as him apparently? Why does he come in and join the "said Pikachu." Random character that just makes friends with him, or long time friend that (like in my previous mentioned theory) former human, turned Pikachu? Lots of questions I hope to answer if this hits outside of Japan.

A secondary theory, though not my most favored since it could just be much more simple than my idea. Maybe it's just a normal Pikachu that aspired to be a Detective. So it learned our language, read books and stories (basically where it learned to get the look from and demeanor and speech). Where the story goes from that would be questionable if that's the case....as well as harder to answer where Tim comes in at. Like I said, it's a secondary theory, but not impossible. Man, my mind is hitting this as hard as PSMD when it was announced xD.

[Chakramaster]

A little late, but more was revealed on the game recently.

-Pikachu likes coffee and tea (mostly coffee).
-Apparently, he has a thing for women/girls and is really weak around them.
-Pikachu isn't even the head of his own agency. It's someone named Mike Baker
-It's Tim that interviews people while Pikachu interviews Pokemon
-Interestingly enough there's quicktime events in the game. It doesn't from this point have major story effects, but will change how the next scene plays out is all.
-Detective Pikachu is slow and can't move very fast.
-Detective Pikachu can't use any moves (though he can generate electricity. Just not use things like thunderbolt or even shock.

that's about it on all the news other than names of people who run various shops or businesses.

More and more I see this info I think my theory is right (the original first theory - Human to Pika PMD like story). it'll be funny if it is because I had people laugh at me for the theory on YT and you know the usual hate thing that comes from there. Though since then I've seen more people turn to the theory as well. The best part is....it fits perfectly. The title "Birth of a New Duo" even means there will be more (so we may not even find that he WAS a human in this game if so....maybe just have it hinted at.

lol I need to start trying to work on a banner/sig for Detective Pikachu or something, my hype for this is still way too high xD. Guess I'll get my old CS3 out and try to start working on something whenever good renders come out to use. Just I like Pikachu and mysteries too much...to have them (confirmed) together in one....is too much lol

[Pokemon Trainer Sarah]

@Chakramaster

You should write an article on your theories and we can post it on the website! Just PM it to me, if you're interested, and I'll post it for you. :)

This game seems pretty interesting. Hopefully it gets an international release!