Yes, we are all disappointed that a proper Pokémon game will not be coming out in 2015, but that doesn't mean there aren't some great games to compensate for this lack of gaming nirvana.
Nintendo has announced Pokémon Super Mystery Dungeon to be released during the holidays and it will give gamers another platform to battle and travel with Pokémon. And coupling that with the free-to-play games, Pokémon Shuffle and Pokemon Rumble World, fans of the franchise have a lot to get through to hold them over till possibly 2016.
But Nintendo has also planned for a new franchise to rise up alongside Pokémon as the latest video game craze. Of course, I'm referring to Yo-Kai Watch.
The uber popular anime and game is finally coming to the states later this year and I got a chance to get some hands-on time with the new game at San Diego Comic-Con 2015.
And although the demo was for 10 minutes, you get enough gameplay to figure out that Yo-Kai Watch is not Pokemon but that's probably the biggest appeal it has.
So while 10 minutes is nice, it's not enough to put out a full review so instead I’ll be posting my five impressions of the game for you to easily digest. So without further ado, let's get into the Yo-Kai hands-on impressions

1.) The battle system uses the stylus perfectly and is challenging.

Many 3DS games don't utilize the stylus as well as they probably should. Yo-Kai Watch doesn't have that problem. Instead, it's battle mechanics focus on you utilizing the stylus in a series of mini-game-like scenarios during battle.
And it's because of this fresh battle system that takes Yo-Kai Watch to another level. You have to think on your feet with precision and patience. Using the stylus, you can have your Yo-Kai perform abilities that will help you win your battles. These attacks need you to use the stylus to trace, pick-up or spin the bottom screen in order to perform.
It's a pretty fun way to play.

2.) No turn-based battles, no problem

As a long-time Pokémon fan, you get used to the turn-based style of combat while playing any monster-collecting game. But in Yo-Kai Watch, turn-based systems are gone and they are replaced with the aforementioned mini-games.
This force you to think on your feet as you switch between Yo-Kai to avoid one from being knocked out and going on the offensive.
This mechanic makes the game more challenging than any Pokémon game and it's a new experience that is admittedly a tad difficult to comprehend but once you do, you are on your way.

3.) The Overworld is just as fun as the battles

Many times in Pokémon games you dread traveling in the Overworld. Whether it is Zubat infested caves or the amount of water you have to surf, the Overworld can be a pain. We get it. I understand, you just want to battle.
And while Yo-Kai Watch gives you enough battling to whet your fighting itch, its Overworld is simple yet enjoyable.
Granted 10 minutes of demo is not enough time to traverse, or even if there are some Overworld towns that can be a pain but in your character's hometown it's simple and it feels a lot like the Mega Man Battle Network games for the DS where your character can travel his town.
And while you travel in the Overworld, you have to be active in looking for Yo-Kai using your watch. Feels like the Dowsing Machine or the Item Finder in Pokemon but it plays a critical role in catching Yo-Kai so you’ll be using your radar over and over again.

4.) The Yo-Kai are weird and unique

Now, let's talk about the Yo-Kai themselves. The ones that travel in your party at the start of the demo are….not your usual monsters.
They are instead ghosts and ghouls and they can affect a person's personality among other things. It's understandable if they are sometimes "ugly" or weird but that's where you come in. You can choose between which 6 Yo-Kai you decide to travel with and in battle have unique attacks.
Spoke with a Nintendo staffer who helped me play through the Yo-Kai Watch demo and he gave me some insight on the Yo-Kai themselves. Now, while there are over 200 Yo-Kai in the game you find out that you can capture or "befriended" a repeated amount of Yo-Kai and each one will be different some how. This harkens back to the EVs in Pokemon and gives players something to think about as they journey.
Each Yo-Kai has its own attack and can either target a single or multiple attacks. Finding out which is which is very important and players will have a lot more information to absorb about this world but in the end it's a great thing.
Overall, Yo-Kai was a different and enjoyable experience. It has a lot of elements from Pokémon and so forth but there is a reason the anime and game are big in Japan. It's in-depth battle mechanics and original idea make Yo-Kai Watch more than something to hold fans over till the next Pokemon game. And with the repetitive nature of how Pokemon games are, this breathes new life into the genre.
Yo-Kai Watch is here to stay and hopefully it'll get as big as the other monster-catching franchise.
And if you want to check out some Yo-Kai Watch gameplay, check out the demo from E3 2015 below and let us know your thoughts in the comments section.