Yo-kai Watch 3
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
SeriesYo-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 which is the third game of 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, branded Sukiyaki, was released in Japan in December 2016, adding minor enhancements upon the original versions of the game. 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] Yo-kai Watch 3 is the first mainline Yo-kai Watch game not to be localized in Korean.

The game follows the interconnected stories of two protagonists who both possess the Yo-kai Watch, allowing them to see, befriend, and summon Japanese mythical spirits called Yo-kai: Nathan Adams, a boy who recently moved to the fictitious Southern United States city of St. Peanutsburg, and Hailey Anne Thomas, a self-styled otaku "outcast" who deals with Yo-kai in the upstate city of Springdale. Unlike the first two games, the player is not given a choice to select Katie Forester as the protagonist instead of Nathan Adams.

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

Gameplay

Synopsis

Nathan Adams (Keita Amano in Japanese) moves from the upstate American city of Springdale to the southern town of 'BBQ' after his father transferred (in the original Japanese release, the move is overseas from Japan to America). The Yo-kai around BBQ are known as 'Merican Yo-kai.[5] Unlike the first two games, the player is not given the choice to select between Adams and an equivalent female protagonist, Katie Forester, with the role being taken by Hailey.[6]

Meanwhile, back in Springdale, which served as the setting for the first two games, Hailey Anne Thomas (Inaho Misora in Japanese) forms a Yo-kai detective team to solve mysteries and requests from Yo-kai and humans.[5]

Plot

Nate and his family move to St. Peanutsburg in the fictitious country of BBQ (the United States in the Japanese version) after his father transfers his business there. During his story arc of the main game, Nate, Whisper, and Jibanyan befriend Buck Hazeltine, who is able to see Yo-kai because of the UFO Stone he wears on his necklace. Meanwhile, rumors of a UFO circulate around town as FBY agents Blunder and Folly investigate the case.

The other protagonist is Hailey Anne, whose story takes place in Springdale. In her story, she meets Usapyon and forms the Hapyon Detective Agency; together, they solve mysteries and requests from Yo-kai and humans.

Later, Nate, Hailey Anne, Buck, and their befriended Yo-kai team up to fight against the Ghoulfather.

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.[7]

Details for the third version of the game, Sukiyaki,[8] were announced in October 2016. Sukiyaki included a separate multiplayer mode based on the spinoff game Yo-kai Watch Blasters, the ability to unlock "God Yo-kai" by linking all three versions together, and a sidequest that would tie into the story of the third Yo-kai Watch movie, Yo-kai Watch: Soratobu Kujira to Double no Sekai no Daibōken da Nyan!.[9] The Yo-kai Watch Blasters Treasure mode was added to Sushi and Tempura as the first major update, after the release of Sukiyaki.[10]

Version 3.0 of Yo-kai Watch 3 was launched in Spring 2017, adding new quests, locations, dungeons, and Yo-kai.[11] The next major feature update, version 4.0, was launched in Summer 2017, with similar added features.[12]

Localization

The original Japanese release involves a culture shift from a Japanese setting to an American one; rather than a similar overseas move, the Western release of Yo-kai Watch 3 frames the same shift from Springdale to BBQ as a move from a Japanese interpretation of an average American city to a representation of the Southern United States. The cultural contrasts the protagonist 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. In order to make the localization feel more "realistic", the awkward nature of this cultural clash is often played for comedy purposes. For example, an early plot element in the original Japanese game release involved the protagonist not understanding the local residents because he did not know English, with minimal straight comedy. In the localized release, the protagonist now fails to understand the thick southern drawl of the residents, and turned into a full-on comedic premise.[13][14][15]

According to prerelease coverage and marketing materials, the localization turned America into the fictitious country of BBQ, with Nathan Adams moving to the city of St. Peanutsburg within BBQ.[16][17] 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-state, rather than overseas.[18]

Marketing

The covers for the initial Sushi and Tempura versions were released alongside the announcement the game would be split into two versions in April 2016. The cover for Sushi features the American equivalents of Komasan and Komajiro, renamed the KK Brothers; the cover for Tempura has Tomnyan, the American version of Jibanyan.[19] Sushi & Tempura sold 632,135 copies combined during its release week, less than half the combined first-week sales of Yo-kai Watch 2.[20]

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.[21]

Reception

Yo-kai Watch 3 was positively reviewed in Famitsu, scoring 37/40 for both the Sushi & Tempura versions;[23] the Sukiyaki version received the same score.[24]

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."[25] 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."[26] Overall, the game was rated 80/100 on Metacritic.[22]

Despite positive reviews, the game sold less than its two predecessors in Japan, selling 2 million copies overall. The game was also a commercial failure in the United States; mainly due to the 3DS nearing the end of its lifecycle and the game itself facing stiff competition from Kingdom Hearts III for the PlayStation 4 and the remake of Resident Evil 2, as well as the release of the technologically superior Nintendo Switch. The game's commercial failure overseas was one of the factors in Level-5 International America closing its doors and its parent company focusing solely on the Japanese market. However, in 2023 Level-5 returned to the international market. In the years since its release, Yo-kai Watch 3 has become one of the 3DS's most expensive games.[27][28]

Sequel

The fourth game in the series, Yo-kai Watch 4, was released for the Nintendo Switch in Japan on June 20, 2019.[29][30] 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.[31][32]

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. 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.
  6. ↑ Jenni (February 21, 2019). "Yo-kai Watch 3's Dual Protagonists Give The Game More Personality". Siliconera. Retrieved May 28, 2019.
  7. ↑ Romano, Sal (April 7, 2015). "Yo-kai Watch 3 announced for 3DS". Gematsu. Retrieved April 27, 2019.
  8. ↑ 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.
  9. ↑ Romano, Sal (October 13, 2016). "Yo-kai Watch 3: Sukiyaki announced". Gematsu. Retrieved April 27, 2019.
  10. ↑ Romano, Sal (October 15, 2016). "Yo-kai Watch 3: Sukiyaki debut trailer, details". Gematsu. Retrieved April 27, 2019.
  11. ↑ Romano, Sal (March 14, 2017). "Yo-kai Watch 3 version 3.0 update launches this spring in Japan". Gematsu. Retrieved April 27, 2019.
  12. ↑ Romano, Sal (August 29, 2017). "Yo-kai Watch 3 version 4.0 update now available in Japan". Gematsu. Retrieved April 27, 2019.
  13. ↑ 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.
  14. ↑ "Darn tootin': Yo-Kai Watch 3 review | Technobubble". Reno Gazette Journal. Retrieved May 26, 2019.
  15. ↑ rawmeatcowboy (February 8, 2019). "GoNintendo Review - Yo-Kai Watch 3". GoNintendo. Retrieved May 26, 2019.
  16. ↑ "Yo-Kai Watch™ 3: World | Welcome to St Peanutsburg". Nintendo UK. Retrieved May 28, 2019.
  17. ↑ 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.
  18. ↑ Παπαμήτρου, Κώστας. "Yo-Kai Watch 3 - GameOver.gr - Νέα, Reviews, Previews Παιχνιδιών, Gadgets". gameover.gr (in Greek). Retrieved May 26, 2019.
  19. ↑ Inglese, Frank (April 13, 2016). "Level-5 Reveals Yo-kai Watch 3: Sushi And Tempura Versions alongside Official Release Date". Snap Thirty. Retrieved April 27, 2019.
  20. ↑ "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.
  21. ↑ "This Week In Sales: Yo-kai Watch 3 Cooks Up Its Sukiyaki Version". Siliconera. December 23, 2016. Retrieved April 27, 2019.
  22. 1 2 "Yo-kai Watch 3 for 3DS Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved May 3, 2019.
  23. 1 2 "Famitsu Reviews Yo-Kai Watch 3". My Nintendo News. July 31, 2016. Retrieved April 27, 2019.
  24. 1 2 Romano, Sal (December 13, 2016). "Famitsu Review Scores: Issue 1463". Gematsu. Retrieved April 27, 2019.
  25. 1 2 Clark, Justin (February 15, 2019). "Yo-kai Watch 3 Review - Tokyo To Texas". Gamespot. Retrieved May 3, 2019.
  26. 1 2 Reseigh-Lincoln, Dom (December 5, 2018). "Yo-kai Watch 3 Review". Nintendo Life. Retrieved May 3, 2019.
  27. ↑ Drake, Jeff; Yildizhan, Muhammet Kerem (January 13, 2021). "The 15 Rarest 3DS Games (& How Much They're Worth)". Game Rant. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  28. ↑ "Yo-Kai Watch 3 Prices Nintendo 3DS | Compare Loose, CIB & New Prices". PriceCharting. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  29. ↑ Craddock, Ryan (May 17, 2019). "Yo-Kai Watch 4 Release Delayed Yet Again". Nintendo Life. Retrieved June 20, 2019.
  30. ↑ "妖怪ウォッチ4 ぼくらは同じ空を見上げている" [Yo-kai Watch 4: We're Looking Up at the Same Sky]. Nintendo of Japan. Retrieved June 20, 2019.
  31. ↑ Romano, Sal (July 5, 2019). "Yo-kai Watch 4 coming west". Gematsu. Retrieved July 9, 2019.
  32. ↑ "Ni No Kuni Developer Level-5 Is Shutting Down In North America-Report". GameSpot. Retrieved April 21, 2021.
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