View source for Software:Yo-kai Watch 3

{{Short description|2016 role-playing video game}}
{{Infobox video game
| title         = Yo-kai Watch 3
| image         = Yo-kai_Watch_3_(North_American_cover_art).png
| alt           =
| caption       = North American cover art
| developer     = Level-5
| publisher     = {{vgrelease|JP|Level-5|WW|[[Company:Nintendo|Nintendo]]}}
| director      = Ken Motomura
| producer      = Akihiro Hino
| designer      = Tatsuya Shinkai
| programmer    = Yuji Mori<br>Tetsuo Mori
| artist        = Takuzo Nagano<br>Miho Tanaka
| writer        = Akihiro Hino<br>Keitaro Sato
| composer      = Kenichiro Saigo
| series        = ''Yo-kai Watch''
| engine        =
| platforms     = {{wipe|Nintendo 3DS}}
| released      = {{Vgrelease new|JP|July 16, 2016|EU|December 7, 2018|NA|February 8, 2019}}
| genre         = [[Software:Role-playing video game|Role-playing]]
| modes         = Single-player, multiplayer
}}
{{nihongo foot|'''''Yo-kai Watch 3'''''|妖怪ウォッチ３}} is a [[Software:Role-playing video game|role-playing]] [[Engineering:Video game|video game]] developed by Level-5 for the {{wipe|Nintendo 3DS}} which is the third game of the main series of ''Yo-kai Watch'' video games. It was initially released in two versions, ''Sushi'' and ''Tempura,'' in Japan in July 2016.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nintendo-insider.com/yo-kai-watch-3-sushi-tempura-set-for-japan/ |title=Yo-kai Watch 3: Sushi & Tempura Announced in Japan |author=Seedhouse, Alex |date=April 13, 2016 |work=Nintendo Insider |access-date=27 April 2019}}</ref> A third version of the game, branded ''Sukiyaki'', was released in Japan in December 2016, adding minor enhancements upon the original versions of the game. An English version based on ''Sukiyaki'' published by [[Company:Nintendo|Nintendo]] was released in [[PAL region]]s in December 2018, and in North America two months later.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.siliconera.com/2018/12/07/western-yo-kai-watch-3-release-is-like-sukiyaki/|title=Western Yo-Kai Watch 3 Release Is Like 'Sukiyaki+'|date=2018-12-07|website=Siliconera|access-date=2019-02-11}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://gematsu.com/2018/10/yo-kai-watch-3-launches-december-7-in-europe|title=Yo-kai Watch 3 launches December 7 in Europe|date=2018-10-30|website=Gematsu|language=en-US|access-date=2019-02-11}}</ref> ''Yo-kai Watch 3'' is the first mainline ''Yo-kai Watch'' game not to be localized in Korean.

The game follows the interconnected stories of two protagonists who both possess the Yo-kai Watch, allowing them to see, befriend, and summon Japanese mythical spirits called [[Unsolved:Yōkai|Yo-kai]]: Nathan Adams, a boy who recently moved to the fictitious Southern United States city of St. Peanutsburg, and Hailey Anne Thomas, a self-styled otaku "outcast" who deals with Yo-kai in the upstate city of Springdale. Unlike the first two games, the player is not given a choice to select Katie Forester as the protagonist instead of Nathan Adams.

The game received generally positive reviews from critics, but was considered a commercial failure outside of Japan and is, to date, the last title in the series to be released internationally.

==Gameplay==

==Synopsis==
Nathan Adams (Keita Amano in Japanese) moves from the upstate American city of Springdale to the southern town of 'BBQ' after his father transferred (in the original Japanese release, the move is overseas from Japan to America). The Yo-kai around BBQ are known as 'Merican Yo-kai.<ref name=YKW3-ST-details>{{cite news |url=https://gematsu.com/2016/04/yo-kai-watch-3-launches-sushi-tempura-versions-july-16-japan |title=Yo-kai Watch 3 launches in Sushi and Tempura versions on July 16 in Japan |author=Romano, Sal |date=April 12, 2016 |work=Gematsu |access-date=27 April 2019}}</ref> Unlike the first two games, the player is not given the choice to select between Adams and an equivalent female protagonist, Katie Forester, with the role being taken by Hailey.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.siliconera.com/2019/02/21/yo-kai-watch-3s-dual-protagonists-give-the-game-more-personality/ |title=Yo-kai Watch 3's Dual Protagonists Give The Game More Personality |author=Jenni |date=February 21, 2019 |work=Siliconera |access-date=28 May 2019}}</ref>

Meanwhile, back in Springdale, which served as the setting for the first two games, Hailey Anne Thomas (Inaho Misora in Japanese) forms a Yo-kai detective team to solve mysteries and requests from Yo-kai and humans.<ref name=YKW3-ST-details/>

==Plot==
Nate and his family move to St. Peanutsburg in the fictitious country of BBQ (the United States in the Japanese version) after his father transfers his business there. During his story arc of the main game, Nate, Whisper, and Jibanyan befriend Buck Hazeltine, who is able to see Yo-kai because of the UFO Stone he wears on his necklace. Meanwhile, rumors of a UFO circulate around town as FBY agents Blunder and Folly investigate the case.

The other protagonist is Hailey Anne, whose story takes place in Springdale. In her story, she meets Usapyon and forms the Hapyon Detective Agency; together, they solve mysteries and requests from Yo-kai and humans.

Later, Nate, Hailey Anne, Buck, and their befriended Yo-kai team up to fight against the Ghoulfather.

==Development==
Level-5 announced details for ''Yo-kai Watch 3'' at a press conference in April 2015. The developers promised at least three large-scale feature updates would follow the release of the game.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://gematsu.com/2015/04/yo-kai-watch-3-announced-for-3ds |title=Yo-kai Watch 3 announced for 3DS |author=Romano, Sal |date=April 7, 2015 |work=Gematsu |access-date=27 April 2019}}</ref>

Details for the third version of the game, ''Sukiyaki'',<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2016-11-30/yo-kai-watch-3-sukiyaki-3ds-game-promo-previews-theme-song/.109288 |title=Yo-kai Watch 3: Sukiyaki 3DS Game's Promo Previews Theme Song |author=Rafael Antonio Pineda  |date=November 30, 2016 |work=Anime News Network |access-date=December 4, 2020}}</ref> were announced in October 2016. ''Sukiyaki'' included a separate multiplayer mode based on the spinoff game ''[[Software:Yo-kai Watch Blasters|Yo-kai Watch Blasters]]'', the ability to unlock "God Yo-kai" by linking all three versions together, and a sidequest that would tie into the story of the third Yo-kai Watch movie, ''Yo-kai Watch: Soratobu Kujira to Double no Sekai no Daibōken da Nyan!''.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://gematsu.com/2016/10/yo-kai-watch-3-sukiyaki-announced |title=Yo-kai Watch 3: Sukiyaki announced |author=Romano, Sal |date=October 13, 2016 |work=Gematsu |access-date=27 April 2019}}</ref> The Yo-kai Watch Blasters Treasure mode was added to ''Sushi'' and ''Tempura'' as the first major update, after the release of ''Sukiyaki''.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://gematsu.com/2016/10/yo-kai-watch-3-sukiyaki-debut-trailer-details |title=Yo-kai Watch 3: Sukiyaki debut trailer, details |author=Romano, Sal |date=October 15, 2016 |work=Gematsu |access-date=27 April 2019}}</ref>

Version 3.0 of ''Yo-kai Watch 3'' was launched in Spring 2017, adding new quests, locations, dungeons, and Yo-kai.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://gematsu.com/2017/03/yo-kai-watch-3-version-3-0-update-launches-spring-japan |title=Yo-kai Watch 3 version 3.0 update launches this spring in Japan |author=Romano, Sal |date=March 14, 2017 |work=Gematsu |access-date=27 April 2019}}</ref> The next major feature update, version 4.0, was launched in Summer 2017, with similar added features.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://gematsu.com/2017/08/yo-kai-watch-3-version-4-0-update-now-available-japan |title=Yo-kai Watch 3 version 4.0 update now available in Japan |author=Romano, Sal |date=August 29, 2017 |work=Gematsu |access-date=27 April 2019}}</ref>

=== Localization ===
The original Japanese release involves a culture shift from a Japanese setting to an American one; rather than a similar overseas move, the Western release of ''Yo-kai Watch 3'' frames the same shift from Springdale to BBQ as a move from a Japanese interpretation of an average American city to a representation of the Southern United States. The cultural contrasts the protagonist experiences are changed to highlight the cultural clash between what he is used to in upstate America and the culture of a city in the American South. In order to make the localization feel more "realistic", the awkward nature of this cultural clash is often played for comedy purposes. For example, an early plot element in the original Japanese game release involved the protagonist not understanding the local residents because he did not know English, with minimal straight comedy. In the localized release, the protagonist now fails to understand the thick southern drawl of the residents, and turned into a full-on comedic premise.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2018/09/yo-kai_watch_3_is_finally_headed_to_europe_and_north_america_this_winter |title=Yo-Kai Watch 3 Is Finally Headed To Europe And North America This Winter |last=Craddock |first=Ryan |date=2018-09-27|website=Nintendo Life|language=en-GB|access-date=2019-05-26}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rgj.com/story/life/2019/02/15/yokai-yo-kai-watch-3-review-technobubble/2873049002/|title=Darn tootin': Yo-Kai Watch 3 review {{!}} Technobubble|website=Reno Gazette Journal|language=en|access-date=2019-05-26}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://gonintendo.com/stories/328283-gonintendo-review-yo-kai-watch-3|title=GoNintendo Review - Yo-Kai Watch 3 |author=rawmeatcowboy  |website=GoNintendo |date=February 8, 2019 |language=en-US|access-date=2019-05-26}}</ref>

According to prerelease coverage and marketing materials, the localization turned America into the fictitious country of BBQ, with Nathan Adams moving to the city of St. Peanutsburg within BBQ.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nintendo.co.uk/Games/Nintendo-3DS/YO-KAI-WATCH-3-1460343.html#World |title=Yo-Kai Watch™ 3: World {{!}} Welcome to St Peanutsburg |website=Nintendo UK |access-date=28 May 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.siliconera.com/2019/01/24/yo-kai-watch-3-trailer-introduces-nate-hailey-anne-and-some-of-its-new-merican-yo-kai/ |title=Yo-kai Watch 3 Trailer Introduces Nate, Hailey Anne, an And Some Of Its New 'Merican Yo-kai |author=Sato |date=January 24, 2019 |work=Siliconera |access-date=28 May 2019}}</ref> However, in-game dialogue makes it clear that this is not the case and that 'BBQ' is within the same state, as it makes frequent reference to Springdale being "upstate", and Nate and his family having moved across-state, rather than overseas.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://gameover.gr/reviews/38577-yo-kai-watch-3-review|title=Yo-Kai Watch 3 - GameOver.gr - Νέα, Reviews, Previews Παιχνιδιών, Gadgets|last=Παπαμήτρου|first=Κώστας|website=gameover.gr|language=el-gr|access-date=2019-05-26}}</ref>

==Marketing==
The covers for the initial ''Sushi'' and ''Tempura'' versions were released alongside the announcement the game would be split into two versions in April 2016. The cover for ''Sushi'' features the American equivalents of Komasan and Komajiro, renamed the KK Brothers; the cover for ''Tempura'' has Tomnyan, the American version of Jibanyan.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://snapthirty.com/2016/04/13/level-5-reveals-yo-kai-watch-3-sushi-and-tempura-versions-alongside-official-release-date/ |title=Level-5 Reveals Yo-kai Watch 3: Sushi And Tempura Versions alongside Official Release Date |author=Inglese, Frank |date=April 13, 2016 |work=Snap Thirty |access-date=27 April 2019}}</ref> ''Sushi'' & ''Tempura'' sold 632,135 copies combined during its release week, less than half the combined first-week sales of ''[[Software:Yo-kai Watch 2|Yo-kai Watch 2]]''.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.siliconera.com/2016/07/23/week-sales-yo-kai-watch-3-trails-sky-3rd-evolution-uppers-make-debuts/ |title=This Week In Sales: Yo-kai Watch 3, Trails in the Sky the 3rd Evolution, And Uppers Make Debuts |date=July 23, 2016 |work=Siliconera |access-date=27 April 2019}}</ref>

''Sushi'' and ''Tempura'' were bundled together as the ''Sushi/Tempura Busters T [Treasure] Pack'' {{nihongo||スシ/テンプラ バスターズTパック}}, released on December 15, 2016, alongside ''Sukiyaki''. ''Sukiyaki'' sold 337,979 copies during its release week; the ''Sushi/Tempura Busters'' bundle sold 17,709.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.siliconera.com/2016/12/23/week-sales-yo-kai-watch-3-cooks-sukiyaki-version/ |title=This Week In Sales: Yo-kai Watch 3 Cooks Up Its Sukiyaki Version |date=December 23, 2016 |work=Siliconera |access-date=27 April 2019}}</ref>

==Reception==
{{Video game reviews
| MC = 80/100<ref name="MC">{{cite news |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/yo-kai-watch-3/critic-reviews/?platform=3ds |title=Yo-kai Watch 3 for 3DS Reviews |publisher=Metacritic |access-date=3 May 2019}}</ref>
| Fam = 37/40<ref name=famitsu-review-1/><ref name=famitsu-review-2/>
| GSpot = 6/10<ref name=GSpot-YKW3>{{cite web |url=https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/yo-kai-watch-3-review-tokyo-to-texas/1900-6417091/ |title=Yo-kai Watch 3 Review - Tokyo To Texas |author=Clark, Justin |date=February 15, 2019 |website=Gamespot |access-date=3 May 2019}}</ref>
| NLife = 9/10<ref name=NLife-YKW3>{{cite web |url=http://www.nintendolife.com/reviews/3ds/yo-kai_watch_3 |title=Yo-kai Watch 3 Review |author=Reseigh-Lincoln, Dom |date=5 December 2018 |website=Nintendo Life |access-date=3 May 2019}}</ref>
}}

''Yo-kai Watch 3'' was positively reviewed in ''Famitsu'', scoring 37/40 for both the ''Sushi'' & ''Tempura'' versions;<ref name=famitsu-review-1>{{cite news |url=https://mynintendonews.com/2016/07/31/famitsu-reviews-yo-kai-watch-3/ |title=Famitsu Reviews Yo-Kai Watch 3 |date=July 31, 2016 |work=My Nintendo News |access-date=27 April 2019}}</ref> the ''Sukiyaki'' version received the same score.<ref name=famitsu-review-2>{{cite news |url=https://gematsu.com/2016/12/famitsu-review-scores-issue-1463 |title=Famitsu Review Scores: Issue 1463 |author=Romano, Sal |date=December 13, 2016 |work=Gematsu |access-date=27 April 2019}}</ref>

In the United States, ''GameSpot'' scored the game 6/10, calling it "a fun time" and "a cheerful, wacky playground where Pokémon-like creatures happen to live."<ref name=GSpot-YKW3 /> ''Nintendo Life'' was significantly more enthusiastic, scoring the game at 9/10 and declaring it "a triumphant last hurrah for one of the [3DS] platform's most beloved series."<ref name=NLife-YKW3 /> Overall, the game was rated 80/100 on Metacritic.<ref name="MC" />

Despite positive reviews, the game sold less than its two predecessors in Japan, selling 2 million copies overall. The game was also a commercial failure in the United States; mainly due to the {{wipe|Nintendo 3DS}} nearing the end of its lifecycle and the game itself facing stiff competition from ''[[Software:Kingdom Hearts III|Kingdom Hearts III]]'' for the [[Engineering:PlayStation 4|PlayStation 4]] and the remake of ''[[Software:Resident Evil 2|Resident Evil 2]]'', as well as the release of the technologically superior [[Engineering:Nintendo Switch|Nintendo Switch]]. The game's commercial failure overseas was one of the factors in
Level-5 International America closing its doors and its parent company focusing solely on the Japanese market. However, in 2023 Level-5 returned to the international market. In the years since its release, ''Yo-kai Watch 3'' has become one of the 3DS's  most expensive games.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Drake |first=Jeff |last2=Yildizhan |first2=Muhammet Kerem |date=2021-01-13 |title=The 15 Rarest 3DS Games (& How Much They're Worth) |url=https://gamerant.com/rarest-most-expensive-nintendo-3ds-games-cost-price-value/ |access-date=2023-12-10 |website=Game Rant |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Yo-Kai Watch 3 Prices Nintendo 3DS {{!}} Compare Loose, CIB & New Prices |url=https://www.pricecharting.com/game/nintendo-3ds/yo-kai-watch-3 |access-date=2023-12-10 |website=PriceCharting |language=en}}</ref>

==Sequel==
The fourth game in the series, ''[[Software:Yo-kai Watch 4|Yo-kai Watch 4]]'', was released for the [[Engineering:Nintendo Switch|Nintendo Switch]] in Japan on June 20, 2019.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2019/05/yo-kai_watch_4_release_delayed_yet_again_in_japan |title=Yo-Kai Watch 4 Release Delayed Yet Again |author=Craddock, Ryan |date=17 May 2019 |work=Nintendo Life |access-date=20 June 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://ec.nintendo.com/JP/ja/titles/70010000016931 |title=妖怪ウォッチ4 ぼくらは同じ空を見上げている |trans-title=Yo-kai Watch 4: We're Looking Up at the Same Sky |publisher=Nintendo of Japan |access-date=20 June 2019}}</ref> A western release was confirmed at a panel held during the Anime Expo in July 2019, however, in October 2020, Level 5's North American operations shut down, putting into question the chances for the game to be released for North American players. However, with Level 5 returning to the international market in February 2023, the status of the localization remains uncertain.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://gematsu.com/2019/07/yo-kai-watch-4-coming-west |title=Yo-kai Watch 4 coming west |author=Romano, Sal |date=July 5, 2019 |work=Gematsu |access-date=9 July 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Ni No Kuni Developer Level-5 Is Shutting Down In North America-Report|url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/ni-no-kuni-developer-level-5-is-shutting-down-in-north-america-report/1100-6483193/|access-date=2021-04-21|website=GameSpot|language=en-US}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{officialwebsite|https://www.nintendo.com/games/detail/yo-kai-watch-3-3ds}}

{{Level-5}}

[[Category:Role-playing video games]]

{{Sourceattribution|Yo-kai Watch 3}}