Pokémon Frienda
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Pokémon Frienda (Japanese: ポケモンフレンダ) is an arcade game developed by Takara Tomy A.R.T.S. and Marvelous, which also developed the Pokémon Battrio, Pokémon Tretta, Pokémon Ga-Olé, and Pokémon Mezastar arcade games. It was officially announced on April 15, 2024, and was launched in Japan on July 11, 2024.
| Pokémon Frienda ポケモンフレンダ | |
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 Pokémon Frienda arcade machine | |
Basic info
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| Platform: | Arcade |
| Category: | Battle simulation |
| Players: | 1-2 |
| Connectivity: | None |
| Developer: | Takara Tomy A.R.T.S./ Marvelous |
| Publisher: | Takara Tomy A.R.T.S. |
| Part of: | Generation IX miscellaneous |
Ratings
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| CERO: | A |
| ESRB: | N/A |
| ACB: | N/A |
| OFLC: | N/A |
| PEGI: | N/A |
| GRAC: | N/A |
| GSRR: | N/A |
Release dates
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| Japan: | July 11, 2024 |
| North America: | N/A |
| Australia: | N/A |
| Europe: | N/A |
| South Korea: | N/A |
| Hong Kong: | N/A |
| Taiwan: | N/A |
Websites
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| Japanese: | Official site |
| English: | N/A |
Release history
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This section is incomplete. Please feel free to edit this section to add missing information and complete it. Reason: information about releases of the picks |
Game picks
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This section is incomplete. Please feel free to edit this section to add missing information and complete it. Reason: Measurements for the picks |
The game picks used in Pokémon Frienda are plastic tiles. Each pick features a single Pokémon species together with a set of its type (Tera type if the Pokémon has 5 Stars), stats, and move(s) as derived from the core series of Pokémon games. This data is present on the QR code on the reverse of each pick, which is read into the game when it is placed in one of the console lanes.
Stats
Pokémon have a Poké-Energy stat that possibly determines catch rate. Their main stats are detailed on the reverse of the pick. The HP stat determines how much damage Pokémon can sustain before they can no longer partake in battle. The Attack and Defense stats respectively determine how powerful Physical moves used by Pokémon are and how susceptible they are to damage from them. The Special Attack and Special Defense similarly determine the power of and vulnerability to Special moves. The Speed stat is shown as a number ranging from 1 to 5 and determines which Pokémon attacks first on their turn.
Types and moves
The types attributed to Pokémon are indicated by symbols to the right of their name on the obverse of picks. A Pokémon's typing determine what types of move it will be weak against or resistant to in battle. Only one type is shown on the pick; if a Pokémon has two types, its primary type is shown. If the Pokémon is rated 5 Stars, its type is presented as its Tera type. The types featured in Pokémon Frienda are the same as those found in the core series and share their individual strengths and weaknesses. Most Pokémon can use only one move, as opposed to four in the core series, but Pokémon that can Terastallize can also use Tera Blast. The move name and its type are present on the reverse of the picks.
Stars
Pokémon in Pokémon Frienda have star ratings ranging from 2 to 5 Stars. 2- and 3-star ratings are standard ratings with light gray plastic, portrait illustrations, and a red or blue background respectively. 4-star picks have varying background colors and patterns, landscape illustrations, and blue plastic. 5-star picks have landscape illustrations depicting a Terastallized Pokémon and translucent, glittery purple plastic.
Gameplay
Much like the core series games, Pokémon Frienda focuses on battling and catching Pokémon, and the battles are in a turn-based format. It costs ¥100 to start a game, after which point the player has the option to either battle Pokémon found in the wild with a chance of catching them or move directly to a location where they can catch Pokémon. The latter will happen regardless of which option the player chooses. Pokémon caught are distributed by the machine as physical game picks that can be used during future gameplay sessions.
The player also has the option to store their saved data in a separate game pick for ¥200, which also gives the player one of the Paldea first partner Pokémon (Sprigatito, Fuecoco, or Quaxly). This first partner Pokémon 'levels up' a certain amount at the end of each session, with the possibility of evolving.
Get it in battle!
The "Get it in battle!" option is one of the two options given by the Captain for what to do during the session. This one is labelled as "recommended". On a wheel, a biome is selected at random, with the player having to choose one side of the wheel (one location within that biome) to progress. At the edges of each section of the wheel, a Pokémon's icon is shown, along with their star rating. When the player selects a biome, two of said Pokémon appear at either side, with only one of them appearing later on.
After a cutscene, a battle begins between one of the Pokémon mentioned previously, as well as two randomly-selected Pokémon. If the player does not have physical game picks yet, a team will be randomly generated for them.
The first partner Pokémon, gained when creating a new user, is the only Pokémon owned by the player that can not be directly used in battle from use of physical game picks. It can be used, but only with a 25% likelihood, after the player's lead Pokémon has already dealt damage.
- On both sides, there is one lead Pokémon out of the three. The player's can be chosen at the beginning of each battle. The lead Pokémon is responsible for dealing damage to the other side.
- If the Pokémon is rated 5 stars, and therefore capable of Terastallization, the player can input the Tera Orb item (sold separately at some Pokémon locations) to do so. If they do not, there is no certainty of it happening, and it rather depends on a random selection.
- Damage is determined by a spinning wheel with arbitrary numbers, with the player having to stop it at the exact right time. A higher number leads to higher damage. Some of these possible numbers can be increased if the Pokémon were to Terastallize.
- Damage is dealt by mashing both buttons on the machine.
- All three Pokémon on the opposite side are damaged equally. Type advantages and base stats on both sides change this value. Once damage has been dealt, there is also a 50% chance that the player is given the chance to allow a fourth Pokémon to attack, with this Pokémon being either the player's first partner Pokémon or a randomly selected one.
- The order of attacks depends on the Speed stats of both lead Pokémon.
After a set number of moves, and when at least one enemy Pokémon has fainted, the player can insert ¥100 for a chance to catch all of them. Another spinning wheel determines the type of Poké Ball used, with the options being the standard choices of a regular Poké Ball, Great Ball, Ultra Ball, and a very small chance for a Master Ball. Three of the Poké Balls the wheel lands on are thrown at all three enemy Pokémon, regardless of how much HP they have left. Multiple can be caught, but only one can be taken away, while the others are released.
When one battle ends and no Pokémon on the player's side have fainted, another one begins. This repeats until one of the player's Pokémon has fainted.
Stars are earned whenever a Pokémon has fainted and certain moves are used. These stars can allow the player to move that number of spaces along a board game-like path. At the end of one path, there is a large stone gate with a certain number of diamond shapes on the front (up to 3). In this gate, a Pokémon is found. It can be pet, raising a friendship meter, and the player can pay ¥100 to receive it.
Get it now!
This option can either be chosen from the beginning or after playing the "Get it in battle!" option.
A number of patches of grass, of varying designs and sizes, are shown on screen. Quick Balls can be thrown, though the patch of grass it lands on is chosen at random, and each throw costs ¥100.
In each gameplay session, only five Pokémon can be caught. If the player chooses this gameplay option directly or they did not catch any Pokémon in the "Get it in battle!" section, then five patches of grass are shown; if one Pokémon was caught, four patches are shown, and so on. Stars can also be earned here based on the Pokémon that were caught.
Ending
The number of stars earned throughout the entire session accumulate and increase the level of the player's first partner Pokémon, shown as a meter with three dividing sections. When the meter is filled, the Pokémon evolves.
All Pokémon either encountered or caught are registered to the Pokédex, which is then saved to the player's profile.
Gallery
Logo
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