Pokken Tournament Deals & Offers

Fighting Video Game at the Cheapest Price: The Best Pokkén Tournament Deals

Pokkén Tournament DX is well-suited to the Switch console and is another classic Nintendo pick-up-and-play game. If you’ve seen it in action on the Wii U, you’ll find it’s basically a direct port of the earlier battlers but in a far higher resolution and with added content. Just like the original games, you select a Pokémon to train, then visit an arena to pit your crew against other trainers. The key difference in Pokkén Tournament DX is that your little monsters can move around like Tekken fighters, rather than just taking turns in the spotlight.

Pocket Monster World Now in High Definition

Part of the global Pokémon franchise, Pokkén Tournament was first released in Japan as an arcade game, then again for the Wii U in 2016. By 2017, Nintendo had launched an enhanced version for their flagship console, the Nintendo Switch. As well as superb graphics, it offers new ways to play, more monsters to train and an online group match mode.

Two Console Versions of Pokkén Tournament

Aside from the arcade version, this game has two buying options. The first is known as Pokkén Tournament and is available for the Wii U. The second updated version is Pokkén Tournament DX, with the two extra letters reflecting its deluxe status. Here’s a run-down of both titles:

Pokkén Tournament for the Wii U– This first Pokkén Tournament edition was a solid attempt at pleasing fans of both Tekken and Pokémon. The fighting elements are expertly presented with various influences, making it a unique experience in a sea of fighter games. The battle moves between the classic Duel Phase and a more complex Field Phase depending on how you play. Tekken inventors Bandai Namco have ensured the audio feels right alongside the action, and many Pokémon soundtrack favourites are lined up to add a flourish of nostalgia to the proceedings. The developers have cherry-picked Pokémon from each generation, ending up with a pretty even mix of fresh and older creatures to keep a range of players happy. The overall look of each competitor is true to the original visually but also in terms of their actions. An example is the super-powered martial arts expert Machamp, who lands cool killer blows and trademark grabs. Many reviewers pointed out that although the gameplay itself was straightforward, the tutorial mode for learning advanced moves is dull and overlong. For a Pokémon title, the game does have countless mechanics, but you can use single-player as a more accessible entry point. Pokkén Tournament is a worthy title, but Pokémon enthusiasts without fighting experience may not enjoy the combat-heavy gameplay.

Pokkén Tournament DX for the Nintendo Switch – Pokkén Tournament DX is available on a Switch card or as a 3502.24MB download. You’ll find all previous content from the arcade and Wii U versions, but in addition, it delivers many new elements. These include:

• The ability to play on a hand-held console – With the Nintendo Switch screen you can take a game with you when you leave home.

• An exclusive new warrior – You’ll be able to play using every Pokémon in the arcade and Wii U versions, but a new contender, Decidueye, is introduced.

• More support Pokémon – Providing back up to the main fighters, Popplio and Litten are the newest support characters.

• Characters available from the get-go – Each of the battling Pokémon and the support creatures can be used from the beginning of the game.

• Tournament replays – Watch the previous battles of more experienced fighters and share a few of your own online matches using the game’s new replay function.

• Group matches – Battle online with other players at your level.

• Team battles – Select three of your finest Pokémon then slug it out with your opponent as you try to beat their chosen three.

• The daily challenge – A new task pops up every day, they aren’t too difficult and can help you earn more Slvl (skill level) points.

Are There any Extensions?

If you’d like to try your hand at Pokkén Tournament DX before spending any money, you can download a free demo version although you’ll need a Nintendo account.

When you own the full game you can keep a lookout for special codes which will be listed on the Nintendo Pokkén Tournament DX page. You can input these by pressing X when you’re on the map screen, where one of the options presented will be for codes. Most refer to customisation of clothing for your trainer and other items, but future releases may feature different extras.

Features of Pokkén Tournament DX Gameplay

Although the gameplay of Pokkén Tournament DX does present a challenge, it isn’t the type of fighter that will scare off newcomers to the genre. Whilst Tekken and Street Fighter cater for gamers with a passion for learning complicated melee moves, here it’s more about watching classic Pokémon get their battle on in high definition 3D.

In Pokkén Tournament DX, bouts take place in an arena and follow a best-of-three format. The Field Phase comes first and is your chance to move freely around the space and try out a few long-range attacks. Next comes the Dual Phase, where you face an opponent at close quarters in a side-view perspective. Regular Phase Shifts move players between these two types of battle in response to someone getting the upper hand. As the situation around you changes quite frequently, the action feels dynamic and unpredictable, keeping you focused throughout.

Within each contest, you can choose between three forms of battle: Team, Basic and Extra. Team is a three-against-three fight, and Extra includes boxes that will either sap your powers or provide a boost. Basic is a straightforward match. Team battles present an excellent opportunity to test out different combinations of creatures. Pokémon may look cute, but each one has plenty of great sparring moves and unique talents.

The campaign element of Pokkén is The Ferrum League. In essence, this is a series of battles in which you move further up the rankings if you’re victorious. Progression can be slow, but it’s entertaining enough despite some ropy voice acting. When you need a break from the league, there are daily challenges with a much faster payoff. Success in these mini-games grants you a small amount of in-game coinage which you can spend on smartening up your avatar. Assembling pretty or edgy outfits for your mini-me is a really enjoyable part of the gameplay, especially as you can swap things around whenever you earn a new reward.

Pokémon acquire more experience with each bout; the better you do, the more they are awarded. They also gain Synergy during a match and you can watch it fill up on a little on-screen meter. Once this reaches the maximum, it makes sense to break out a Synergy Attack. Using this move your Pokémon will evolve into a faster and stronger version capable of inflicting high levels of damage. Support Pokémon have to be picked out prior to a match and they also have a meter – once it’s full, you can use them to throw in an attack move or gain HP.

Many players use the same three creatures during their solo campaign, so they can fine-tune their skills and be ready for new challenges. However, in this highly accessible title, there’s enough to keep both casual and serious gamers engaged for hours, whatever their fighting strategy.

Pokkén Tournament DX Official Game Trailer

Tips for Training Success

Pokkén Tournament is a cool hybrid of Tekken and Pokémon, but you can’t just rely on a good knowledge of these to make headway. In the Pokkén universe, there are a unique set of challenges, but it’s possible to tackle them effectively using these tips.

• Be prepared – We all love to dive into the most playable areas of a game first, but once you’ve had some fun in the single player league, the tutorials can help you reach the next level. This is where you’ll find out about special moves, in terms of attack and defence, with support from onscreen prompts.

• Find a groove – Do you excel when you’re using the JoyCon or Pro Controller with a TV? Or do you play more skilfully on the Switch screen? Mastering a method of control can make a big difference to your performance.

• Test drive a few pocket monsters – Most of us have a select group of Pokémon that we always play as, but with 21 to choose from in the DX version, it’s worth shopping around. Type effectiveness has disappeared, as Pokémon are divided into four distinct groups instead: Speed, Power, Standard and Technique. If you already do well with faster or lighter characters, go for similar ones here as they may suit your style.

• Support Pokémon are important in a bout – All of the 16 supporting pairs of creatures are unlocked from the beginning of Pokkén Tournament DX, even the new editions Popplio and Litten. Experienced players will know that support Pokémon can work in various ways, providing boosts, attacking, or delivering HP bonuses. To pick the right ones to fight with, read about what effect they have and practice with them against a range of opponents.

• Combat triangle knowhow is vital – The tournament system in Pokkén DX resembles a ‘Rock, Paper, Scissors’ game. There are three separate moves and when the Pokémon implements one, it will glow a corresponding colour. Blue is a counter move which beats an attack move, green is a grab move that beats counters and red is an attack that defeats a grab. To keep things interesting the occasional wild card turns up and the attack triangle rules don’t apply, but knowing the basics is a massive advantage.

• Take on mission panels – A new feature for Pokkén DX are mission panels which give you side activities to carry out. Tasks can involve using an unfamiliar Pokémon, mastering a specific move or earning money, all of which help further your progress.

• Use daily challenges to bump up Slvl Points – Each day, a new team battle or a basic clash will turn up in the daily challenge section. You often complete these using Pokémon’s that aren’t part of your regular team. With each challenge comes extra Slvl (skill level) points, and these are usually allocated to the creature that competes. In this way, you can avoid having to tackle the Ferrum League with each Pokémon separately as a way of enhancing their power.

What’s Good About the Game and What Could be Improved?

If you take the new version into account and overlook a few minor flaws, Pokkén Tournament DX is a clever and intense game.

The Pros:

• Performs impressively on the Switch and looks incredible.

• Heaps of fighting monsters from past generations.

• A good choice of stages.

• Multiplayer mode offers high-octane brawling.

• Your trainer is customisable.

The Cons:

• In single-player the campaign may feel basic.

• Decidueye is the only monster unique to this game.

• Voice acting could be better.

• Old school fans might miss the dedicated challenge mode.

Tips on Finding Pokkén Tournament Discounts

You can shop for the releases in all the principle games retailers. Argos, Tesco Direct and Amazon are all selling the title in their online storefronts. At Smyths Toys and the Nintendo UK Store you can buy the game as a digital download if you’d prefer to have a virtual copy. Of course, specialist retailers like GAME, Go2Games and Simply Games are also stocking the title.

The Pokkén Tournament are relatively new games, so they can be expensive. However, you can save money on the title in a number of ways. eBay has second-hand copies along with posters and accessories. If you’d prefer a brand-new version, you could wait for sales in the summer and around Christmas, when large retailers like Currys, Toys R Us and Very, slash costs across their electronics departments. Black Friday is another fantastic time to bag cheap Switch or Wii U cartridges, as UK retailers on and offline cut gaming prices by 50% or more.

The Best Pokkén Tournament Offers at HotUKDeals

HotUKDeals has a large community of bargain hunters who find the best offers on Nintendo titles as they are announced. To browse through the lowest available prices on Pokkén Tournament DX today, click over to the game’s tag page.