Yo-Kai Watch♪ Keita to Orecchi no deai hen nyan♪ Wa, Watakushimo～♪♪

The hit franchise Yo-Kai Watch is back on the big screen with a compilation film starring the stars of our favorite show airing on TV Tokyo every Friday night. Who's up for some flashbacks on how the show began as well as who is Jibanyan?

Yo-Kai Watch♪
Keita to Orecchi no deai hen nyan♪
Wa, Watakushimo～♪♪

The Yo-Kai Watch compilation film features how the show began as well as the secret origin of Jibanyan, plus a special 4-Komasan segment to pass the time.

Centered on the pilot episode and the 25th episode of the original Yo-Kai Watch TV anime series aired about seven years ago, fans and newcomers of the franchise will relive the beginning of the show where young boy Keita (Nate) made a fateful encounter with a Yo-Kai butler named Whisper and granted with a mysterious device called, you guessed it, Yo-Kai Watch!

After seeing Nate saying hello to Jibanyan, fans can also relive Jibanyan's secret origins. What's that, you may ask? Well, when Jibanyan was just a living cat under Amy's care, the two shared a special kind of bond until a fateful accident caused his demise, and yes, the cat who died protecting Amy became the Yo-Kai everybody knows. Case closed.

This compilation film saw the beginning of Nate's misery as well as Jibanyan's origins fully remasted in 4K, giving fans and newcomers a fresh new take on the iconic franchise and that's all we really know.

Now that's flashbacks on how the Yo-Kai Watch story began.

Yo-Kai Watch JAM Yo-Kai Gakuen Y: Neko wa HERO ni Nareruka

In time for the 2019 yuletide season, the Yo-Kai Watch franchise introduces us to a brand new saga featuring none other than humanized versions of our favorite Yo-Kais as they take on...school life? Sounds odd but when this school life with humanized Yo-Kais mixed with superhero elements, this is action at its best.

Yo-Kai Watch JAM Yo-Kai Gakuen Y:
Neko wa HERO ni Nareruka

The 2019 Yo-Kai Watch film serves as the prelude to the newest Yo-Kai Watch saga that is soon to be televised next year, titled Yo-Kai Gakuen Y, and in the newest saga, it's about a group of youngsters who became part of a secret organization a la Persona 3, aimed at battling against the forces of evil.

An ordinary young boy named Matarou Tamada starts his day at the Y Gakuen until his encounter with Jinpei Jiba forever changed his life. Jinpei is part of the school's top secret organization known as YSP Club and as members, they are armed with device known as the YSP Watch. With this watch, they can join forces with a mysterious creature to become superheroes, using their unique abilities to battle threats and save the day.

It's questionable for this new saga to feature humanized versions of iconic Yo-Kais and then mashed into a Persona-esque experience but despite becoming a Persona facsimile, it still packs some signature Yo-Kai Watch moments and with all of the action, all of the comedy, all of the horror, the movie is worth a punch in the balls...literally.

Anyway, comic mischief and fantasy violence aside, which is becoming much of a film made for ages 12 and up rather than being a family-oriented film, this new saga showcases what the Yo-Kai Watch franchise can do by experimenting new and exciting ways to woo fans and even the film ends, the YSP Club action begins because soon, a TV adaptation is coming to TV Tokyo and it's going to be as interesting as...any shonen anime show can get. Sort of...

My rating: 3.8 out of 5

Yo-Kai Watch 4 ++

Last Summer, the blokes from Level 5 brought fans the latest installment of the Yo-Kai Watch franchise, called Yo-Kai Watch 4, and while this is basically an improvement compared to past installments, well, the new battle system is worth enjoying as well as the time-bending storyline, fans said they want some more. In response, the upgraded version of Yo-Kai Watch 4, called Yo-Kai Watch 4 ++, is out in the bag and into the Nintendo Switch and, for the first time, the PlayStation4, giving players more to expect the original doesn’t.

Yo-Kai Watch 4 ++ (PS4)

Yo-Kai Watch 4 ++ (Switch)

With YW 4++, fans can expect a bigger and more enjoyable Yo-Kai Watch experience with new co-op mode, new playable Yo-Kais to team up, and new quests to take on. Life on the human world and spirit world couldn’t get even bigger than this, even if its timey-wimey of course.

The Busters co-op mode have became a fan-favorite for the Yo-Kai Watch players and with the mode back on Yo-Kai Watch 4++, players can team up online to take on powerful bosses and score greater rewards. Trouble is, though, since this is on Switch and on PS4, online subscription (Switch Online/PlayStation Plus) is required, meaning players will have to waste their precious Yens to play this wondrous online co-op mode. Shame.

Anyway, if you think you are familiar with the original YW4 game, then think again because in YW4++, there are new locations to explore, new bosses to take on, and new playable Yo-Kai to team up. There's even a special guest appearance of Jinpei Jiba from the upcoming Youkai Gakuen Y movie as well.

If you are playing the original Yo-Kai Watch 4 game on the Nintendo Switch, you can purchase the upgrade pack DLC to take advantage of the new and exciting features offered on YW4++, including the wonderful but rather expensive Busters co-op mode. Once more, you can carry over your progress to this upgraded version as well so you can continue where you left off while experiencing additional stuff. You get the idea.

The Yo-Kai Watch franchise has been one of Level 5's most successful franchise ever made and inspirited fans the world over. With YW4++, the franchise expands to further heights because not only the Switch version is offered but for the first time for PS4 users. Sounds controversial but there's nothing they can do. Still, whichever console they're playing, YW4++ promises to stir up some memories for the fans who are spending the rest of the day jumping through time, teaming up with new and familiar Yo-Kai characters, and enjoy the enriching storyline that changed the franchise forever. The more you know.

Yo-Kai Watch 4: Bokura Wa Onaji Sora wo Miageteiru

For five years, Level 5's hit Yo-Kai Watch franchise reshaped the monster genre for today's generation with over a hundred Yo-Kais to befriend and battle while exploring different worlds and timelines. After five years, the world of Yo-Kai Watch has arrived on the Nintendo Switch and this will be the biggest Yo-Kai Watch adventure yet.

Yo-Kai Watch 4:
Bokura Wa Onaji Sora wo Miageteiru

Yo-Kai Watch has finally arrived on the Nintendo Switch and with Yo-Kai Watch 4, you control the fate of three different timelines as you will venture through different timelines, befriending new and returning Yo-Kais, and uncover the secrets of the spirit world. In the present world, you get to play as Keita Amano and Fumika Kodama. In the future world, meanwhile, you get to play as Natsume Amano, Touma Tsukinami, and Akinori Arihoshi. And in the past, you play as Shin Shimomachi. Believe it or not, these characters can join the fight alongside their Yo-Kai friends as well as powering up their skills to make them more suitable for their next battles.

The battle system has been massively improved as well because instead of the traditional battle system that you are familiarized with, it uses the improved version of the battle system derived from Yo-Kai Watch Busters game so your character can freely battle at your disposal. Mastering the characters' spirit weapons, mastering every Yo-Kai Watch's skills on battle, mastering the new Stopwatching feature, this new battle system becomes even more strategic than ever.

There's even more to this because while playing on the future world, you can unleash Shadowside versions of your favorite Yo-Kais such as Jibanyan and Komasan, making battles even more fiercer, especially boss battles. Also, Toma's Yo-Kai Watch Ogre allows him to transform himself as one of the spirit warriors or when equipped with a divine sword, giving him the ability to become one of the divine gods, the results are even more twice as awesome.

Different timelines come with different Yo-Kais to meet and whether if you are exploring through the past, present, and the future, there's a new Yo-Kai waiting to be befriended so don't be shy. They deserved to be part of your temporal adventure. 

Oh, and keep an eye out for some special guests lurking around on Yo-Kai Watch 4. Don't know who they are but they are famous enough to join the cast. Just ask Gegege no Kitaro and the Omuta City mascot, that's for sure.

Remember the Yo-Kai Arks you got from the toy stores ever since the Shadowside era? You can scan it with your Nintendo Switch Joy-Con and gain lots of goodies that will be proven useful on your adventure, whatever that means.

There are so many ways to do in Yo-Kai Watch 4 but we'll leave it here for now but anyway, with its improved graphics, improved battle system, immense storyline that spans different timelines, new and returning Yo-Kais to meet, and different ways to play, the latest Yo-Kai Watch game promises to bring new and returning fans an adventure they will never forget because with the past, present, and future joining forces, this is by no means the biggest Yo-Kai Watch adventure in ages, for good times and bad times, and since this is on the Nintendo Switch, you can play it anywhere you want as long as you're not making a ruckus on everyone around you.

Good luck on your biggest Yo-Kai adventure yet!

Yo-Kai Watch Forever Friends

Five years of Yo-Kai Watch... Throughout the history of Level 5's hit supernatural video game franchise, we laughed at the misadventures of Keita, Jibanyan, Whisper, and the rest of our favorite Yo-Kai characters of the original Yo-Kai Watch series, then we jumped through the future and team up with Natsume, Touma, Akinori, Keisuke, and their Yo-Kai allies to fight against shadow threats in Yo-Kai Watch Shadowside. Five years, numerous video games, two anime shows, four films, iconic theme songs, and countless roster of Yo-Kais we come across, that's five years of Yo-Kai Watch to you and in celebration of Yo-Kai Watch's 5th anniversary, we will return back to the past for a brand new adventure in the history of Yo-Kai Watch. Word of advice, this film deserves a box of tissues because this Yo-Kai Watch film will make us emotionally driven to tears.

Yo-Kai Watch Forever Friends

Honoring Yo-Kai Watch's 5th anniversary, Yo-Kai Watch Forever Friends features an all-original storyline which sounds different but there are possible links between this film and the rest of the franchise because they might be popping up in next year's Yo-Kai Watch 4 video game coming next year to the Nintendo Switch.

The film is all about Shin Shimomachi, an orphaned boy who lost his mother, Itsuki Takashiro, a young boy who lost his sister, and Tae Arihoshi, a young girl with spiritual powers descended from the Arihoshi clan (which rings a bell to us), as they joined alongside our new favorite Yo-Kai kitty Nekomata, Su-san, and their new Yo-Kai friends as they venture to the spirit world and discover what it means to be a family. Although this film will make viewers crying in the isles, Forever Friends uncovers the origin of Lord Enma and how his rise will forever change the spirit world forever.

Guest celebrities Shun Oguri and Chiemi Blouson lend their voices as villains Shien and Tamamonomae.

As stated with all of the tissues you packed up for the film, Forever Friends really is a family film that makes viewers cry at the start but in typical Yo-Kai Watch fashion, there are scenes that make us laugh just like the good old days, scare, disgust, and angry. Hey, that's all of the feels the viewers felt upon watching this film and such expressions really made Forever Friends a must-watch family anime film for the holiday season. Nekomata really approves it and so does every single family watching this film.

Five years of Yo-Kai Watch lead us to this and with the upcoming Yo-Kai Watch 4 video game for the Nintendo Switch coming really fast, the past (Forever Friends), the present (original), and the future (Shadowside) come full circle and that's something we should look forward for the next five years of Yo-Kai Watch.

My rating: 3.9 out of 5.

A brief history of Yo-kai Watch

Level 5's supernatural role-playing franchise, Yo-Kai Watch, is now officially five years old and for half a decade, we had fun befriending different sorts of Yo-Kais such as Jibanyan, Komasan, USApyon, and others, while travelling places, dimensions, timelines, and the supernatural realm, meeting memorable cast of characters, defeat nefarious bosses, and save the day. While it maybe a young jumpstart in the monster genre dominated by big names like Pokemon, but the franchise keeps growing by the likes of the TV show, toys, and dance moves that became a trending topic in the Japanese household. In honor of the Yo-Kai Watch franchise's 5th anniversary, let's have time stone rewind through five years of Yo-Kai Watch.

Yo-Kai Watch World

We began in the year 2013 with a company called Level 5, makers of the Inazuma Eleven and Layton franchise, wanted to expand their cross-media project portfolio by borrowing the pages of Pokemon's success story, whatever that means, and with that, Yo-Kai Watch is born. Launched in the Nintendo 3DS since July 11, 2013, Yo-Kai Watch pits players to a quiet neighborhood of Sakura New Town (Springdale) as their lives have changed with the encounter of the self-claimed Yo-Kai butler, Whisper. Donning the mysterious object called the Yo-Kai Watch, it allows them to see Yo-Kai that are invisible to the human eye, causing trouble to those who inspirit them. In this game, players can befriend different kinds of Yo-Kai, solve puzzles, meet new characters, travel different places, and defeat nefarious bosses to save the day. The gameplay was rather simple but rather unique and its signature sense of humor won't go unnoticed.

Thanks to Yo-Kai Watch's popularity that raked a million copies sold, the Yo-Kai boom was born with the advent of the 2014 TV series and toys from Bandai which lets kids relive their Yo-Kai Watch adventure with their very own Yo-Kai Watch toy and collect Yo-Kai medals. Also, the theme songs titled "Gera Gera Po" and "Youkai Taisou Daiichi" became the hit songs for Japanese families, so popular, they've recreated the dance steps over and over again.

The Yo-Kai Watch TV series was proven to be downright hilarious and very related to what the world moves right now and such popularity allowed Level 5 to make a sequel game with three different versions (the latter being the definitive one). Yo-Kai Watch 2 introduces players the new Yo-Kai Watch Model Zero and the new classic Yo-Kais as the game lets players travel to the past to see how it all began. Also, the first Yo-Kai Watch movie shown in theaters in December 2014, which became a staple that a Yo-Kai Watch film will shown every holiday season. In this film, the Wicked changed the timeline, making the Yo-Kai Watch ceased to exist at the hands of the show's main character, Keita Amano (Nate Adams). However, the appearance of the giant cat Yo-Kai made the main character remembered and later, he, Whisper, and Jibanyan, teams up with Fuyunyan (Hovernyan) to travel to the past to  meet his grandfather Keizou (Nathaniel), and stop the Wicked once and for all.

Thanks to the spike in popularity, the folks at Level 5 wanted to make a big spin on pointless puzzle games with Yo-Kai Watch Puni Puni and thanks to this addicting puzzle game, more and more people are playing this puzzle game more than jamming themselves to the real deal with frequent updates and new Yo-Kai that will make their experience more enjoyable than ever. What is Puni Puni? Simple, really. You just slide the puni punis to make it bigger and then pop it to inflict damage on foes. You can keep doing this until you defeated it and by chance, you can score items or a new Yo-Kai to your collection. You can even score new Yo-Kai by its gacha system as well. You get the idea but thanks to Puni Puni, many people are becoming self-starters to the Yo-Kai Watch franchise.

Come 2015, the Yo-Kai Watch TV series is renewed for a new season with the addition of a new female protagonist named Inaho Misora (Hailey Anne), new 'Merican Yo-Kais like USApyon, and the new Yo-Kai Watch Model U, among many other hilarious segments along the way. Remember Yo-Kai Watch's spoof on Fist of the North Star with Komasan on it? Well, you get the idea anyway but even with those fancy new additions, the games are never forgotten and they've launched a new Busters installment where players play the role of their favorite Yo-Kais as they venture through different areas alone or online co-op, defeat bosses, and recruit new Yo-Kais. Did you know that there was a Wii U game where players dance to the tune of the greatest hits from the Yo-Kai Watch playlist? Back on that year, a second Yo-Kai Watch film emerges and it features five stories such as what if Keita turned into a Yo-Kai, Jibanyan reunites with his old owner Amy, Komasan and Komajiro returns home to visit their mama when suddenly, a human baby turned up at her household, Inaho and USApyon save Christmas, and the Yo-Kais team up to battle their most feared adversary yet in the finale.

2016 became a big year for Yo-Kai Watch. Wintertime, the world of Yo-Kai Watch gets mashed up with the Three Kingdoms era with the Yo-Kai Sangokushi. Made in collaboration with Koei Tecmo, our favorite Yo-Kai characters became the stars in the Three Kingdoms era and because it's a strategy game, every move matters. After the Yo-Kais embracing the romance of the Three Kingdoms in a hilarious way, a new Yo-Kai Watch is born with the series renewed for another season, introducing new 'Merican Yo-Kais such as Tomnyan and the K.K. Brothers, and the advent of the new Yo-Kai Watch Dream model and the new Dream medals. Also, Yo-Kai Watch 3 went out, not only allowing players to collect normal and classic Yo-Kais, but also 'Merican Yo-Kais as well. As fans are getting used to this new kind of Yo-Kai experience, a third film popped up and this film combines anime and live-action, a way unprecedented for a kids anime film. In that film, a mysterious giant whale Yo-Kai distorts dimensions and the only key to stop this new kind of trouble rests in the answers of a new Yo-Kai named Koalanyan and a mysterious young girl.

2017 is a pivotal year for Yo-Kai Watch and upon the series got renewed for their final season, they're entering the Busters Treasure arc, as seen on the YW3 update. The new segment of that season features a treasure hunter named Indy J as he gets teamed up unexpectedly with Jibanyan and Komasan, among others, traveling through different dungeons in search of the mightiest Treasure Emblems and Medals, which holds the key to unlock the might of Yodelsen in the hopes of bringing his sister back to normal. As fans getting hooked to this Busters Treasure gig, the new Busters 2 game went out, featuring a new storyline where the Busters team, facing financial troubles, team up with Indy J and search for treasure while fending off new foes getting their way. Another pivot in the franchise is the fourth film, titled Yo-Kai Watch Shadowside: Oni-ō no Fukkatsu. 30 years into the future, a mysterious asteroid crashed into earth and then later, a malevolent virus spreading around the world, turning humans into monsters. As the world's population plagued into a malevolent force, these mysterious viruses tempted Touma to become one with the plot orchestrated by the powerful demon king. That's when Natsume comes in and upon the sudden encounter with Whisper, fate throws a bone, knowing that she's the last hope to save the world from a malevolent force. This film introduces two Yo-Kai Watches such as the Yo-Kai Watch Elder, the one Natsume wore in the film, which can summon Yo-Kai using a key-like Ark, and the Yo-Kai Watch Ogre, the one Touma wore, that can turn into powerful Yo-kai warriors. It also features a terrifying form unheard from Yo-Kai Watch fans everywhere. Called Shadowside, it turns our favorite Yo-Kais such as Jibanyan and Komasan into grizzly and grotesque beasts.

And now, here we are on 2018. A landmark year of Yo-Kai Watch and with the original Yo-Kai Watch anime ended late March, the Yo-Kai Watch Shadowside series steps in the Spring 2018 anime lineup. Set after the events of the film, the gang ventured across the town, battling shadows and befriend new Yo-Kai. The series introduces Natsume's little brother Keisuke as well as a new villain named Haruya, among many others, while some of the things unexplained from the film were now answered in this TV show such as the existence of other swords rather than the fabled Fudou Lightning Sword. As the new TV show continues to pick some steam, there's still more love to the original Yo-Kai Watch as they've launched a smartphone app game based on the Yo-Kai Sangokushi and a Gerapo Rhythm app game where players tap into the tune of their favorite Yo-Kai Watch songs. Ringing out Yo-Kai Watch's 5th anniversary is a new AR smartphone game titled Yo-Kai Watch World. Made in collaboration with GungHo, players can travel in real time, battle and befriend different Yo-Kais. Also, there's going to be a fifth Yo-Kai Watch film coming this Christmas season. Titled Yo-Kai Watch Forever Friends, the film is set in the 1960's and it's about an orphaned little boy joined alongside with his new friends and set out on a journey that will discover them what it means to be a family. The new film showcases new Yo-Kai characters such as Nekomata, among many others in this film. Lastly, Yo-Kai Watch is finally heading to Switch with the upcoming Yo-Kai Watch 4 game. Not much info is given but as seen on the visual, the protagonists from the original, Shadowside, and Forever Friends will be joining forces for this new adventure. It will also take advantage of the brand new Yo-Kai Ark collection as well.

After five years, the future of the Yo-Kai Watch franchise never been brighter than it was first launched and no matter which timeline you're on, you are going to be fascinated by the good, the bad, and the ugly supernatural beings as seen in the world of Yo-Kai Watch. Like they said, when a Yo-Kai enters your life, things will never be the same.

Happy 5th anniversary to the Yo-Kai Watch franchise and here's for more supernatural fun with our Yo-Kai friends!

Yo-Kai Watch Busters 2 Hihou Densetsu Bambalaya Sword/Magnum

Yo-Kai Watch Busters 2 Hihou Densetsu Bambalaya Sword

Yo-Kai Watch Busters 2 Hihou Densetsu Bambalaya Magnum

The Yo-Kai Watch Busters are back with a brand new adventure that will make you dig deep in the Yo-Kai world's mythical treasures only the bravest of the brave Yo-Kai explorers can break themselves through and looks like you're going to need more than your guts to survive different dungeons in your quest to find and fight for your fortune.

Welcome to Yo-Kai Watch Busters 2 and in this hilariously new chapter to the Busters saga, the Yo-Kai Watch Busters team, facing financial uncertainties, have been summoned by renowned treasure hunter Indy J and his crew to set off on a journey at Karakuri Island to find hidden treasures for the Busters team to pay the rent! Be warned, throughout your treasure hunting missions, you will face off against different enemies, including rival treasure hunters trying to make your treasure hunting life more miserable.

An ancient prophecy foretold that the great and powerful Yo-kai Yodelsen will be awoken if the eight mystery legendary Yo-kais surrounding the island have appeared. That was the main topic just like you saw in the TV show but if you are ready to fulfill the prophecy and find the eight powerful treasure Yo-kais that could become the key to unleash Yodelsen, you got to be ready for everything because this could be a lengthy adventure that takes some wits, determination, and some laughs to uncover the ancient mystery. Sounds like our kind of work.

If you're a long-time Yo-Kai Watch viewer who enjoyed watching the show's Busters Treasure segment, here's your chance to live the adventure as T (Treasure) Jibanyan, T Komasan, Indy J, and the rest of the team as you will venture through different dungeons of this island, searching for hidden treasures while blasting your way past powerful baddies along the way. For Busters vets, playable Yo-kais are classified into four classes, the attacker for close-range, the ranger for long-range attacks, the healer for healing allies in a pinch, and the tank for defensive properties. Experimenting with different classes with different tribes can be somewhat challenging for a first-timer but as you are knowledgeable enough to deal with your favorite Yo-Kais, it shouldn't be a slouch, even when you're up against big bosses.

Keeping it true to the Busters tradition, you can play with up to four players cooperatively because if you are getting stuck, feel free to call a friend, a skilled one perhaps, and finish the dungeon job together.

As the adventure progresses, you can gain access to Treasure Gears that will make a big help to your adventure such as the Magnum for mid-range attacks, Chainsword for close-range attacks, and Sniper for long range attacks with a chance of critical hits. There are other Treasure Gears to unlock later on and with equipment like these, you can experiment different battle strategies for the best experience.

Because this game has two versions, Sword and Magnum features powerful legendary Yo-Kais exclusive in each version as well as the bosses to defeat, Yo-Kais to recruit, and the theme songs performed by King Cream Soda. Get this, if you play both Sword and Magnum versions at the same time, you will unlock a hidden Yo-Kai named T-USApyon. Make good use of your new recruit as you venture across different dungeons. There are so many special Yo-kais to recruit just by fulfilling special conditions outside the game but there too much to list, even the fact that this game features a special mission inspired from the Yo-kai Watch Shadowside film, in theaters now. Oh, and if you update your game on the first time you are playing Busters 2, you will receive a powerful S-rank Hyakkihime (Damona). She can make a great addition to your Busters team.

So, with almost everything you need to know about Busters 2 taken care of, it's time to set off to this new kind of adventure as one of your favorite Yo-kais. Solving puzzles, fighting enemies, finding hidden treasures, this is the Busters' kind of work and you are part of it.

Yo-Kai Watch Shadowside: Oni-ō no Fukkatsu

Families across Japan witnessed the origin of the Yo-Kai Watch in the first film, then witnessed five dramatic stories a year later, and last year, they got sucked up by the malevolent force that turned their favorite anime into a live-action flick. Now, in tradition of the holiday spirit (pun intended), families are bracing themselves into what is know to be the most terrifying installment yet as everything they know about Japan's favorite franchise has changed.

Yo-Kai Watch Shadowside: Oni-ō no Fukkatsu

As the fourth outing of the Yo-Kai Watch films, Yo-Kai Watch Shadowside: Oni-ō no Fukkatsu envisions the world of Yo-Kai Watch thirty years after the main story when the original hero forgot about the existence of Yo-Kai upon bracing adulthood. We get to introduce the new heroes of this film starting with Natsume Amano (played by Mone Kamishiraishi, famed for playing Mitsuha from last year's blockbuster anime film your name.), the daughter of the original Yo-Kai Watch main character Keita, a mysterious teenage boy named Touma Tsukinami (played by one of Japan's breakout actors Yudai Chiba), and a spiritual teenager named Akinori Arihoshi, while we are reunited by old Yo-Kai Watch favorites like Jibanyan, Komasan, and many others. Thirty years later and looks like most of the cuteness Jibanyan and Komasan possess are all gone and what's going to happen later on is very terrifying indeed but first, the story.

A mysterious asteroid crashed into earth and then later, a malevolent virus spreading around the world, turning humans into monsters. As the world's population plagued into a malevolent force, these mysterious viruses tempted Touma to become one with the plot orchestrated by the powerful demon king. That's when Natsume comes in and upon the sudden encounter with Whisper, fate throws a bone, knowing that she's the last hope to save the world from a malevolent force.

This film introduces two Yo-Kai Watches such as the Yo-Kai Watch Elder, the one Natsume wore in the film, which can summon the forces of light, and the Yo-Kai Watch Ogre, the one Touma wore, that can summon the forces of darkness. Speaking of darkness, this film features a terrifying form unheard from Yo-Kai Watch fans everywhere. Called Shadowside, it turns our favorite Yo-Kais such as Jibanyan and Komasan into grizzly and grotesque beasts, turning the family movie into a snuff movie.

Little kids are definitely want to hide with their mommies and daddies right now because one look at their Shadowside Yo-Kais will make them crying with fear knowing that their favorite Yo-Kai characters became scary monsters. For big boys, however, the terrifying versions of their Yo-Kai favorites are awesome indeed and so are the thrilling fight scenes that will keep them the edge of the seat. I know this film is downright scary to the last breath but to help balance it out, they brought in some guests...big-time guests...as the stars of the legendary anime GeGeGe no Kitarou making special appearances in the film. Best thing ever done since putting the Kumamoto prefecture mascot in the first Yo-Kai Watch film three years ago, and since this is GeGeGe no Kitarou, the semi-scary Jibanyan, thirty years later, dons Kitarou's outfit, just to pay tribute to the legend itself. This is exactly why the celebration of 100 years of anime comes full circle with this.

This new Yo-Kai Watch film gave us the terrifying vision of the future of Level 5's supernatural hit franchise and while it became a snuff movie because of the terrifying flesh-eating monsters appeared on this flick, it's still the typical Yo-Kai Watch we all love and with franchise celebrating its 5th year on 2018, looks like this film is on the right path.

My rating: 4.0 out of 5.

How to dress as Nate or Hailey Anne

The world of Yo-Kai Watch can be downright hilarious and downright messy if you are either Nate (with Jibanyan and Whisper alongside) or Hailey Anne (with USApyon alongside) but because of your Yo-Kai Watch, you might be able to find the spirits causing so many mess in the human world faster than Whisper flicking his Yo-Kai Pad endlessly. Let's admit it, we're all fans of Level 5's popular video game franchise that spawned a TV anime series, a plethora of toys, movies that come out every holiday season, and the dance steps that became the trending topic in every Japanese household.

 

We always wanted to dress as one of the Yo-Kai Watch users as seen in the games and the TV series because if we're the ones to blame the supernatural for everyday nuisance, we've come to the right spot and today, it's time for me, your honorary Whisper of the day, will show you how to dress as the stars of Yo-Kai Watch.

As Nate:

Keita Amano (or Nate) is an average kid who became a Yo-Kai Watch user after his fateful encounter with the so-called Yo-Kai butler Whisper after releasing him from a mysterious vending machine while he was busy catching bugs in the summer. With the Yo-Kai Watch, Nate can encounter different kinds of Yo-Kais making too much trouble in the human world.

Because of the change in times, I decided to pick Nate's current costume as seen in the current Yo-Kai Watch series, especially the YW3 Sushi/Tempura/Sukiyaki games, but he wears two kinds of outfits depending on the season so let's begin with...

NATE'S SPRING/SUMMER OUTFIT:

• First, get a brown hair and make sure it's as spiky as Nate's.
• In the current series, Nate wears a sky blue shirt, and a red short-sleeved polo shirt with a star on each sleeve. Feel free to recreate that look.
• Then, get some beige pants and then trim it to about 80% coverage. Feel free to add some bits on each side if you wish.
• As for footwear, it has to be brown, short boots.
• To complete the look, you'll need the toy replica of the Yo-Kai Watch DREAM. Of course, you can pick whatever Yo-Kai Watch you want, even the old Yo-Kai Watch U Prototype toy but the Yo-Kai Watch DREAM is my recommendation to this look. For optional consideration; buy the new Crystal Treasure skin for the Yo-Kai Watch DREAM in case you're going to summon a mystery legend.
• OPTIONAL: Get a plush toy of either Whisper, Jibanyan, or both.

NATE'S AUTUMN/WINTER OUTFIT:

• Like the last one, get a brown hair and make sure it's as spiky as Nate's.
• There are three upper outfits on this getup; a black-and-white striped T-shirt, a white hoodie without a zipper, and a red jacket with some zipper on it. Be sure to have those in the shopping list while you can but the white hoodie can be a tricky find.
• After that, get some green cargo trousers that matches his.
• Shoes? Blue Converse shoes. Sort of...
• Like before, any Yo-Kai Watch replica toy but the Yo-Kai Watch DREAM is the recommendation. And as an option; a Yo-Kai plush of either Whisper, Jibanyan, or both.

As Hailey Anne:

Inaho Misora (or Hailey Anne) is a proper sci-fi geek and anime otaku who first encountered USApyon in a middle of the alleyway when the space watch toy she bought at the store was actually a Yo-Kai Watch. With Hailey Anne and USApyon as partners, they've been through different adventures such as how to build a rocket, solving mysteries like detectives, drawing attention from the FBY agents, and more. Deep down, she can be a real pain in Nate's back side because she's a Yo-Kai Watch user like him and they can be the fiercest of rivals, if you may.

Like Nate, Hailey Anne wears two different outfits depending on the season so let's begin with...

HAILEY ANNE'S SPRING/SUMMER OUTFIT:

• Short, puffy, and purplish. That's what describe Hailey Anne's hair like so feel free to recreate her hairstyle. Oh, and don't forget her glasses.
• Hailey Anne wears a sky blue T-shirt and a pink cardigan so put that in your shopping list if you are going to dress as her.
• Below, Hailey Anne wears a beige and short A-line skirt and some blue leggings. Add that to the list as well.
• Lastly, you'll going to need some yellow shoes to finish the look or not because you're going to need one last thing...
• In the TV show, she uses a Yo-Kai Watch U Prototype. Feel free to find a toy replica of her Yo-Kai Watch online and for optional consideration, the VersionU2 skin for the Yo-Kai Watch U Prototype toy.
• OPTIONAL: Hailey Anne's partner Yo-Kai is some space otter named USApyon and if you're going to be like her, you're going to need a plush toy of her Yo-Kai partner.

HAILEY ANNE'S AUTUMN/WINTER OUTFIT:

• Like before, get a purple hair and make sure it's short and puffy, just like Hailey Anne's.
• On the top, be sure to wear a sky blue sweater and a pink long jacket but make sure it's not too puffy, not too long, or not too leathery. It's about as similar as Hailey Anne's.
• Below, she wears a short, brownish A-line skirt that is now over the knee and then, some dark red leggings. Be sure to have those alongside the ones on the top.
• As for shoes, you're going to need some short gray boots for this.
• Like before, a Yo-Kai Watch U Prototype toy and an optional VersionU2 skin for it. Also, the USApyon plush toy if necessary.

...and there you have it. Dressing as one of the Yo-Kai Watch users of the show, you're off for some supernatural shenanigans in case you're off into your next convention or go trick-or-treating but either way, not only you'll look just like one of them but you're ready for some hilarious misadventures with your favorite Yo-Kais!

Photo: Level 5

Fun with the Yo-Kai Watch Dream toy

If you are very busy with the hit anime series based on Level 5's hit video game franchise, Yo-Kai Watch, you may have strongly familiar with the gadget the show's main character Keita Amano (Nate Adams) wears which is none other than the Yo-Kai Watch.

Throughout the show, Keita has wore different versions of the Yo-Kai Watch from the first one when the show began three years ago, the Zero model we saw in the Yo-Kai Watch 2 games, most importantly the one in the movie Keizou Amano (Nathaniel Adams) wore before handing it over to the would-be grandson at the end of the film, the U Prototype ringing new tribe songs and the fact that another Yo-Kai Watch user has one by the name of Inaho Misora, and now this...



Welcome everyone to the Yo-Kai Watch DREAM, the current Yo-Kai Watch model our main character is wearing from the TV series as well as the Yo-Kai Watch 3 games. The folks from BANDAI made a replica of the latest Yo-Kai Watch model Keita wore in the show and it became a must have for every Japanese kids' birthday present (or Christmas).

If you're in Japan and if you're looking for this kind of Yo-Kai Watch toy, it's hard to guess how much is this because on the official website, it's "PRICE ON APPLICATION" so you only need to request to the merchant how much this is. Long time ago, the first two Yo-Kai Watches, the original and the Zero, costs you 3,200 Yen plus tax, while the Yo-Kai Watch U Prototype costs you 4,200 Yen plus tax. Whatever this is, it's hard to guess how much this costs so it's everyone's guess.

Anyway, let's have a look at this Yo-Kai Watch DREAM toy...



Now that's some golden touch to the familiar design we love when we first fall in love with the Yo-Kai Watch.



This strap has a nice American theme to it. Perhaps no wonder the Yo-Kai Watch story enters the age of the American Yo-Kais such as Tomnyan, the KK Brothers, USApyon, and the others.



Lights emitting red while engaging Search Mode. The sound of the watch emitting scanning noise is now improved and it takes to getting used to this noise.



This Watch comes with two Yo-Kai Medals; Jibanyan and Robonyan USA. If you noticed something different with Jibanyan, that's because what you have here is the Dream Medal but let's talk about that later on because when you insert the watch, you are greeted with the brand new summoning jingle that varies by tribe and no matter the medal or the tribe, it plays one of seven roulette jingles but how it ends will be everyone's guess. In the case of the Yo-Kai Dream Medal, special dialogues will be triggered at the end of the summoning sequence. If it's good, the special dialogue will be good but if its bad, then it's the opposite. You get the point.

There's another thing you can do with the Dream Medal because with the Dream Medal present, hold the search button to trigger Charge Mode. When it says "3...2...1...", hit the Search Button to engage it and let's hope that the roulette hits the bottom middle of the watch or else you'll have to try and try again until it hits! When it hits the bottom middle of the Yo-Kai Watch DREAM, congratulations! Your Dream Medal's now charged! Some say you'll trigger something special with this by scanning its QR code behind the medal on the Yo-Kai Watch 3 SUSHI/TEMPURA/SUKIYAKI game for the Nintendo 3DS.

If words can bore you down, maybe a little video digest will;





So, what's my take on the Yo-Kai Watch DREAM toy? I'm starting to love this kind of Yo-Kai Watch toy a lot and I tend to get carried away when I am busy channeling my inner Keita (Nate) with this kind of Yo-Kai Watch and if you are planning to cosplay as Keita (Nate) on your next anime convention, better start looking for one of these and pretty soon, I'll be teaching you how to dress as Keita (Nate) from Yo-Kai Watch so watch for it.

Yokai Watch Soratobu Kujira to Double Sekai no Daibouken da Nyan!

For the first time in Yokai Watch history, the third film based on the hit TV series sees a mix of anime and live action elements, giving viewers a more intriguing but enjoyable feast for the holiday season while introducing new Yokais on the film. This third film will be the biggest for Keita Amano (Nate Adams), Whisper, Jibanyan, and the rest!

Yokai Watch
Soratobu Kujira to Double Sekai no
Daibouken da Nyan!

So, what's going to be on the third Yokai Watch movie? Well, a mysterious giant whale-like Yokai has emerged from the shadows following series of unexplained events spiraling through the peaceful Sakura New Town (Springdale). With the new Yokai Koalanyan emerged, things get even ugly for Keita (Nate) and the gang and they'll have to team up to save the world before it gets worse.

The live action parts of this latest Yokai Watch film stars Ryouka Minamide as Keita (Nate), Kento Yamazaki as King Enma, Takumi Saito as Nurarihyon, Minami Hamabe as Kanami Minami, Yuina Kuroshima as Emi-chan (Amy), Yuu Sawabe as Kuma (Bear), Kenichi Endo as Jinmenken (Manjimutt) and many others. Almost all of your favorite human characters got live-actionized while your favorite Yokais get CGI animated, giving a more lively appearance for Whisper, Jibanyan, Komasan, Komajirou, USApyon, and your favorite Yokais, especially the brand new Yokai Koalanyan, who can be playable on the new Yokai Watch 3 games, currently on sale for the Nintendo 3DS. A live-action/anime hybrid film. Sounds common but flattering for a long-time Yokai Watch fan.

Because this is labeled as a family film, this latest Yokai Watch film is supposed to be a family friendly movie because it has all the regular Yokai Watch stuff as expected from the anime but when the live-action parts kicked in, the crowd's better start talking because in case of King Enma and Nurarihyon appeared in those live-action segments, it's no longer a family film at all. It's becoming a chick flick because teenage girls and YA women, due to their tendency over good looking men, got their main reason why they love this latest Yokai Watch film not because of the whole of it but because of the men who played King Enma and Nurarihyon in the live-action parts of the film. If you are under ten and if you bring your big teenage sister along on a movie trip, chances are your sister's ruining your Yokai Watch movie-viewing pleasure. Sigh.

If you didn't care about the live-action parts of the film, this film is beyond regular compared to the previous two films based on the hit franchise. It maybe odd, it maybe shabby, it maybe dirty on the jokes, but for a family-friendly anime film fit for the Christmas season, it's not really half-bad as long as no young women and teenage girls ruining the film because of the EnmaNura appearances. Otherwise, heaven forbid, they should get a taste of Jibanyan's Paws of Fury after this. At least it's not as pathetic as a single Manjimutt at both sides. Pun intended.

My rating: 3.4 out of 5

Yokai Watch 3 Sukiyaki

When the Yokai Watch 3 games, Sushi and Tempura, went on sale for the Nintendo 3DS a few months ago along with the new set of medals to further enhance their gaming pleasure, fans of Level 5's hit monster game continue their search for more troublemaking Yokais in an all new adventure and throughout the course of the game, fans even managed to add new Yokais to their entourage, including new favorites like K. Koma, K. Jirou, Tomnyan, and others. Now, a new and definitive third version, titled Yokai Watch 3 Sukiyaki, turns the latest installment up to eleven, leading it now to the upcoming third Yokai Watch film hitting theaters this Saturday.

Yokai Watch 3 Sukiyaki

Same gameplay as seen from the Sushi and Tempura games but Sukiyaki offers new and exciting features never before seen on the first two versions, delivering a definitive Yokai Watch 3 experience like no other, well the storyline is the same as the first two as Yokai Watch 3 centers on Keita (Nate) and Jibanyan going to America while Inaho and USApyon are staying in Japan in search for more troublemaking Yokais they can encounter. Two worlds, new Yokais, new adventures, what could possibly go wrong?!

Anyway, those who played either Sushi or Tempura know what this is but Sukiyaki has tons of new features. One of the new features is the new Yokai Busters T mode, where four players can team up and fight their way through different dungeon layouts in search for treasure while battling through tons of enemies, including powerful guardians that requires some cooperative strategy. Is your Yokai up enough for this new challenge? This new mode is standard on the Sukiyaki version but Sushi and Tempura users can get this new mode via DLC.

Exclusive on the Sukiyaki version is a brand new storyline inspired from the upcoming "Yokai Watch Soratobu Kujira to Double Sekai no Daibouken da Nyan!" movie. Watch how Koalanyan, one of the stars of the latest Yokai Watch film, switch dimensions and you will see the difference between animated Keita (Nate) and Jibanyan and their other dimensional selves, just like in the movie, while taking on a mysterious whale-like Yokai interfering their dimensions. There are new Yokais exclusive on the Sukiyaki version while promising over 600 Yokais to meet and join in your entourage, and a special Sukiyaki-exclusive quest with a special appearance by Fumi-chan (Katie)!

Download or physical, whichever you bought this game, you will receive one of two special Yokais for use in-game or with the Yokai Watch Dream toy. Those who bought it physical will get a ultra-powerful Kakusei Enma medal while those who bought it via download will add a special USAtofu in-game.

Believe it or not, you can carry over your Sushi or Tempura progress on the new Sukiyaki version of Yokai Watch 3 game but if you have a save data from the Yokai Sangokushi spin-off game, you will get special versions of Jibanyan, Whisper, Komasan, Komajirou, Fuyunyan (Hovernyan) and USApyon based from that spin-off game to the Sukiyaki game. Put these special Yokais to good use! You'll gonna need them (and their corny jokes, too).

So, welcome everyone to the most definitive version of your Yokai Watch 3 experience. With all the same stuff from the Sushi/Tempura versions while adding some Sukiyaki-exclusive content and the new Yokai Busters T mode for four-player fun, what could possibly go wrong?