Pokémon Duel
A digital adaptation of the Pokémon Trading Figure Game.
Pokémon Duel was a free-to-play digital tabletop game from HEROZ and The Pokémon Company. It adapted the Pokémon Trading Figure Game, a 2007 board game that used Pokémon action figures as pieces, into a mobile format. The project aimed to introduce that board game to Japanese players, since it had only been released outside Japan. The game launched in Japan as Pokémon Comaster in April 2016, then in other regions in January 2017.
In gameplay, two players each field a team of six Pokémon figurines, starting on a bench and trying to reach a goal on the opponent’s side while blocking the opponent from doing the same. Figures can battle adjacent ones using a roulette-style wheel with segments of different sizes; the result depends on the color of the move spun. White and gold moves deal numerical damage, and the figure with the lower damage value is knocked out and sent to the P.C. Purple moves beat white moves but lose to gold moves, and often inflict harmful status effects. Blue moves beat all other colors but usually do nothing except cancel the battle. Red “miss” moves lose to any opposing move. A figure can also be knocked out by being surrounded—having all adjacent spots occupied by opponent figures. Players can equip up to six plates, which grant extra effects like bonus damage or unusual movement. A match can also be won by running out the opponent’s five-minute timer or by leaving them unable to make a valid move (a “wait win”).
Figures come in rarity tiers that affect their strength. They are obtained through gacha-like boosters bought with gems, a purchasable in-game currency. Boosters can also be earned through play but take six hours to open. Figures can be upgraded by fusing them with other figures and items using coins. The game offered online multiplayer with an Elo rating system, plus a single-player campaign set in the Pokémon Figure World Championships. A constant internet connection was required.
In the single-player story, the player, wearing a mask, competes in the championships on Carmonte Island, which has many hotels each run by a hotel leader. The player befriends other competitors while trying to defeat the leaders. Their progress is watched by the Roger family, who are interested in the player’s seemingly sentient AI companion named Carlo.
Development was handled by HEROZ, chosen because of their work on the app Shogi Wars.
Quick Facts
- Developer
- Heroz
- Publisher
- The Pokémon Company
- Producer
- Naoki Satoh; Naoto Ueoka
- Director
- Naoto Ueoka; Tomohiro Takeuchi
- Artist
- Isamu Tada; Shirou Mitsumata
- Designer
- Masayuki Miura
- Composer
- Shota Kageyama
- Writer
- Masaru Hatano
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Pokémon Duel was based directly on the Pokémon Trading Figure Game, a board game that used action figures as pieces. Masayuki Miura and Koichi Oyama, the creators of the Trading Figure Game, acted as advisors. Miura wished to adapt the Trading Figure Game for Japanese audiences but was unable to initially; deciding an app would be better suited, the choice was made to adapt it as a mobile game. HEROZ was contacted due to their prior work on the app Shogi Wars. The development team put significant effort into recreating the Trading Figure Game's rules and making them understandable to those unfamiliar with the game, as Miura had been told by the president and CEO of The Pokémon Company that the game was 'too difficult.' Effort was also put into ensuring each species of Pokémon had a usable niche, with each having its own advantages and disadvantages to balance the game. The team had difficulty programming the game's AI due to the complexity of the rules, and trained it by simulating tens of thousands of games. The AI was designed to help the player if needed and was trained to a point where it made better moves than many members of the human development team. The game's name 'Comaster' was decided by combining 'co' (meaning together) and 'master' (to symbolize the relationship between the figurines and the AI). The name was chosen so those unfamiliar with the game could grasp its core concepts upon hearing it. The game was announced in March 2016 as Pokémon Comaster for Japan, released for Android on 12 April 2016 and iOS on 19 April 2016, and later released in other territories as Pokémon Duel on 24 January 2017. In July 2019, The Pokémon Company announced service would be discontinued on 31 October 2019, with in-app purchases discontinued in the months prior.
Reader's Guide
Pokémon Duel received mixed reviews from critics, who highlighted the game's strategic elements and entertaining gameplay but criticized other aspects such as slow loading times, reliance on pay-to-win elements, and luck-based gameplay. Joe Merrick at Nintendo Life found the game a 'mixed bag,' stating it was strategic with good graphics and audio but relied too heavily on in-app purchases and luck. CJ Andriessen at Destructoid found the game fun, highlighting the story mode campaign, but criticized slow loading times and the time required to obtain new figures. Nick Tylwalk at Gamezebo stated the gameplay and competitive nature were highlights, superior to Pokémon Go, but criticized loading and connection issues and the reward system. Andrew Webster at The Verge found the game fun but criticized overcomplicated menus and generic character designs. Will Greenwald at PCMag found the gameplay strategic and fun, highlighting its free-to-play nature, but criticized luck-based elements undermining strategy. AJ Moser at The Daily Dot criticized the game, finding its gameplay loop unsatisfying. The game's significance lies in its adaptation of a niche physical board game to mobile, its use of an AI advisor, and its status as the first Pokémon game designed specifically for mobile devices. Its legacy is marked by mixed reception and a relatively short service life of about three and a half years.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who directed Pokémon Duel?
Pokémon Duel was directed by Naoto Ueoka and Tomohiro Takeuchi.
Who composed the music for Pokémon Duel?
The music for Pokémon Duel was composed by Shota Kageyama.
More in Pokemon Games
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced