‘Pokken Tournament DX’ is Our First Taste of Real Pokémon Action on Switch

Alexa Ray Corriea
Games Pokémon
Games Pokémon Nintendo

This isn’t the first rodeo for this Pokémon-themed Tekken spin-off, Pokken Tournament. After spending some time as a Japanese arcade exclusive, the game made its way to Nintendo Wii U this spring. Given the close proximity to its original release, you’d think the upgraded Pokken Tournament DX would pack as much of a punch. But from one Switch convert to another (I would hope), the game seems more at home on Nintendo’s portable darling than it was on Wii U.

For one thing, playing a nuanced fighting game with the Wii U GamePad is clunky and uncomfortable — just ask anyone who spent time with Pokken or with its more popular cousin, Super Smash Bros. for Wii U. You could use the Pro Controller for the Wii U version, but surprisingly few are willing to spend another $50-plus on another accessory. So if you have a Switch and no Switch Pro Controller, it’s no problem; playing using the Joy-Cons on the TV or in handheld mode is a comfortable experience.

But with no Super Smash Bros. yet in sight and with GameFreak’s in-development Pokémon RPG who knows how far away, the Switch is lacking a combat game tied to its older, more classic IPs. Granted, if you’re looking to fight someone, the newer noodly boxing game ARMS is a great choice, as is Splatoon 2 if you’re feeling the competitive spirit.

The Problem with Pokken

Pokken lacks a depth of intricacy compared to Tekken or Smash — the move sets are fairly simple, and you need only hit a face button and use the directional stick to attack. But what it lacks in complexity, it makes up for in accessibility and charm. This fairly simple command layout makes it easier to pick up for fighting game newbies and players who just plain love Pokémon and want to try it out.

The problem with this, however, is that Pokken still hasn’t found much ground in the fighting games community. Yes, it’s charming as heck, but it’s the best Pokémon combat game we’ve gotten since Pokémon Stadium on Nintendo 64 (nearly 20 years ago!). But because it sticks to basics and leans heavily on adoration of the Pokémon IP, it seems it’s had a harder time breaking into the fighting games community.

Mechanics aside, the allure of fighting with these popular creatures is a big draw on its own, especially among its own community. However, Pokken Tournament does make one misstep: it needs a bigger roster. The current one is decently balanced in offering different choices using different attack elements, but for Pokémon fans, the draw is the collecting. They need more. I’m not saying we need to have all 800-plus Pokémon playable, but a meatier roster may pique the interest of more hardcore fans.

Perfect for the Switch

The roster and simplicity don’t detract from what Pokken Tournament does well: create an immersive experience in the world of Pokémon. It’s a great local multiplayer experience as well, following Nintendo’s ethos of the Switch as the console you tote along to parties. Perhaps in the future we’ll see this game expanded with a robust DLC plan a la The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.

Alexa Ray Corriea
Alexa Ray is Fandom's Senior Editor for Games, with a borderline unhealthy interest in Kingdom Hearts (she literally wrote the book on it) and all JRPGs, with a more healthy affinity for the anime. When she's not gaming, she's obsessing over Star Wars, all things Disney, and Taiwanese glove puppets.