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'Detective Pikachu' Game to Debut With Male Talking Pikachu Voice on February 3

The Pokémon Company announced on Wednesday that it will release the Meitantei Pikachu ~Shin Combi Tanjō~ (Famous Detective Pikachu: The Debut of a New Duo) game as a digital download for the Nintendo 3DS in Japan on February 3. The game features a "Pikachu you've never seen before" with a voice similar to Tōru Ohkawa.

Text: A city where mysteries lie in hiding
Text: A stange encounter
Text: A new story
Pikachu & Text: It's the scent of a case
Pikachu & Text: Where's he going to?
Pikachu & Text: Let's investigate!
Pikachu & Text: Are you ok!?
Pikachu & Text: Let's go, partner!
Text: The duo's adventure begins
Text: The hero this time is …
Pikachu: I'm not a detective — I'm the famous detective!
Text: Famous Detective Pikachu: The Debut of a New Duo
Text: He talks big
Text: But you can't help but love him
Text: Famous Detective Pikachu.
Pikachu & Text: Pika-flash!
Pikachu & Text: Focus
Pikachu & Text: This is getting interesting
Pikachu & Text: I'm going on a journey, with this partner.
Pikachu & Text: My dream will someday come true
Pikachu: Pikachu!
Text: Here is a Pikachu you've never seen before.
Pikachu & Text: Famous Detective Pikachu: The Debut of a New Duo

The story is set in Lime City, a city where people and Pokémon coexist. A boy named Tim Goodman arrived in this town with a certain goal. Tim and Pikachu meet by chance at the city, and a new adventure begins here.

People who order the download between January 27 and February 29 will receive the game for 1,200 yen (about US$10). Thereafter, it will cost 1,500 yen (US$12).

Nintendo filed a trademark for "Meitantei Pikachu" (Famous Detective Pikachu) for a variety of services including video games in October 2013. NHK's Professional Shigoto no Ryūgi (Professional Work Style) program revealed later that month that a "top secret" Pikachu game would star the mascot as a detective. The game would feature Pikachu talking for the first time in the game franchise and was expected to be completed in two years.