Prerelease:Yo-kai Watch (Nintendo 3DS)/2013

This is a sub-page of Prerelease:Yo-kai Watch (Nintendo 3DS).

January

Famitsu January 2013 Issue

Yo-kai Watch was showcased in Famitsu, where interestingly, almost none of those screenshots were ever shown online by Level-5!

Early Tribe Symbols

Quite possibly the most obscure and overlooked piece of media were the earlier designs of Yo-kai Tribes! Almost all are differently named and had altered changes to their design throughout development, most of them being altered to apply to a wider range of Yo-kai:

• The only symbol that remained with its design was the Brave Tribe, which was originally called "Mononofu" (モノノフ), literally meaning "martial artist" rather then Isamashi (イサマシ) in the final. It may have been renamed to apply the Tribe to Yo-kai that don't specify in that.
• The lime-green colored symbol is called "Maboroshi" (マボロシ), which translates to "illusionary". It may have been an earlier version of the Mysterious tribe as it reuses the same symbol.
• The aqua-colored symbol is called "Yoroi" (ヨロイ), meaning "armor". It's likely an earlier version of the Tough Tribe, applying to armored Yo-kai. It's also the same symbol used on the Speed Talisman.
• The yellow symbol is called "Kimagure" (キマグレ), meaning "whimsical". It's probably an early version of the Charming Tribe, though according to the color and theme may have been reworked into Eerie or merged with Mysterious in terms of color. It is the same symbol used on the Defense Talisman.
• The green symbol is called "Kokoro" (ココロ), meaning "heart", obviously an earlier version of the Heartful tribe with a hand instead of a flower.
• The orange symbol is called "Itazura" (イタズラ), meaning "mischief". It's an early version of the Shady tribe with an orange color instead of dark blue.
• The purple symbol is called "Yami" (ヤミ), meaning "darkness". Likely reworked into the Eerie tribe, or the Wicked Tribe in Yo-kai Watch 2.
• The cyan symbol is called "Uroku" (ウロク), meaning "scales". It's an earlier version of the slippery tribe and was probably renamed so it could apply to Yo-kai rather than fish or dragons.

Some of these symbols remain in the final game, as specific Talismans and as the menu icon for Yo-kai Medals.

The same early Tribes can be seen on an official English pamphlet, showing that Kyubi (spelled as his Japanese name Kyuubi) was part of the Yami Tribe.

Cut Summoning Screen?

Insert the Yo-kai Medal..... and the befriended Yo-kai will come out!	(Translate Right Text)
"Jibanyan was summoned!"

An image on the article shows that Yo-kai can be summoned, where it takes the player to a screen showing the summoned Yo-kai. This doesn't obviously show up in the final game, where the text on the right side of the image said that the summoning effects "are a mystery". It was likely reworked into the summoning application in Yo-kai Watch 2.

Interestingly, Jibanyan's model in that image has a lot more detail compared to other models in the game implying that it was used in a cutscene.

Earlier Dismarelda Mission

Nate's parents are fighting!?	(Translate Right Text)
Translate

An early version of Nate's parents fighting at his house, under the cause of Yo-kai Dismarelda.

• The Yo-kai Lens was a simpler circle meter.
• The text placement was smaller.

Screenshots

October 2012	January 2013	Final Game (Recreation)

A "remake" of an earlier image of the Yo-kai Watch reacting, where it shows the final text box and mugshot design. Since it shares the exact same placements, it may have been a mockup of some kind.

• The text box now matches that of the final, using a cyan background and two text lines. Despite that, a spinning Yo-kai Watch symbol is used instead of a downwards-pointing arrow.
• The image seems to be in the exact same position as the earlier one.
• The name tag originally had a speech bubble tail.

Miscellaneous

• Chatalie's Japanese name Kuchidake-onna (口だけおんな) was originally spelt differently as (口だけ女), using the onna kanji instead of hiragana.
• Ol' Saint Trick's Japanese name Santaku Rōshi (サンタク老師) was originally Santaku Kurousu (サンタクろうす).

(Source: https://www.true-gaming.net/home/126921/)

World Hobby Fair 2013 Confirmation

In January 2013, Yo-kai Watch was confirmed to be on the lineup for the World Hobby Fair Winter '13 in January 2013. Three new screenshots were also posted, despite them looking different compared to the WHF 2013 build.

Screenshots

January 2013	Final Game

A slightly later screenshot of earlier Springdale before the redesign, where the older girl says "???".

• The teenage girl NPC's name in Japanese (お姉さん onee-san) was originally spelled as "おねえさん", lacking the kanji symbol.
• Megan can be seen again walking in the streets, where it doesn't happen in the final.
• Whisper's overworld model has been shrunk and matches that of the final.

January 2013	Final Game

A screenshot of Nate chasing Leadoni down the Back Alley.

• It may have been similar to the Enter Jibanyan! chapter in the final game where Nate has to get Jibanyan's photo back, except Roughraff plays the role instead.
• The model of Leadoni notably looks more low-poly.

January 2013	Final Game

A slightly later build of the battle system, with some differences present.

• The cloud texture was different.
• There was no gradient filter at the top.

World Hobby Fair Winter '13 Demo

Yo-kai Watch was playable at the World Hobby Fair Winter 2013, first held on January 20, 2013 to February in four different locations. No public photography was allowed at the events, and there was a 60-minute wait time. Some of it would be covered from official sources.

Judging from the released images, it plays exactly like the demo in the final game, but there are just over a handful of aesthetical differences exclusive to this build.

Trailer

A trailer for it was released, though the official YouTube video upload has been made private since then until it was finally found and reuploaded.

• A slightly earlier version of the Yo-kai Watch Theme plays at the beginning of the trailer, featuring different synths and lacking some instrumentation.
• The map style on the bottom screen was more cramped compared to slightly more open in the final. Sidewalks weren't also mapped.
• Humans had unique dialogue sounds when talking to them, which was replaced with one type of sound used by Yo-kai in the final.
• Uptown Springdale's Japanese name was simply called "Sakura New Town" (さくらニュータウン) rather than "Sakura Jūtakugai" (さくら住宅街) in the final.
• The car at Katie's house is oddly shaded in a darker color.
• Nate and Katie now use their final models.
• The battle transition was different; it zoomed into the character rather than purple smoke surrounding the screen.
• There was originally a Run (にげる) option in battle, in place of the Purify button before it would be replaced with the Escape Doll item in the final. Also, the Items and what would eventually be the Purify buttons on the battle system were swapped in the final.
• Yo-kai had almost no voice clips when attacking except for Noko which has the same voice clip as final.
• The action effects have been removed from the damage and heal counter.
• Soultimate backgrounds were slightly different.
• Dulluma now uses his final design.
• The button selection sound was different.
• There was a target in the middle of the system, which was replaced with arrows and a "L/R" symbol.

Screenshots

Map
A mockup of the map spliced together with pieces from the trailer with some small changes.

January 2013 (Mockup)	Unused Demo Night Map	Final Map (Demo)	Final Map (Final Game)

• There were no sewers on the right side.
• The river placement was notably different; it didn't flow around the Forester Residence instead and was instead replaced with houses in this build.
• Jungle Hunter wasn't present, instead being replaced by generic houses.
• The Lambert Post Office was interestingly marked on the map, despite not being accessible.
• There was no parking lot next to the Lambert Post Office.
• The houses on the bottom didn't have square-shaped roofs, mostly because graphics weren't made for them yet.
• There didn't seem to be a bridge on the top-right corner of the map.

Demo Images
The only gameplay image from the demo that was officially posted.

To do: Find a higher res scan that isn't from some downscaled official repost

More images from the demo, were shown in the February 2013 issue of Corocoro and the March 2013 issue of Famitsu;

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  The text box for finding a Yo-kai is different in design.

• 

• The rug in Katie's bedroom, where the Yo-kai Medallium resides if she's chosen as a playable character option, was positioned differently.

(Source: https://www.true-gaming.net/home/135734/　https://corocoro.jp/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/a4842f4ca6214a1c6adaa6e537451323.jpg)

February

Unknown

Some more Yo-kai were revealed and posted to the official website at an unknown point. Some of the artwork actually differs from the final game;

Early 2013	Final Game

Droplette originally had no eye pupils.

Early 2013	Final Game

Mad Mountain had a brighter color scheme.

Early 2013	Final Game

Buhu had a brighter color scheme.

(Source: https://ebten.jp/level5/p/4571237660481/)

Nintendo Direct 2013.2.21

https://www.nicovideo.jp/watch/sm20150371 Yo-kai Watch was shown in the Japanese Nintendo Direct on February 21, 2013, on Level-5's title lineup having no release date. Though it reuses footage from the World Hobby Fair Winter '13 demo, the early artwork of Springdale can be seen before the gameplay likely meaning that the final layout of Springdale had not been completed yet.

March

Later Springdale Concept Artwork

In July 2013, official artwork of the districts of Springdale were posted but funnily enough; most of them have drastically different layouts that aren't present in the final or in most of the later screenshots! One of the most notable changes were the lack of an Everymart store in other districts, where the Eyepo save points may have ended up being added in late in development.

Due to the January 2013 build having a drastically different layout of Springdale as evidenced by the full early night map getting datamined in the demo, this is the best-presumed date to where it was redesigned.

Springdale Map

This is likely the very first map to be designed, as it has more differences than what is listed below the individual location artworks.

• Uptown Springdale
  • There was no car dealer building on the bottom.
  • Jungle Hunter had no sign.
  • The top of the kindergarten building was green instead of yellow.
  • The road leading to Mount Wildwood was changed a bit while the houses were rearranged.
  • The path leading to The Catwalk was originally a ramp.
  • There was a gazebo on a top-left part of Springdale Elementary School.
  • There was no waterfall in the river.
  • The islands in the river are different.
  • The house, used in the "Now with Mushrooms!" Request at the bottom of the parking lot was different.
  • The paving around the riverbank didn't extend to the end of the bridge.
  • The top bridge bordering Breezy Hills had a crosswalk, which would be removed in the final.
• Blossom Heights differences:
  • The Old Mansion wasn't present, or rather hidden within the trees.
  • There seemed to have been cars present on the slopes, which do not appear in the final.
  • There was a regular path on the left side instead of a road that led to the main street.
  • There was no Everymart.
  • There was an extra strip of land at the southern part, with a grassy field that would be removed.
  • There were three stairways leading to the riverbank rather than one.
  • There were buildings present in front of the apartment houses, which would be a parking lot in the final.
• Downtown Springdale differences;
  • The yellow water tower was replaced with some buildings.
  • The Seabreeze Tunnel was moved to beside the hotel.
  • The building next to the office was removed, as well as the "business district" being changed into regular buildings.
  • The office had a different, more futuristic design.
  • There was a road present in the northern entrance of Springdale Central Station, which would be fully-pedestrianized in the final.
  • The place of the Snap Turtle Camera building was just a generic building.
  • The pathway leading to the Seabreeze Tunnel was diagonal.
  • There was an extra building next to the Arcadia Arcade.
• Shopper's Row differences;
  • The Nocturne Hospital was originally bigger, had the entrance was on the right side rather than on the front, and had a red cross symbol on the top.
  • The Flower Road awning was much more longer.
  • The raised bridge near the top from Blossom Heights is present.
  • The streetlights were different before they were changed to generic lights from Uptown Springdale.
  • No Everymart was present.
  • The abandoned house on the middle-right part were behind a row of houses.
  • The turn at the train tracks was more sharper.
  • The path to the train bridge was connected differently and led to the Flower Road.
  • The railroad track at the bottom also had a raised ramp.
• Breezy Hills differences;
  • No Everymart at bottom-right corner.
  • There were sculptures around Gourd Pond.
  • No steps leading to sewers.
  • The pathway leading to the Thomas House in Yo-kai Watch 3 is red and directly connected to the sidewalk rather than being a completely different tile.
  • Gourd Pond had lights which were removed in the final.
  • Wisteria Hills wasn't present, where some generic apartments took its place.
  • Houses were laid out differently near the top.
  • Pathway leading to Rugged Path was different.
  • The swan boats were pink, rather than white.
  • The path around the stage area has extra space.
  • The road around the Stone House area was adjusted.

Uptown Springdale

Concept Art	Final (Render)

This part seems to be the newest and most updated out of them, since most of the stuff there is finalized save for a few changes;

• The parking lot in the apartment is now larger, like the final.
• The islands in the river now match that of the final.
• The florist house now matches the final.

Blossom Heights

Concept Art	Final (Render)

Slightly later artwork, where it appears to have been traced over from the earlier art, with the following differences present;

• The Old Mansion couldn't be seen.
• The "islands" from the Uptown Springdale artwork aren't present, likely to make it focus on the location itself.
• A bridge ramp is present on the bottom-right side, but would be downgraded to a regular road in the final game.

Downtown Springdale

Concept Art	Final (Render)

• The building next to Fortune Hospital was made shorter.
• The Snap Turtle Camera building now matches that of the final.
• The pathway leading to the Seabreeze Tunnel is now straight.
• The building next to the Arcadia Arcade is now removed.
• The red "BOOK" building was moved to the other side of the road, near Fortune Hospital.

Shopper's Row

Concept Art	Final (Render)

• A fence was added near the Nocturne Hospital.

Breezy Hills

Concept Art	Final (Render)

• There is now more of a forested area at the top-left part.
• Streetlights were added to the Gourd Pond area, but would be removed in the final.
• The road around the Stone House area now matches that of the final.

Mount Wildwood

Concept Art	Final (Render)

• The bottom right monument was removed.
• Two of the houses in the midmostern part aren't present, while the other house remains in the final.
• Cedar trees were originally present in the road split.
• The path leading to the Abandoned Tunnel East was a lot longer and had no blocked-off connection.

Release Date Reveal

On March 15, 2013, Level-5 announced that Yo-kai Watch is slated to be released in the summer. A few new images were also posted.

March 2013	Final Game

An image of Cadin being found with the Yo-kai Watch.

• The text wasn't centered nor it had a different color or design.
• The image of location wasn't blurred when a Yo-kai was found.

April

Gameplay Trailer

On April 15, 2013, a gameplay trailer was released by Level-5, looking more closer to the final game save for a few changes, where Katie was also revealed to be playable. It was also briefly featured in the Japanese Nintendo Direct Special 2 a few days later, even though the footage there is reused. The game was now confirmed to have a release date of July 11.

• In the cutscene where Nate frees Whisper from the Crank-a-kai, he holds his net in a slightly different angle when he looks at the Crank-a-kai. The sun filter effect is brighter.
• Nate's shocked character portrait looks different, likely to match it closer to the final game's character art style.
• The image of the Yo-kai Watch being worn on Nate's wrist disappears after Whisper explains about what it does.
• Yo-kai Noko cannot be found in Mt. Wildwood, nor looking through the bushes; he is found in the Blossom Heights side path in the final.
• The shine effect for catching a bug or fish was different and looked more placeholder-y.
• Wild Yo-kai appeared in public areas like Uptown Springdale, unlike in the final where they are found inside isolated dungeon areas.
• Chummer cannot be found in Uptown Springdale, nor in other areas of that part; he is found in the Rugged Path at Breezy Hills instead.
• The battle transition effect from the January 2013 WHF trailer is still used.
• The sound for entering the battle and switching Party Yo-kai during it is different.
• The "L R" symbols on the Party Yo-kai menu are not present in the final.
• The Items and Purify buttons on the Touch Screen during battle are now switched.

Screenshots

Sproink Battle

April 2013	Final Game

• The battle background for the Sproink battle at the hot springs was slightly changed, most notably the door not appearing in the final.
• Sproink's model looked low-poly, suggesting it was ported much like other models in earlier screenshots.
• The dancing old men and Wiglin don't make an appearance.
• The camera angle was panned differently.

Finding Yo-kai Under Cars

April 2013	Final Game

• The found Yo-kai inside hidden areas now matches that of the final, with the exception of the Yo-kai Watch design being in place of the arrow.

April 2013	Final Game

• The close-up artwork of Eddie's caught insects had not been implemented yet.

Corocoro Scans

In the April 2013 issue, more of it was shown off where Soultimate Moves are revealed. Though most of it matches the trailer released around the time, there is one curious image of a battle background which likely never made it to the final game. The images, in better quality was publicly released in May.

April 2013	Final Game

(Source: https://corocoro.jp/49464/)

May

Corocoro May 2013 Issue

Though it basically recaps Katie being a playable character and Yo-kai being able to use Soultimate moves, it describes the general plot of the story which matches that of the final game.

(Source: https://m.newyx.net/news/68334.html)

Famitsu May 2013

This issue confirms what the boxart would look like and the finalized Tribes for the Yo-kai.

Jibanyan Cutscene
Two stills of the cutscene where the player first meets Jibanyan were shown. Though the animation is the same, some differences are present;

May 2013	Final (JP)

• The buildings on the right had no signs, with the exception of The Fish Place.
• The angle after Jibanyan gets hit by the truck was adjusted a bit.
• Jibanyan's hitodama tails were missing the swirls.

(Source: https://www.true-gaming.net/home/151660/)

June

PV1 & PV2 Trailers

On June 6, 2013, Level-5 released the official trailer for the Yo-kai Watch video game, this time with an approved CERO age rating. Because the first trailer is modified from the 2011 variant, PV2 (which was released a few days later) will be included in the article. Most of the content seen in this trailer is very close to the final build, save for a few differences;

• There was no objective displayed on-screen.
• The Watch Radar points to two possible areas which may have been earlier placements of Yo-kai Spots.
• Nate's shocked mugshot now matches the final game.
• The Watch Lens revealing the Yo-kai in hidden areas was faster, but may have been sped up for trailer purposes.
• The Yo-kai in the Yo-kai Cam was displayed differently, with the outline being more prominent.

July

Famitsu July 13

https://www.true-gaming.net/home/163491/