Revitalizing Pokkén Tournament: Why Nintendo Shouldn't Miss Another Chance

A Pokemon Direct would not be complete without mentioning a Pokemon title, and the latest one did not disappoint. Soon, Pokemon Scarlet and Violet will receive DLC packs, and a fresh Detective Pikachu game is in the works. While there are likely more Pokemon games in development, one spin-off seems to have been overlooked. Despite having a presence on two Nintendo consoles, it appears that the era of Pokken Tournament has come to an end.

The Pokemon franchise has seen numerous spin-offs that explore new genres, but some of the most thrilling ones have been forgotten. Pokken Tournament was one such exciting spin-off that introduced the series to the fighting game genre, offering a unique and challenging Pokemon experience. Although it may not have reached the same level of popularity as other spin-offs, it doesn't mean that the concept should be abandoned and left to collect dust.

Pokken Tournament Shouldn't Be Forgotten

Pokken Tournament introduced a fresh take on the Pokemon franchise, offering a unique fighting game experience. Developed by Bandai Namco Entertainment, this game allowed players to directly control their favorite Pokemon. With 23 different Pokemon to choose from in Pokken Tournament DX, each one offered its own distinctive gameplay style for players to master. This game had all the elements that fans of fighting games would expect, but with an exciting Pokemon twist.

In Pokken Tournament, two fighters faced off against each other on stages resembling Pokemon Stadiums. With control over their chosen Pokemon, they could harness its abilities to overpower their opponent. Engaging in typical fighting game tactics, they could deliver devastating moves and even showcase Mega Evolutions. Additionally, they had the option to call upon Support Pokemon for assistance when the going got tough.

Pokken Tournament introduced a unique gameplay mechanic by splitting fights into two distinct phases. Depending on the situation, the battle would seamlessly shift between these phases, each requiring different gameplay styles. The Field Phase allowed players to freely navigate the battlefield, while the Duel Phase locked them into the traditional fighting game perspective. Both phases offered unique benefits, resulting in a truly innovative fighting game experience.

Although Nintendo currently shows no indication of future plans for Pokken Tournament, there was a time when the company fully embraced the concept. After debuting in Japanese arcades in July 2015, the game was later released worldwide on the Wii U in 2016. As one of the few major Pokemon games available on the Wii U, Pokken Tournament garnered significant attention. It even surpassed sales of Street Fighter 5 in the US and received a nomination for the Best Fighting Game category at The Game Awards.

Nintendo initially had a major success with Pokken Tournament, leading to the expansion of the game on the Nintendo Switch as Pokken Tournament DX. This enhanced version introduced five new fighters, new game modes, and two DLC packs to further expand the roster. With a total of 23 playable Pokemon by the end of 2018, it seemed that the game had a promising future. However, the situation took a drastic turn with the release of the second DLC pack.

Since 2018, Nintendo has shown no further progress or developments regarding the Pokken Tournament concept. Despite its initial success and uniqueness among Pokemon spin-offs, it appears that the studio has no intention of capitalizing on it, which is a disappointment. This game deserves better than being abandoned in such a manner. With rumors of a new Nintendo console on the horizon, there couldn't be a more opportune time to revive this thrilling series.

Pokken Tournament DX is available now for Nintendo Switch.