Yo-kai Watch Jam: Yo-kai Academy Y – Waiwai Gakuen Seikatsu

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Yo-kai Watch Jam: Yo-kai Academy Y – Waiwai Gakuen Seikatsu
Yo-kai Watch Jam- Yo-kai Academy Y – Waiwai Gakuen Seikatsu cover art.jpeg
Promotional art depicting the game's main characters and the Y Academy
Developer(s)Level-5
Publisher(s)
Composer(s)
SeriesYo-kai Watch
Platform(s)
ReleaseNintendo Switch
  • JP: August 13, 2020
PlayStation 4
  • JP: October 29, 2020
Genre(s)Role-playing
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Yo-kai Watch Jam: Yo-kai Academy Y – Waiwai Gakuen Seikatsu[a] 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 sees the player as Jinpei Jiba, a student at the fictitious Y Academy, who investigates mysteries occurring in the academy and surrounding areas.[2]

Yo-kai Watch Jam was received positively by critics, who praised the game's combat system and environment and school life mode, due to its routine feeling and open world-like style.[3][4]

Gameplay[]

A typical battle in the game

A role-playing game, Yo-kai Watch Jam sees the player as Jinpei Jiba, who aims to become the most popular kid at the Y Academy, an elite boarding school that's also the main setting of the Yo-kai Academy Y anime series. Yo-kai Watch Jam's main gameplay occurs during "school life",[5] which is when the player is at the Y Academy and attempts to raise their popularity. Popularity is risen 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]

Similarly to previous Yo-kai Watch games, Yo-kai Watch Jam has a combat system, although it has been drastically changed from mainline Yo-kai Watch games, with battles happening in real-time.[4] During battles, players can transform into a Yo-kai Hero using their YSP Watch,[8] which makes the player stronger.

Development and release[]

Yo-kai Watch Jam was developed and published by Level-5,[9] who had developed and published most other Yo-kai Watch games. The game is based on the Yo-kai Watch Jam: Yo-kai Academy Y: Encounter with N anime series,[10] which's first season was ongoing at the time of the game's release. Development of Yo-kai Watch Jam was prioritized over Inazuma Eleven: Great Road of Heroes, due to Level-5 wanting Great Road of Heroes to be "a hit".[11][12]

The game was first revealed by Level-5 CEO Akihiro Hino on Twitter in December 2019,[13] with an official announcement later being made in the March 2020 issue of CoroCoro Comic.[14] Further details were unveiled during the lead-up towards 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 released on August 13, 2020, on the Nintendo Switch,[18] with a PlayStation 4 release following on October 29.[19] The game was released physically on December 17.[20]

Reception and sales[]

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 Miyashita 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 made it easier for newcomers of the Yo-kai Watch series to get into the game, comparing the system to that of the Yo-kai Watch Blasters series. Gigolo Ashida, writing for 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[]

  1. ^ Japanese: 妖怪学園Y ～ワイワイ学園生活～ - 妖怪ウォッチ シリーズ

References[]

  1. ^ "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.
  2. ^ Fuller, Alex (March 15, 2020). "Yo-kai Watch Jam: Yo-kai Academy Y Announced". RPGamer. Retrieved February 16, 2021.
  3. ^ 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.
  4. ^ 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.
  5. ^ 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.
  6. ^ 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.
  7. ^ Sato (July 17, 2020). "Yo-kai Watch Jam – Yo-kai Academy Y Gameplay Trailer and Opening Movie". Siliconera. Enthusiast Gaming. Retrieved February 25, 2021.
  8. ^ "『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.
  9. ^ "Yo-kai Watch Jam: Yo-kai Academy Y – Waiwai Gakuen Seikatsu". RPGamer. Retrieved February 16, 2021.
  10. ^ 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.
  11. ^ 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.
  12. ^ 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.
  13. ^ Doolan, Liam (December 29, 2019). "Level-5 CEO Reveals New Yo-Kai Watch Game". Nintendo Life. Nlife Media. Retrieved February 16, 2021.
  14. ^ 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.
  15. ^ Romano, Sal (September 1, 2020). "Level-5 announces TGS 2020 Online lineup, schedule". Gematsu. Retrieved February 16, 2021.
  16. ^ Fuller, Alex (April 19, 2020). "More Yo-kai Watch Jam: Yo-kai Academy Y Details Released". RPGamer. Retrieved February 17, 2021.
  17. ^ 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.
  18. ^ 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.
  19. ^ 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.
  20. ^ 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.
  21. ^ Romano, Sal (August 20, 2020). "Famitsu Sales: 8/3/20 – 8/16/20 [Update]". Gematsu. Retrieved February 16, 2021.
  22. ^ Romano, Sal (January 7, 2021). "Famitsu Sales: 12/21/20 – 1/3/21 [Update]". Gematsu. Retrieved February 16, 2021.

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