Yo-kai Watch (Nintendo 3DS) Second Opinion Review

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be in the The Sixth Sense, being able to see ghosts? Well, in YO-KAI WATCH that dream comes true, with the lead character - a user-named boy or girl - stumbling across a special machine one day that grants him the power to identify mischievous Yo-kai that often linger nearby, causing havoc. Sometimes it could be parents arguing, or friends falling out, or even people blurting out home truths without understanding why they are doing so. The concept is quite intriguing, explaining away many of the world's issues by placing the blame onto Yo-kai! If only that was the case…

Anyway, the aim of the game is to roam around, basically just helping people as you go. It really is the most rudimentary of foundations, but the amusing writing and adorable characters are what help YO-KAI WATCH develop into something very special indeed.

On the road to bringing peace and happiness to the world, there is, inevitably, some battling element, as well as the opportunity to collect more Yo-kai along the way in order to bolster the team and fight against some of the more…'mean-spirited' Yo-kai. Encounters usually occur when using the Yo-kai Lens to scour surroundings and then confronting the specific Yo-kai, although there are also instances where wandering Yo-kai will approach and instigate battles.

As for the mechanic itself, at first it seems far too easy, with no user-interaction, but as the adventure progresses, more options need to actually be used - be it feeding certain Yo-kai treats to befriend them, spinning the special wheel on the touchscreen around to select what three out of the party of six are currently in the firing line, or even adjusting the tribe of Yo-kai brought into the team in the first place. There are also special moves that each Yo-kai can use, which are user-triggered and need the stylus to be used for tapping bubbles floating onto the screen, spinning around to fill a meter, or drawing out specific patterns before they can be unleashed.

There is hidden depth, definitely, and although the initial stages may seem too targeted at a younger audience, any age-group will be able to appreciate how everything develops, and the humour is suitable for all demographics. With StreetPass and SpotPass features added in, plus the draw of filling in the Yo-kai Medallium completely ("Gotta catch 'em all!"), the exciting mini-games, and the lovely little anime sequences included, you had better YO-KAI WATCH out for this one...