A Pokémon Z release date confirmation failed to materialize at E3 2015, despite rumors to the contrary. Meanwhile, the new Pokémon Super Mystery Dungeon trailer reveals plot details and gameplay. Nintendo announced that Pokémon Super Mystery Dungeon for 3DS will be launched during the 2015 Winter Holiday Season.
Nintendo Staying Mum on Pokémon Z
For now, it seems that the so-called Pokémon Z exists solely within the wishful thinking of diehard fans. The fabled successor to Pokémon Y was originally rumored to be unveiled at E3 2015. Aficionados were naturally disappointed when this did not happen.
During E3, iDigitalTimes asked Scott Moffitt, Nintendo of America's Executive VP of Sales and Marketing, why a new core Pokémon game was not announced.
"There's no particular reason I'm aware of," Moffitt answered. "One year, for example, people got used to a March or Spring Pokémon time frame and then we moved it to a Fall time frame in October. So we did different things with the Pokémon franchise this year."
Nintendo is currently promoting its Yokai Watch series to western consumers for the very first time this year. The popular Japanese title follows gameplay similar to that of Pokémon, but players capture ghosts to do battle instead.
Pokémon Super Mystery Dungeon Trailer Explained
The recent Super Mystery Dungeon trailer revealed details about the game. This is not the first full trailer, however. Prior to E3, Nintendo released a trailer in Japanese. Hence, the latest video is the first of its kind in English.
According to the trailer, players mysteriously turn into a Pokémon. The type of Pokémon players become is based on answers to questions asked at the beginning. There are 20 playable Pokémon and partners available. Throughout the game, players will be accompanied by faithful partners as they face dangerous enemies and traps. In total, there are 720 types of Pokémon that will appear in the game - not all of them playable.
Players will traverse across oceans and mountains, and explore ever-changing arrays of mystery dungeons. The trailer also revealed a crisis sidestory involving Pokémon being turned to stone. Who is responsible? This will be revealed when the game launches this Winter Holiday Season in North America.
Japan First to Receive Pokémon Super Mystery Dungeon
Nintendo will release Pokémon Super Mystery Dungeon in Japan first, on September 17. The company has yet to confirm an exact release date for the U.S. version.
Happily, Pokémon Super Mystery Dungeon is already available for preorder at Amazon and GameStop for $39.99. Both merchants have put December 31 as a placeholder for the release date, but the information will change when Nintendo announces more details.
