Hey You, Pikachu!

Template:Short description Template:Use mdy dates Template:Main other{{#invoke:infobox|infoboxTemplate | child = | subbox = | bodyclass = ib-video-game hproduct {{#ifeq:|yes|collapsible {{#if:|{{{state}}}|autocollapse}}}} | templatestyles = Infobox video game/styles.css | aboveclass = fn | italic title =

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| caption = {{#if:Hey You, Pikachu! Coverart.png|North American cover art, featuring Pikachu|North American cover art, featuring Pikachu}}

| label2 = DeveloperTemplate:Pluralize from text | data2 = Ambrella

| label3 = PublisherTemplate:Pluralize from text | data3 = Nintendo

| label4 = DirectorTemplate:Pluralize from text | data4 = Template:If first display both

| label5 = ProducerTemplate:Pluralize from text | data5 = Tsunekazu Ishihara

| label6 = DesignerTemplate:Pluralize from text | data6 = Template:If first display both

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| label10 = ComposerTemplate:Pluralize from text | data10 = Miki Obata

| label11 = Series | data11 = Pokémon

| label12 = Engine | data12 = Template:If first display both

| label13 = PlatformTemplate:Pluralize from text | data13 = Nintendo 64

| label14 = Release | data14 = Template:Vgrelease

| label15 = GenreTemplate:Pluralize from text | data15 = Digital pet, life simulation

| label16 = ModeTemplate:Pluralize from text | data16 = Single-player

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}}Template:Main other{{#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=Template:Main other|ignoreblank=1|preview=Page using Template:Infobox video game with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"| alt | arcade system | artist | caption | border | child | collapsible | commons | composer | designer | developer | director | embedded | engine | fetchwikidata | genre | image | image_size | image_upright | italic title | modes | noicon | onlysourced | platform | platforms | producer | programmer | publisher | qid | refs | release | released | series | state | subbox | suppressfields | title | writer }}Template:Main other{{#if:Hey You, Pikachu! Coverart.png|}} Hey You, Pikachu!Template:Efn is a virtual pet video game developed by Ambrella and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo 64. A spin-off in the Pokémon franchise, it was released in Japan on December 12, 1998, and in North America on November 6, 2000. The player is asked to help Professor Oak test the PokéHelper, a device that lets humans communicate with Pokémon. The game is set in the Kanto region between Pewter City and Viridian City, where the player is introduced to a wild Pikachu. The player is able to communicate with a 256-word database through the Voice Recognition Unit (VRU), a Nintendo 64 hardware accessory that, when paired with a microphone, can comprehend and analyze human speech.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> Along with speaking with Pikachu, the VRU allows the player to move around and gather items.

Hey You, Pikachu! is one of only two games to utilize the VRU, with the other being Densha de Go! 64, the Japan-exclusive N64 port of Densha de Go! 2 Kōsoku-hen. The game had a mixed reception from critics. Though no direct sequels have been made, the virtual pet game Pokémon Channel, first released for the GameCube in 2003, resembles Hey You, Pikachu! and shares similar gameplay, with the exception of the microphone peripheral.

Gameplay

File:N64 VRU.png

The game makes heavy use of the Nintendo 64 VRU.

File:Hey You, Pikachu! gameplay.png

The player interacts with the wild Pikachu.

The main character is asked to test out the PokéHelper, a new device of Professor Oak's that is used to talk to Pokémon. The player then meets a wild Pikachu and befriends it. Once the player earns Pikachu's trust, it will come and live in the player's house. There are three different activity days: Pikachu's Daring Days, Discovery Days, and Play Days. Each day has a different objective (e.g. collecting food, going fishing) and the player can earn Pika Points, the currency used at Abra's Shop to unlock new items.

After 365 gameplay days, Professor Oak notifies the player that Pikachu, still a wild Pokémon, must be released. The player ventures to the woods to find Pikachu and repeatedly says "goodbye", upon which Pikachu realizes it must return to the wild. After the credits, while the player looks around the front yard and reminisces, Pikachu returns, and the game continues as if Pikachu was never released.

Development

Hey You, Pikachu! was first demonstrated at Nintendo Space World '97.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Originally, the game was to be titled Pikachu VRS in North America, but it was changed for marketability reasons.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Reception

Hey You, Pikachu! received "mixed" reviews according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.<ref name=metacritic/> The Arizona RepublicTemplate:'s Dustin Packwood commented that fans of the anime would enjoy this game.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> NextGenTemplate:'s Greg Orlando, however, said that the game "tastes just like chicken made of glucose."<ref name="ngen" /> GamePro stated, "If you're a little kid or a big kid with a little kid's love for Pokémon, Hey, You, Pikachu is calling for you."<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>Template:Efn In Japan, Famitsu gave it a score of 30 out of 40.<ref name="fam" />

Retronauts cited the game as an example of a terrible Pokémon console game.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> UGO Networks listed the game on their list of the "Top 50 Games That Belong On the 3DS", stating "Using the 3DS' built-in microphone should make it simple to speak and interact with the wild Pokémon."<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The game was nominated for the "Console Family" award at the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences' 4th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards; that award ultimately was given to Mario Tennis.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Legacy

Template:Expand section A spiritual sequel to Hey You, Pikachu!, Pokémon Channel, was first released on the GameCube in 2003 and was also developed by Ambrella. Another spiritual sequel, PokéPark Wii: Pikachu's Adventure, was first released on the Wii in 2009, which in turn had its direct sequel, PokéPark 2: Wonders Beyond, first released in 2011.Template:Citation needed

See also

• Densha de Go! 64, the other game that uses the VRU.

External links

• Official Nintendo Japan Hey You, Pikachu! site
• Template:Moby game