Yo-kai Watch Jam: Yo-kai Academy Y
| Yo-kai Watch Jam: Yo-kai Academy Y | |
|---|---|
 Promotional art depicting the game's main characters and the Y Academy | |
| Developer(s) | Level-5 |
| Publisher(s) | Level-5 |
| Composer(s) |
|
| Series | Yo-kai Watch |
| Platform(s) | |
| Release | Nintendo Switch
|
| Genre(s) | Role-playing |
| Mode(s) | Single-player, multiplayer |
Yo-kai Watch Jam: Yo-kai Academy Y – Waiwai Gakuen Seikatsu,[a] also known as Y School Heroes: Bustlin' School Life, is a 2020 role-playing game developed and published by Level-5 for the Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4. A spin-off installment in the Yo-kai Watch series, Yo-kai Watch Jam focuses on Jinpei Jiba, a student at the fictitious Y Academy, who investigates mysteries occurring in the academy and surrounding areas.[2] He is also joined by his friends, who are among the playable characters.
Yo-kai Watch Jam was received positively by critics, who praised the game's combat system, environment, and school life mode, due to its routine feeling and open world-like style.[3][4]
Gameplay
[edit]
Yo-kai Watch Jam is a role-playing game that focuses on Jinpei Jiba as he attends Y Academy, an elite boarding school and the main setting of the Yo-kai Academy Y anime series. Yo-kai Watch Jam's main gameplay occurs during "school life",[5] which takes place during the day at Y Academy as the player attempts to raise their popularity by receiving "Likes", which can be obtained through solving fellow students' quests.[6] During school life, players can also befriend other students and join clubs.[7]
Yo-kai Watch Jam has a combat system that is drastically different from mainline Yo-kai Watch games, with battles happening in real-time.[4] During battles, players can transform into a Yo-kai Hero using the YSP Watch,[8] which makes the player stronger.
Development and release
[edit]Yo-kai Watch Jam was developed and published by Level-5,[9] who had developed and published other Yo-kai Watch games. The game is based on the Yo-kai Watch Jam: Yo-kai Academy Y: Close Encounters of the N Kind anime series,[10] whose first season was ongoing at the time of the game's release. Development of Yo-kai Watch Jam was prioritized over Inazuma Eleven: Victory Road, due to Level-5 wanting Victory Road to be "a hit".[11][12]
The game was first revealed by Level-5 CEO Akihiro Hino on Twitter in December 2019,[13] and was officially announced in the March 2020 issue of CoroCoro Comic.[14] Further details were unveiled in the lead-up to the game's release.[15][16] A demo for the game was released on the Nintendo eShop on August 3, 2020.[17]
Yo-kai Watch Jam was released on August 13, 2020, on the Nintendo Switch,[18] and on the PlayStation 4 on October 29.[19] The game was released physically on December 17.[20]
Reception and sales
[edit]Yo-kai Watch Jam received generally favorable reviews from critics, who praised the game's combat and school mode.[4] Akiru Miyashita, writing for 4Gamer.net, stated that Yo-kai Watch Jam was his favorite entry in the Yo-kai Watch series,[5] due to the game's open world-like environment and combat system, which he opined had a "good tempo".[3]
The game's school environment was received positively by critics. Namco Kushida of Famitsu described it as a "miniature garden", writing that she could "not help but patrol every corner". Totsuka expressed that going to and from school felt routine.[4] Miyashita also enjoyed the routine feeling of school life, calling it "comfortable".[5]
The combat system was also received positively. Keiichi Totsuka of Famitsu wrote that the combat system was accessible to newcomers of the Yo-kai Watch series, comparing the system to that of the Yo-kai Watch Blasters series. Gigolo Ashida of Famitsu appreciated the Yo-kai Hero mechanic, due to it being a "good accent". Amemiya, also of Famitsu, criticized how the game uses a chibi art style during battles, as he felt it makes it harder to see what's happening.[4]
Yo-kai Watch Jam sold over 3 thousand copies on the Nintendo Switch in its first three days of release, making it the 25th best-selling video game in the week of August 10.[21] In late December 2020, Yo-kai Watch Jam was announced to have sold over 42 thousand copies on the Nintendo Switch.[22]
Notes
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "妖怪学園Y ~ワイワイ学園生活~ (オリジナル・サウンドトラック)". Apple Music. Apple. Retrieved March 7, 2021.
- ^ Fuller, Alex (March 15, 2020). "Yo-kai Watch Jam: Yo-kai Academy Y Announced". RPGamer. Retrieved February 16, 2021.
- ^ a b Miyashita, Akiru (January 14, 2021). "男色ディーノのゲイムヒヒョー ゼロ：第615回「男色ゲイムアワード2020（後編）」". 4Gamer.net (in Japanese). Aetas. Retrieved February 17, 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f Ashida, Gigolo; Keiichi, Totsuka; Kushida, Namco; Amemiya. "妖怪学園Ｙ ～ワイワイ学園生活～ PS4". Famitsu (in Japanese). Kadokawa Game Linkage. Retrieved February 16, 2021.
- ^ a b c Miyashita, Akiru (August 20, 2020). "男色ディーノのゲイムヒヒョー ゼロ：第595回「『妖怪学園Y』が，『妖怪ウォッチ』シリーズの中で一番好き」". 4Gamer.net (in Japanese). Aetas. Retrieved February 17, 2021.
- ^ Romano, Sal (April 16, 2020). "Yo-kai Watch Jam: Yo-kai Academy Y – Waiwai Gakuen Seikatsu details Free Events, battle tidbits". Gematsu. Retrieved March 7, 2021.
- ^ Sato (July 17, 2020). "Yo-kai Watch Jam – Yo-kai Academy Y Gameplay Trailer and Opening Movie". Siliconera. Enthusiast Gaming. Retrieved February 25, 2021.
- ^ "『妖怪ウォッチ』シリーズ最新作『妖怪学園Y ～ワイワイ学園生活～』情報解禁！ 超自由に学園生活が送れるRPG!?". Famitsu (in Japanese). Kadokawa Game Linkage. March 14, 2020. Retrieved March 7, 2021.
- ^ "Yo-kai Watch Jam: Yo-kai Academy Y – Waiwai Gakuen Seikatsu". RPGamer. 24 November 2020. Retrieved February 16, 2021.
- ^ Hodgkins, Crystalyn (October 8, 2020). "Yo-kai Gakuen Y Wai Wai Gakuen Seikatsu Game's PS4 Version Launches on October 29". Anime News Network. Retrieved March 7, 2021.
- ^ Romano, Sal (September 21, 2020). "Level-5 prioritizing Yo-kai Watch Jam: Yo-kai Academy Y – Waiwai Gakuen Seikatsu over Inazuma Eleven: Heroes' Great Road". Gematsu. Retrieved February 16, 2021.
- ^ Wrong, Alistair (September 20, 2020). "Level-5 to Prioritize Yokai Gakuen Development Over Inazuma Eleven: Great Road of Heroes". Siliconera. Enthusiast Gaming. Retrieved February 16, 2021.
- ^ Doolan, Liam (December 29, 2019). "Level-5 CEO Reveals New Yo-Kai Watch Game". Nintendo Life. Nlife Media. Retrieved February 16, 2021.
- ^ Sato (March 11, 2020). "Yo-kai Watch Jam: Yo-kai Academy Y Announced for PlayStation 4 and Switch". Siliconera. Enthusiast Gaming. Retrieved February 16, 2021.
- ^ Romano, Sal (September 1, 2020). "Level-5 announces TGS 2020 Online lineup, schedule". Gematsu. Retrieved February 16, 2021.
- ^ Fuller, Alex (April 19, 2020). "More Yo-kai Watch Jam: Yo-kai Academy Y Details Released". RPGamer. Retrieved February 17, 2021.
- ^ Romano, Sal (August 1, 2020). "Yo-kai Watch Jam: Yo-kai Academy Y – Waiwai Gakuen Seikatsu demo for Switch launches August 3 in Japan". Gematsu. Retrieved February 17, 2021.
- ^ Iwase, Kento (August 13, 2020). "RPG×学園生活！ 「妖怪学園Y ～ワイワイ学園生活～」が本日発売！". Game Watch. Impress Corporation. Retrieved March 7, 2021.
- ^ Sato (October 8, 2020). "Yo-kai Watch Jam – Yo-kai Academy Y PS4 Release Date in Japan Set for October 29, 2020". Siliconera. Enthusiast Gaming. Retrieved February 16, 2021.
- ^ Romano, Sal (October 14, 2020). "Yo-kai Watch Jam: Yo-kai Academy Y – Waiwai Gakuen Seikatsu physical edition includes both major free updates". Gematsu. Retrieved February 16, 2021.
- ^ Romano, Sal (August 20, 2020). "Famitsu Sales: 8/3/20 – 8/16/20 [Update]". Gematsu. Retrieved February 16, 2021.
- ^ Romano, Sal (January 7, 2021). "Famitsu Sales: 12/21/20 – 1/3/21 [Update]". Gematsu. Retrieved February 16, 2021.
External links
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