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Hey You, Pikachu!

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Hey You, Pikachu!
North American cover art, featuring Pikachu
Developer(s)Ambrella
Publisher(s)Nintendo
Producer(s)Tsunekazu Ishihara
Composer(s)Miki Obata
SeriesPokémon
Platform(s)Nintendo 64
Release
  • JP:December 12, 1998
  • NA:November 6, 2000[1]
Genre(s)Digital pet,life simulation
Mode(s)Single-player

Hey You, Pikachu![a]is avirtual petPokémonspin-off video game for theNintendo 64developed byAmbrellaand published byNintendo.It was released in Japan on December 12, 1998, and in North America on November 6, 2000. The player is asked to helpProfessor Oaktest 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 wildPikachu.The player is able to communicate with a 256-word database through theVoice Recognition Unit (VRU),a Nintendo 64 hardware accessory that, when paired with a microphone, can comprehend and analyze human speech.[2]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 beingDensha de Go! 64,the Japan-exclusive N64 port ofDensha de Go! 2 Kōsoku-hen.The game had a mixed reception from critics. Though no direct sequels have been made, the virtual pet gamePokémon Channel,first released for theGameCubein 2003, resemblesHey You, Pikachu!and shares similar gameplay, with the exception of the microphone peripheral.

Gameplay[edit]

The game makes heavy use of theNintendo 64 VRU.
The player interacts with Professor Oak's 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 atAbra'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.

Reception[edit]

Hey You, Pikachu!received "mixed" reviews according to thereview aggregationwebsiteMetacritic.[3]The Arizona Republic's Dustin Packwood commented that fans of the anime would enjoy this game.[19]NextGen's Greg Orlando, however, said that the game "tastes just like chicken made of glucose."[16]GameProstated, "If you're a little kid or a big kid with a little kid's love forPokémon,Hey, You, Pikachuis calling for you. "[20][c]In Japan,Famitsugave it a score of 30 out of 40.[8]

Retronautscited the game as an example of a terriblePokémonconsole game.[21]UGO Networkslisted 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."[22]

The game was nominated for the "Console Family"award at theAcademy of Interactive Arts & Sciences'4th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards;that award ultimately was given toMario Tennis.[23]

Legacy[edit]

Aspiritual sequeltoHey You, Pikachu!,Pokémon Channel,was first released on theGameCubein 2003 and was also developed by Ambrella. Another spiritual sequel,PokéPark Wii: Pikachu's Adventure,was first released on theWiiin 2009, which in turn had its direct sequel,PokéPark 2: Wonders Beyond,first released in 2011.

See also[edit]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^Known in Japan asPikachū Genki Dechū(Japanese:ピカチュウげんきでちゅう).It is apunon "Pikachu genki desu", meaning "Pikachu is fine", and the suffix "-chu" from Pikachu's name. The pronunciation "dechū" for "desu" is also used in Japanese affected speech intended to sound childish and cute, includingbaby talk.
  2. ^Three critics ofElectronic Gaming Monthlygave the game each a score of 4.5/10, 3.5/10, and 6/10.
  3. ^GameProgave the game two 3.5/5 scores for graphics and fun factor, and two 4/5 scores for sound and control.

References[edit]

  1. ^IGN staff(November 2, 2000)."N64 Games of November".IGN.Ziff Davis.Archivedfrom the original on May 22, 2023.RetrievedMarch 26,2024.
  2. ^Moyer, Michael (September 2000)."Back Talk".Popular Science.p. 42.RetrievedNovember 2,2018.
  3. ^ab"Hey You, Pikachu!".Metacritic.Fandom.Archivedfrom the original on December 8, 2023.RetrievedMarch 26,2024.
  4. ^Zjaba, Tom."Hey You, Pikachu! - Review".AllGame.All Media Network.Archived fromthe originalon November 14, 2014.RetrievedMay 27,2022.
  5. ^Torres, Ricardo (November 7, 2000)."Hey You, Pikachu! [Incomplete]".Gamecenter.CNET.Archived fromthe originalon December 3, 2000.RetrievedMay 27,2022.
  6. ^Johnston, Chris; MacDonald, Mark; Mielke, James "Milkman" (January 2001)."Hey You, Pikachu!".Electronic Gaming Monthly.No. 138. Ziff Davis. p. 200.Archivedfrom the original on January 29, 2001.RetrievedMay 27,2022.
  7. ^Burnham, Van (January 5, 2001)."Hey You Pikachu! [sic]".The Electric Playground.Greedy Productions Ltd. Archived fromthe originalon July 11, 2004.RetrievedMarch 26,2024.
  8. ^ab"ピカチュウげんきでちゅう".Famitsu(in Japanese).Enterbrain.Archived fromthe originalon April 7, 2023.RetrievedMarch 26,2024.
  9. ^Helgeson, Matt (January 2001)."Hey You, Pikachu!".Game Informer.No. 93.FuncoLand.p. 136. Archived fromthe originalon March 13, 2008.RetrievedAugust 2,2021.
  10. ^"Hey You, Pikachu!".GameFan.BPA International.November 6, 2000.
  11. ^Liu, Johnny (November 2000)."Hey You Pikachu [sic] Review".GameRevolution.CraveOnline.Archivedfrom the original on September 10, 2015.RetrievedMay 27,2022.
  12. ^Provo, Frank (November 3, 2000)."Hey You, Pikachu! Review".GameSpot.Fandom.Archivedfrom the original on December 3, 2000.RetrievedMay 27,2022.
  13. ^Mirabella III, Fran (November 6, 2000)."Hey You, Pikachu!".IGN.Ziff Davis.Archivedfrom the original on September 29, 2023.RetrievedMarch 26,2024.
  14. ^"Pikachū Genki Dechū".N64 Magazine.No. 25.Future Publishing.February 1999.
  15. ^Evans, Geraint (January 2001). "Hey You, Pikachu!".N64 Magazine.No. 50. Future Publishing. pp. 54–57.
  16. ^abOrlando, Greg (January 2001)."Hey You, Pikachu".NextGen.No. 73.Imagine Media.p. 99.RetrievedMay 27,2022.
  17. ^"Hey You, Pikachu!".Nintendo Power.Vol. 138.Nintendo of America.November 2000. p. 126.RetrievedAugust 2,2021.
  18. ^Jones, Alex (February 5, 2001)."Hey You, Pikachu! (N64) Review".Extended Play.TechTV.Archived fromthe originalon June 6, 2001.RetrievedMay 27,2022.
  19. ^Packwood, Dustin (December 8, 2000)."A Day in Nintendo Heaven".The Arizona Republic.Gannett Company.Archived fromthe originalon November 4, 2012.
  20. ^Pokémaxx (January 2001)."Hey You, Pikachu!"(PDF).GamePro.No. 148.IDG.p. 90.Archived(PDF)from the original on April 7, 2023.RetrievedMarch 26,2024.
  21. ^"Retronauts Podcast".1Up Network.IGN Entertainment.Archived fromthe originalon July 24, 2012.RetrievedJanuary 27,2013.
  22. ^Basile, Sal (July 6, 2010)."The Top 50 Games That Belong on the 3DS".UGO Networks.IGN Entertainment.Archivedfrom the original on May 28, 2018.RetrievedMay 28,2018.
  23. ^"Fourth Interactive Achievement Awards: Console Family Game of the Year".Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences.Archived fromthe originalon April 17, 2001.RetrievedMay 27,2022.

External links[edit]

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