Yo-kai Watch Blasters

Yo-kai Watch Blasters Let's Blast Em'! Genre(s): Action Role-Playing Platform(s): Nintendo 3DS Release: Initial Developer(s): Level-5 Publisher(s): JP: Level-5 WW: Nintendo Series: Yo-kai Watch Predecessor: Yo-kai Watch 2 Successor: Yo-kai Watch 3 (by release date) Yo-kai Watch Busters 2 (canon)

Yo-kai Watch Blasters is the 3rd Yo-kai Watch installment (6th and 7th if all games are separated) as well as the first spin-off game in the series. This game is a follow-up of the Yo-kai Watch Blasters app in Yo-kai Watch 2, but with new features added. These games were released in the Nintendo 3DS in Japan on July 11, 2015, and in the United States and Europe on September 27, 2018. The Moon Rabbit Crew Expansion was added later in Japan on December 12, 2015, and in the United States and Europe on September 27, 2018.

Plot

Jibanyan, Hidabat, Noway, and Sandmeh are trained by Sgt. Burly to become real blasters, because they are difficult enough to defeat Gargaros at first.

Good Qualities

1. The idea of making a full-fledged story based on the sub-game is interesting, unlike Team Kirby Clash Deluxe, the successor of Team Kirby Clash from Kirby: Planet Robobot, with plenty of features represent as seen in the pointers below.
   • Though Super Kirby Clash is also a well-executed full-fledged story based on Team Kirby Clash, it came out nearly a year later after this game.
   • Even Minion Quest: A Search for Bowser is also a full-fledged mode, despite being unique to Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga.
2. The game vastly improves over the Yo-kai Watch Blasters app in Yo-kai Watch 2.
3. This concept of Yo-kais becoming blasters is not only a nod to Ghostbusters, but also makes the execution done well.
4. These features such as befriend mode, but this only happens a small chance after defeating Yo-kais.
5. There are more bosses to play with, some of them are easy (Sproink, SV Snaggerjag, Slimamander), but others are challenging and fun (Oni, Gutsy Bones bosses, Robonyan 28 bosses, Red Paws and Swirlious Omai, etc.)
6. It introduces Yo-kai Circles, a mode that includes befriended Yo-kai to fit in the circle so that it unlocks pictures, but this is the only game to have this as Yo-kai Watch 3 has all Yo-kai idling instead. Completing the Yo-kai Circle will get rewards.
7. The Command Center features not only the story missions but also the Patrol and Big Boss missions:
   • Patrol missions defeat Yo-kai to befriend them or get item drops, as well as dealing with Mini-Mini Missions.
   • Big Boss missions feature bosses to face them and get rewards. When players are going to Ultra Bosses, they must use the Ultra Orbs first to start.
8. Challenge missions are a decent addition since after defeating certain Ultra bosses, they can access them but must be done in order, from Normal, to Super, to Ultra.
9. The Lucky Crank-a-Kai is a decent addition to this game where players collect rare items and Yo-kai after consuming them with Lucky Crank-a-Kai coins, but they are hard to collect.
10. Players can renovate the Blasters House using Houzzat by defeating Demuncher, Dame Dedtime/McKracken, and Robonyan 28.
11. This game introduces Usapyon, the "Merican Yo-kai who debuted in this game with plenty of outfits to collect when players unlock using codes.
    • This marks the first time to feature Whisper as a playable character.
12. It introduces Moon Rabbit Crew, an expansion for both Red Cat Corps and White Dog Squad that can be accessed in an update:
    • It features a new story mode where players encounter Lord Enma and fight new bosses like Captain Thunder, Zazel, and Shogun King.
    • VIP Room can be accessed when players have both Yo-kai Watch Blasters games or have saved data from a different game than the one they played with a friend. It also includes VIP Patrols and facing Red Paws or Swirlious Omai all by yourself.
    • There are new Yo-kai to befriend, like Lord Enma, Archnaevil, and Toadal Demon.
    • KJ can boost stats when playing one music and this can only be done once per level.
    • True Challenge Missions feature a time attack that can fight Big Bosses and Oni Orb Hunt that grinds Oni Orbs.
13. The songs are good here, especially Don't Stop Tomato Red, We Wanna Eat White Squid and Space Dance.
14. The graphics are good.
15. Whispped Cream (known as Whismallowman in Japan) is a decent final boss in the game and it does reflect its Ghostbusters concept.

Bad Qualities

1. These games are infamous for being too luck-based because they feature treasure drops after clearing the missions and Koma Battles.
   • Speaking of Koma Battles, they can only be done when players have the same game or a different game to play, at least 1-3 players.
   • Even worse, players can get the lucky drops after defeating big bosses or completing missions.
2. Missed Opportunities:
   • There are a few recovery items, with rice balls being the only recovery items in these games, and it could have included more like curries, pizzas, ice creams, steaks, etc.
   • Houzzat renovation would have also included more interiors and exteriors, such as the Excellent Tower design after defeating Whispped Cream, space design after defeating Captain Thunder, and the interior and exterior based on Lord Enma after defeating Zazel.
   • Treasure drops would have been based on skill and performance but instead based on luck.
3. Most of the "Persona" key items can only be done during multiplayer, thus making this game impossible to complete when doing solo.
4. Some of the big bosses can be difficult to defeat, with Hinozall (and his awakened form) and Shogun King being the biggest offenders.
   • Mass Mutterer and Hinozall's challenges are difficult to complete due to being overpowered and providing padding.
5. Red Paws and Swirlious Omai (along with their golden forms) can only be done in multiplayer, meaning that single-player is inaccessible here.

Reception

Yo-kai Watch Blasters received mixed reviews from critics (scoring 67/100 on Metacritic) and positive reviews from gamers and fans of Yo-kai Watch (the user scores being 7.5 and 7.6/10 for Red Cat Corps and White Dog Squad, respectively).

Trivia

• Sandi appears in the credits, Space Dance, but it is only accessible in Red Cat Corps, not White Dog Squad, meaning the latter must be done in Medal Swap.
• In the international versions, the Ghostbusters references are mostly removed, to avoid copyright issues.
  • Like the Blastersmobile lacking any aesthetics from the movie.
  • Jibanyan B, Komasan B, and Usapyon B's outfits look less like the one from the movie.
  • Whispped Cream's design looks less like Stay Puff Marshmallow Man; however, his design looks more like Godzilla.
    • Despite this, Whispped Cream kept his original design as a silhouette in the Chapter 10 teaser, until the Moon Rabbit Crew update.
    • Before the update, the mat reads "Busters" before changing to "Blasters" in the Wayfarer Colloseum.
  • The boss theme removes Yo-kai shouting "Ghostbusters! in the international versions.
• These games feature an auto-saving function for those who want to befriend automatically after defeating them.
• When scanning the QR code for the Lucky Crank-a-Kai coins, it obtains Green coins.

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