Imagine Pokemon on the Wii U

[Saint_Dee]

Many of us have probably dreamt about a fully fledged AAA Pokemon game on console (not hand held), this may have even heightened when the Wii U was announced, some (like myself) had revisited this once Pokemon X and Y were announced for the 3DS. So, I did some digging and found a few interesting articles:

Editor’s Note: The Wii U Daily team have had several internal discussions about the recent announcement of Pokemon X and Y for the 3DS. We’ve been back and forth about what a full-fledged Pokemon release could do for the Wii U and we want your thoughts. Part 1 features speculation on what the Pokemon franchise would be like as well as what it would do to revive Nintendo’s sales of the Wii U. Part 2 will feature a more fleshed out Wii U Pokemon concept according to what the team would like to see. Stay tuned!
Let’s face it. Wii U sales are not what they could be. As the launch period comes to an end, the games used to fuel it begin to wane in their reception. Consumers all but await the promise of new Nintendo software, and for some of us, not just any software, but something we’ve all been longing for. Something… familiar and ground-breaking all at once. Something like… Pokemon.

With the recent and sudden announcement of Pokemon X and Y, this prospect seems unlikely, but not impossible. Think about the potential sales, the high definition textures, the possibilities with Miiverse and the GamePad, and the combined appeal to consumers the world over. Remember, it wasn’t long ago that Nintendo released New Super Mario Bros. 2 and New Super Mario Bros. U for the 3DS and the Wii U respectively. For all we know, Nintendo is testing the waters with X and Y’s visual improvements. So let’s assume, at least until the close of this article, that history is set to repeat itself — this time with Pokemon.

Now, to be clear, I don’t mean a spin-off like Pokemon Snap, or even a title like Pokemon: Battle Revolution. I mean a far more traditional Pokemon game – Pokemon Rain and Pokemon Storm, if you will – for the Wii U. You might say I’ve been inspired by Evan Liaw’s wonderful artwork: screens of what a mainstream Pokemon game for the Wii U could look like.
But realism and Pokemon? It’s something yet to be seen, and, for me, it seems out of place. It’d be like putting Mario in the Portal universe, or, rather, Peach, since she’s the one who gets kidnapped. You get the idea.
But despite the Wii U’s hardware, I think graphics will be among the least of Nintendo’s concerns. They have Miiverse and the GamePad to worry about; and to evolve a game this big (mind the pun), they would need to utilise these features in unique and fun ways.

Miiverse itself offers a myriad of ways to communicate with other players. It could be incorporated much like in New Super Mario Bros. U, where players’ comments pop up overhead events, places and gym leaders. It could be likened to Nintendo Land’s plaza, but rather than having Miis meandering just the plaza itself, you’d find them scattered all over the game world! You’d see their comments with regards to the location, you could have a gander at the Pokemon they have in their party as well as their levels, and you’d be able to respond with your own comments without having to enter Miiverse itself. Last and certainly not least, you could challenge them to a Pokemon battle! If they’re online at the time, it could ping them immediately; otherwise, it’d send a request waiting for the next time they’re active.

[Editor's Note: This is a continuation of our analysis of what a Pokemon game on the Wii U could mean for both the series and Nintendo. You can read part one here.]
Pokémon games don’t have a good history on home consoles. The bulk of the titles have either been glorified apps for viewing and battling the Pokémon from your portable games (Pokémon Stadium, Pokémon Battle Revolution) or weirdly gimped RPG experiences (Pokémon Colosseum, Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness).
Game Freak and Nintendo have each previously voiced their opinions that core Pokémon RPGs are best experienced on portable game systems, owing to the nature of collecting, grinding and trading. This is why every core Pokémon experience to date, plus the recently announced Pokémon X and Pokémon Y, are strictly bound to GameBoys and DS systems. But perhaps the Wii U, Nintendo’s most connected and most social home console to date, could influence that to change.
Let’s take a look at how the system’s unique and innovative features might influence the gameplay of a ‘Pokémon Wii U’, were it to be a traditional Pokémon RPG.

Pokemon centres

We’ve recently been given a look at what the interior of a Pokémon centre might look like on an HD system (although it’s not the art style I would have gone for), but how would the centre operate? Given the advanced social capabilities of the Wii U one could speculate that the Pokémon centre, long the home of the portable games’ connectivity functions, might operate as a new game’s trading, battling and social hub.
Of course the Wii U is always online and always connected to your friends, so it would no longer strictly be necessary to play at the same time or in the same space to enjoy the full benefits of connectivity. Being online at the exact same time as your buddy might allow you to battle or trade directly, or team up to take on all online comers in a two-on-two tournament, but even if none of your friends were online there could be plenty of asynchronous online features...

A render of how a Pokemon center would look.

Source: Wii U Daily (Part 1, Part 2)

Pokemon Centre Artwork: Evan Liaw

I disagree with the title of the 1st linked article ("Can Pokemon save the Wii U?"), as I doubt the Wii U is really in trouble. I do see the potential money they could rake in though. Personally, if such a Pokemon game were to exist, I'd buy a Wii U... No questions asked.

I thought I'd get some opinions from the MyG residents. I know that with such ideas, there could be just as many people that oppose the idea as there are that are for the idea. Would you get a Wii U if the game existed?

 

[Edelweiss]

Yes please! OMFG!!! That Blastoise screenie gave me a nerdgasm!
The next intuitive evolutionary step for the pokemon franchise is to make a godamn pokemon MMO!
But seeing the trends of Gamefreak, that is msot likely never going to happen...

 

[Edelweiss]

Nintendo would be downright retarded NOT to release a 1st/3rd person pokemon MMO for the WII U. There's a great demand for it

 

[Saint_Dee]

Wii U gamepad for a Pokedex. The multiplayer angle is certainly appealing... Seriously, I would buy a Wii U in a heartbeat. It's a gold mine waiting to be struck.

EDIT: I just read a couple of the ideas people are coming up with in the comments sections of the articles; pure gold. So many ideas... just ripe for the picking.

 

[cpt_rocks]

Nintendo would be downright retarded NOT to release a 1st/3rd person pokemon MMO for the WII U. There's a great demand for it

I would instantly go for it. Got the Wii U since a month but I honestly use it mostly for its YouTube integration and Super Mario.