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Pokemon Rumble U review: Toy fair to middling
As odd as it sounds, Pokémon Rumble U doesn't feature a single Pokémon. Instead, the Pikachus and Charizards you encounter are sentient toys equipped with the attacks and elemental affinities of their namesakes. They each look largely as you'd expect, but this toy-based quirk lends itself well to Nintendo's overall strategy for the game, which involves releasing a series of action figures which can be used as playable characters in Pokémon Rumble U. From a corporate, money-making perspective, this seems like a brilliant, almost nefarious scheme to part parents from their paychecks. Unfortunately, the potential of marrying the addiction of Pokémon with the appeal of physical toys loses much of its appeal in the face of overly simplistic gameplay - even for a Pokémon spin-off.
Pokemon Rumble U figures available in UK at GAME
UK trainers can capture (with money) Pokemon Rumble U NFC figures at GAME, which has exclusive rights to them in the UK, much like GameStop does in the US. Players can scan the figures using the Wii U to put Pokemon into the game, a la Skylanders. It was initially unclear if the figures would make it in time for the game's UK launch today, but GAME has them on sale at £4 a pop. The retailer also offers a £20 Rumble U special edition, bundling together an eShop code for the game, a double-sided poster, and two figures: one black or white Kyurem and a "mystery" figure. The standalone game is priced £13.49 at both GAME and on the eShop; as a friendly reminder, the figures aren't needed to play the game (but who are we kidding, if you want the game, you want the figures). As for North America, Pokemon Rumble U heads there in two weeks' time on August 29, with the game priced at $18 and the figures $4 each.
Pokemon Rumble U shakes a trailer, rattles off new features
Pokemon Rumble U hurls itself at North America on August 29, landing on the eShop with a $18 price tag. The Poke-brawler uses NFC tech to 'scan' figurines into the game, where up-to-four players can rough it up in 100-monster skirmishes. There are 18 figurines, available at GameStop for $4 a pop, but it's worth noting they aren't needed to play the game.
Pokemon Rumble U coming to NA, EU next month [update]
Update: The Pokemon Company announced Pokemon Rumble U is coming to North America on August 29, with 18 figurines sold exclusively at GameStop stores. The game, available via the eShop, is priced $18, while each individual figure goes at $4. The announcement notes the figures are not required to play the game. Pokemon Rumble U, a western version of Japan's Pokemon Scramble U, is headed to the Wii U eShop in Europe on August 15, but plans for figurines aren't finalized. Nintendo released Scramble U in Japan earlier this year with physical figures which players can scan into the game a la Skylanders, using the Wii U's Near Fields Communication tech. However, Nintendo of Europe told MCV , "We're still working through the plans for the small number of figurines we plan to release, and will update people in due course." While Nintendo's statement confirms figures for Europe, when they'll be released remains unclear, and with the game a month away it raises doubts over their availability at launch. As per Scramble U, Rumble U features all 649 Poke-critters available in the series - that doesn't include those coming to X and Y - and the game lets up to four players and 100 monsters face off against each other. Nintendo of Europe didn't announce a price for either the game or the individual figurines. %Gallery-193994%
Pokémon Rumble U toys revealed
Nintendo officially unveiled six launch figurines for upcoming eShop brawler Pokémon Rumble U in Japan. Following the CoroCoro reveal earlier this week, Nintendo published images of the six toy critters - there's another special figure yet to be revealed - which are being released on April 24 alongside Rumble U, or Scramble U as it's known in Japan. The sextet comprises Bulbasaur, Pikachu, Torchic, Lucario, Victini, and the oh-so-cute Piplup.As the debut trailer shows, the toys use the Wii U's Near Fields Communication tech to inferface with the game, allowing them, much like in Activision's Skylanders franchise, to appear as in-game characters. Rumble U remains unconfirmed for release outside of Japan, but if the game proves a success - who can see Pokémon meets Skylanders being anything but a goldmine? - it would be staggering for it not to make its way west.Rumble U is priced ¥1800 (around $19), and individual figures ¥200 each (around $2). %Gallery-182943%
Report: Pokémon Rumble U uses Wii U NFC with Skylanders-like toys
Pokémon Rumble U is reportedly taking a leaf out of the Skylanders book by using the Wii U's Near Fields Communication technology with a line of physical Pokémon toys that can appear in-game. The latest CoroCoro magazine, according to Serebii, reveals the toys are going on sale when the game launches in Japan on April 24, and using the NFC tech the Wii U can recognize the figures to have them appear as playable characters.Serebii reports the downloadable game, called Pokémon Scramble U in Japan, is priced ¥1800 (around $19), while the individual figures cost ¥200 each (around $2), with six standard toys and one special toy to go on sale at launch - including a Pikachu one, of course. While the previous Wii and 3DS Pokémon Rumble games made their way west, this Umbrella-developed follow-up has yet to be confirmed for release outside of Japan.
Pokémon Rumble U screens feature a whole bunch of Pikachu
These are the first screens of Pokémon Rumble U, which was announced earlier this week as coming to Japan's Wii U eShop this spring. The Umbrella-developed brawler for up to four players lets 100 toy monsters face off at once, and the best way to showcase that is with plenty-o-Pika. %Gallery-178938%
Pokémon Rumble U revealed for Japan's Wii U eShop
Game Freak announced a Wii U Pokémon Rumble game in the latest issue of Japan's CoroCoro magazine, both Serebii and Bulbanews report. Pokémon Scramble U, as it's dubbed in Japan, comes to the country's Wii U's eShop this spring.The Wii U entry in the Poké-brawler series includes all 649 Pokémon, with 100 of the monsters able to face off against each other at once. As per the 2009 WiiWare game, it supports up to four players.Both the 3DS and WiiWare games released in North America and Europe a few months after coming to Japan. With that in mind, while a Western release hasn't been announced, if it's coming it's likely to arrive before Pokémon X and Y hit worldwide in October, given that the 3DS games will introduce a new slew of collectable critters.
