Detective Pikachu Returns is a direct sequel to the first game Detective Pikachu that was released on 3DS in March 2018. The second game in the series, the upcoming Detective Pikachu Returns will be released on October 6th, 2023, exclusively on Nintendo Switch. The game is being developed by Creatures Inc. and is obviously going to be published by Nintendo.
In this article we will predict what to expect from the upcoming game and if it’s going to be a hit or miss for the fans of Pokémon as well as more casual players who like mysteries and detective stuff. Without further ado, let’s see what Pikachu has in store for us this time!
What’s the Story?
Story of the game. We will once again play as Tim Goodman wearing his iconic red hoodie. We came back to Ryme City to once and for all solve all the mysteries and finish unfinished business. There will be plenty of puzzles and cases to solve for both humans and Pokémon, and so far, there isn’t much more known about the game when it comes to the story. However, it will probably be straightforward and simplistic so you can focus on solving puzzles, and still being satisfied with the resolutions.We hope that the game will also be challenging at times because you want that feeling of accomplishment after solving a tougher riddle or case. In addition to that, because the first game came out over five years ago, here we could get some more modern cases that will reference the events and notions from real life like addressing the global pandemic, crypto miner games, or NFTs. As an example, we can see someone who will have their digital art stolen, and we need to crack this mystery wide open.
Visual Presentation
When it comes to the visuals, we only really saw a one-and-a-half-minute trailer, but the game looks kind of bad? We obviously know that it is still a Nintendo Switch game so nothing gorgeous will be happening here, especially with the potential release of Nintendo Switch 2 on the horizon, but the game is not about the graphics. Sadly, the environment does not look pleasing, and the background just falls flat from what we were able to see on the official YouTube Detective Pikachu Returns trailer.The textures do not look impressive, and the pixel count is quite low, but we can hope that what the game lacks in the visual presentation will make up for it in the story, character development, puzzles, and most importantly crimes to solve.
Lovable Characters and Humor
The one thing that works on the benefit of the upcoming game is the humor and chemistry between Pikachu and Tim Goodman. Our detective, known for his bolts and brilliance, will have a lot of interactions with other characters and it will make playing the game and watching the interactions all around you more precious.
The Developers Behind the Game
Another notable thing is that the developers that are creating Pokémon Detective Pikachu Returns by the name of Creatures Inc. create every model for new Pokémon. That includes all the main Pokémon games, side Pokémon games, and Pokémon TCG. They have a great track record of creating Pokémon games overall, so it is an optimistic sign that the game will result in a new hit. The whole game will also be voice acted in various languages so you can immerse yourself in the story even more than ever.
Pokémon Detective Pikachu Returns – Hit or Miss?
Considering the simplicity and uniqueness of this combination of Pikachu and detective work, we think that the game will have a lot of fans and will earn its place as one of the most fun Pokémon titles on Nintendo Switch. However, due to its lack of visual presentation the game might not reach the mainstream appeal it could with better graphics. In addition to all of that there was also a Detective Pikachu movie starring Ryan Reynolds as Pikachu and Justice Smith as Tim Goodman. The movie was a big success, and we also know that the sequel is in Development according to IMDB, so if the movie sequel releases sometime next year, or in 2025 it could create some hype for more Detective Pikachu and the game might sell a lot better, based on the popularity of the movie and the actors involved in portraying the main protagonists. The first movie had some great reviews so we can only hope the second one will repeat the success of the original.So, when it comes to the sequel to the game from 2018, we think that Pokémon Detective Pikachu Returns has a high chance of capturing the hearts of many players all around the world, and that success is needed so the entire spin-off franchise about coffee drinking lightning creature could continue going forward!