Pokemon X & Y coming to 3DS in October 2013: trailer, screens here
Pokemon was the focus of Nintendo's latest instalment of Nintendo Direct, hosted by president Satoru Iwata. During the stream he presented a debut trailer for Pokemon X and Pokemon Y, two 3DS titles coming to the handheld this October. Check out what happened here.
Iwata opened the feed by explaining that the cast was broadcast in seven languages simultaneously, suggesting it was going to be a big one.
It kicked off with a look back at Pokemon Blue, Red and Green, discussing the monsters that appeared on each of the game's covers. Iwata explained that offering two versions of one game was a new concept at the time, and the way that Pokemon were different on each cart was positively received by fans, provoking them to try and 'collect em all'.
1999's Pokemon Gold and Silver were next, and Iwata recalled the big impact the colour of Game Boy Color added to the franchise. He also focused on the appearance of legendary Pokemon on the cover of each game.
Game Boy Advance's Pokemon Ruby and Sapphire were next, and Iwata stressed the importance of the game's four-player tag function, which he said added more strategy to proceedings. 2004's Pokemon Fire Red and Leaf Green also came with a wireless adapter, which Iwata also championed.
Iwata said Pokemon Diamond and Pearl - released on DS in 2006 - made tremendous progress in the series, thanks to offering in-built wireless via the console. Iwata said that this trend improved throughout all subsequent editions right up to Pokemon Black and white version 2 on 3DS.
Now on to the new stuff: Iwata revealed two new 3DS Pokemon games- called Pokemon X and Pokemon Y - which will launch October 2013. The trailer opened with Pikachu sending sparks flying across the globe, and saw a new female adventurer running across a 3D world teeming with new Pokemon such as squirrel Chespin, blue frog Froakie and a flaming marsupial.
Here's the trailer:
The more you battle with your Pokemon, the stronger your bond will become, said the trailer. Seen flying above the skies was a new legendary Pokemon, and a legendary giant deer with many antlers.
We'll have more on Pokemon X & Y as it happens, but it should reverse Nintendo's so-called 'weakness' that Michael Pachter said has been dogging the company as of late.
We've now got screens: