Highlights
- Detective Pikachu Returns brings players back to Ryme City, offering a charming and mysterious adventure for fans of the Pokemon series.
- The gameplay is focused on investigating crime scenes, uncovering clues, and solving mysteries with the help of Pokemon characters.
- The presence of voice acting in the game adds immersion and unique personalities to the characters in the Pokemon world.
Over five years after the original 3DS title launched and following the release of a successful film adaptation, Detective Pikachu Returns brings players back to the world of Ryme City as they partner up with this coffee-loving Pikachu to uncover the mystery surrounding Tim Goodman's father Harry's disappearance. In a break from the traditional Pokemon series formula, Detective Pikachu Returns won't feature the typical monster-collecting gameplay, but rather that of classic adventure games. With how expansive the Pokemon world is, it seems like there will be a lot in this game for fans of the series to love.
The Pokemon franchise has a history of delivering spin-off titles that help to further flesh out the series' universe as well as give fans a chance to explore different aspects of the world across various genres. Although games like Pokemon GO and Pokemon Unite have become some of the most popular spin-off games in recent years, there is still room for a charming adventure game like Detective Pikachu Returns in the franchise's library. For players looking for a unique Pokemon experience, Detective Pikachu Returns looks to deliver charm and mystery in spades.
Detective Pikachu Returns' Confirmed Features
- Explore Ryme City, where humans and Pokemon live side by side
- Experience adventure-based gameplay where players must look for clues, investigate scenes, and make deductions
- Appearances from over 30 of the series' creatures
- Get help from other Pokemon and use their special skills to uncover clues
- Work together with Detective Pikachu to interview both humans and Pokemon
- Voice acting for Pikachu and other characters
- Uncover the mystery of what happened to Tim's father, Harry Goodman
The core gameplay of Detective Pikachu Returns seems to follow the formula of a traditional adventure game set by its predecessor on the Nintendo 3DS. Rather than battling with these critters, players will get to experience the setting of Ryme City where Pokemon and humans work together in harmony. As players explore Ryme City, they will encounter a string of mysteries to solve along with a cast of interesting characters and critters who find themselves wrapped up in the cases.
To solve these mysteries, players will need to investigate crime scenes and uncover clues in order to deduce the truth of what really happened. Along the way, players will gain the aid of certain Pokemon with particular skills that can be helpful in discovering hidden clues, such as Growlithe and its keen sense of smell. As the human Tim Goodman, players will be able to interview other residents of Ryme City, but his partner Detective Pikachu can aid the investigation by questioning other Pokemon that Tim can't normally speak with.
While the gameplay of Detective Pikachu Returns seems similar to games like Ace Attorney or Danganronpa, the less mature tone of the Pokemon world means that players shouldn't expect anything too serious from its story. However, the mix of interactable human and Pokemon characters gives the game its own identity and potential for a unique plot only possible in the Pokemon world. Detective Pikachu Returns also sets itself apart from other games of its genre by utilizing features of the Pokemon world to create unique gameplay opportunities involving these popular critters.
One of the biggest features Detective Pikachu Returns has over other games in the franchise is the presence of voice acting. While some fans believed Pokemon Scarlet and Violet should have had voice acting, Detective Pikachu Returns gives players a chance to hear what a voice-acted Pokemon game sounds like. Despite some controversy surrounding Detective Pikachu's voice direction in this title, the presence of voice acting makes the game more immersive and helps give the characters their own distinct personalities within the game's world.
Detective Pikachu Returns releases on Nintendo Switch on October 6, 2023.
