I agree with you Bo, all of this smells of poor management. Level-5 only has about 300 employees and this is simply way too many projects for that size of a team
Holy Horror Mansion is close enough in my opinion, I like the idea of developers making spiritual successors to neglected franchises. But yeah, I hope Level 5 will find better management.
I picked up on that too. I think he also missed the whole meaning behind level 5 using the word concept so much 😂. It wasn't meaning "this is only a temp name/place holder" 😂. He missed the whole concept of the game.
Honestly, I think Fantasy Life had the biggest impact on me this time, mostly because until now the island felt a bit limited from what we were shown and I was concerned it might have the same issue as New Horizons arguably has where it being so customizable kinda sucks a bit of the identity from moving into a place that's already established. That still might be the case but the reveal of that huge open world location (that if I've got it right you travel to from your home island) definitely helps make it look more interesting to me than what's been shown so far. I loved the first game so I was planning on getting it no matter what, but this is the first time it's really gotten me excited for it.
I feel like you’re misunderstanding Holy Horror Mansion. I believe this is intended as a spiritual successor, much in the same way that Megaton Musashi was a spiritual successor to their previous Danball Senki AKA LBX series
Great video, Bo. And for US audience, they have also skipped a lot of releases. They release yokai watch 4 for Japan and Asian in 2019, yokai watch academy y in 2020, megaton Musashi in 2021, megaton musashi cross in 2022. So basically, they did not release any games in the west from 2019 to 2023. In the mean time, they are heavily push their game and anime in China and other Asian countries, update the yokai watch 4 to 4++ to add Chinese subtitles. That’s why in recent vision event, they also sub the trailer in Chinese as well.
I do agree that this presentation highlights the mismanagement at level-5. Like it really stinks that these games are going to take so long to come out. BUT I also think that mismanagement is what gives us games with an extra level of polish and stuffed with more content than you could ever need. Like, I actually think a lot of these games could’ve been released this year, but they are spending time to really polish these games and stuff them with content. Especially inazuma 11 and fantasy life. The amount of content they showed off for those games was incredible. They look like great games. However, I think better managed games would’ve maybe stopped them from adding more ideas at a certain point and just released it.
I am glad that at least Professor Layton is coming out next year. (is it Switch exclusive? I only remember seeing that logo) They haven’t announced it so I’m not holding my breath, but I do hope they release both previous trilogies too. I can wait for Decapolice, like Miyomoto said “A delayed game is eventually good but a rushed game is forever bad” (he said before DLC patches became a thing but it is hard to overcome a bad start). But I agree with your take about announcing a game way too early and their bad marketing strategy with Yokai Watch Now, side note, if Switch is getting support through 2026 (which I always wanted, should have a 2 year overlap with Switch 2 to help people ease into new gen) then I do think Switch will break the record for most consoles sold. Especially since we haven’t seen a price drop yet (and I bet one will come once Switch 2 is out)
Intrested in all of theese games. a Yokai has their own lore, this seems diffrent. I hope the yokai spirit don't end up confusing the market. As for the anouncements, and releasdate, yeah, it feels super weird, but at the same time, releasing so manny games back to back might end up doing more harm than good.
All they have released in 4 years is Megaton Musashi and a Ni No Kuni mobile game. How are they able to stay afloat financially with so many games in development at the same time and no revenue from new games since they keep delaying everything year after year?
I’m actually most excited for Fantasy Life, followed by Professor Layton. I’m less in a rush to play Professor Layton bc there are still so many existing Layton games I haven’t played through yet. Still really bummed about the Fantasy Life delay since its original release was right after my birthday.
It was a tough jump from the DS and 3DS to the Switch 1 and probably Switch 2. Not only was it a jump from a handheld to a home console, but Professor Layton Inazuma Eleven and Yo Kai Watch are the Mario Zelda and Pokemon of level 5 and all three franchises used the double screen and touchscreen for everything with the gameplay
Im so worried that Holy Horror Mansion is going to fail bc of poor marketing. Referencing pen-pineapple-apple-pen really took me out of it. I’m still going to pick it up bc I don’t wanna miss it and the game become super expensive like Blasters and YKW3
this isn't a '' reboot '' or '' new game in the yo kai watch series ''. It's an entirely different game. Putting yo kai watch next concept was pretty bold of them though
I heard level5 has been using GenAI in their concept art and trailer backgrounds. So as a creative, I don't really want to support them anymore. Eventually they're going to replace their staff with AI when they need to safe money.
![แข่งเพิ่มน้ำหนักใน 24 ชั่วโมง!! [Ver 2025]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/20xn0g6k-ec/mqdefault.jpg)
I agree with you Bo, all of this smells of poor management. Level-5 only has about 300 employees and this is simply way too many projects for that size of a team
I mean, they're doing their best with what they have. and they're at least TRYING to get back on their feet.
Holy Horror Mansion is close enough in my opinion, I like the idea of developers making spiritual successors to neglected franchises. But yeah, I hope Level 5 will find better management.
Love how he doesn't commit under here, for he's a coward to opposing opinion. I hope he goes to heck
Honestly they should’ve localized Yokai Watch 4, would’ve been inexpensive and hold out fans of Level5 till their future games come out.
The camera in Holy Horror Mansion is very interesting considering the 'c' but button USB slot is rumoured to attach a camera on Switch 2.
I picked up on that too. I think he also missed the whole meaning behind level 5 using the word concept so much 😂. It wasn't meaning "this is only a temp name/place holder" 😂. He missed the whole concept of the game.
Honestly, I think Fantasy Life had the biggest impact on me this time, mostly because until now the island felt a bit limited from what we were shown and I was concerned it might have the same issue as New Horizons arguably has where it being so customizable kinda sucks a bit of the identity from moving into a place that's already established. That still might be the case but the reveal of that huge open world location (that if I've got it right you travel to from your home island) definitely helps make it look more interesting to me than what's been shown so far. I loved the first game so I was planning on getting it no matter what, but this is the first time it's really gotten me excited for it.
I feel like you’re misunderstanding Holy Horror Mansion. I believe this is intended as a spiritual successor, much in the same way that Megaton Musashi was a spiritual successor to their previous Danball Senki AKA LBX series
So many games "scheduled" for 2026. haha
Great video, Bo. And for US audience, they have also skipped a lot of releases. They release yokai watch 4 for Japan and Asian in 2019, yokai watch academy y in 2020, megaton Musashi in 2021, megaton musashi cross in 2022. So basically, they did not release any games in the west from 2019 to 2023. In the mean time, they are heavily push their game and anime in China and other Asian countries, update the yokai watch 4 to 4++ to add Chinese subtitles. That’s why in recent vision event, they also sub the trailer in Chinese as well.
Never played a Professor Layton game but this new one looks absolutely beautiful! Definitely gonna try it whenever it releases
Maybe they were using the Metroid Prime marketing team😂
Holy Horror mansion looks really cool. I might pick that up. I've never even been tempted to buy a yokai watch game before either
We are never getting Ni No Kuni 3 😂
Sad
I do agree that this presentation highlights the mismanagement at level-5. Like it really stinks that these games are going to take so long to come out. BUT I also think that mismanagement is what gives us games with an extra level of polish and stuffed with more content than you could ever need.
Like, I actually think a lot of these games could’ve been released this year, but they are spending time to really polish these games and stuff them with content. Especially inazuma 11 and fantasy life. The amount of content they showed off for those games was incredible. They look like great games. However, I think better managed games would’ve maybe stopped them from adding more ideas at a certain point and just released it.
Scope creep, if what I heard is true. It's defined limits got a bit.... out of hand.
I am glad that at least Professor Layton is coming out next year. (is it Switch exclusive? I only remember seeing that logo) They haven’t announced it so I’m not holding my breath, but I do hope they release both previous trilogies too. I can wait for Decapolice, like Miyomoto said “A delayed game is eventually good but a rushed game is forever bad” (he said before DLC patches became a thing but it is hard to overcome a bad start). But I agree with your take about announcing a game way too early and their bad marketing strategy with Yokai Watch
Now, side note, if Switch is getting support through 2026 (which I always wanted, should have a 2 year overlap with Switch 2 to help people ease into new gen) then I do think Switch will break the record for most consoles sold. Especially since we haven’t seen a price drop yet (and I bet one will come once Switch 2 is out)
Intrested in all of theese games.
a Yokai has their own lore, this seems diffrent. I hope the yokai spirit don't end up confusing the market.
As for the anouncements, and releasdate, yeah, it feels super weird, but at the same time, releasing so manny games back to back might end up doing more harm than good.
All they have released in 4 years is Megaton Musashi and a Ni No Kuni mobile game. How are they able to stay afloat financially with so many games in development at the same time and no revenue from new games since they keep delaying everything year after year?
I’m actually most excited for Fantasy Life, followed by Professor Layton. I’m less in a rush to play Professor Layton bc there are still so many existing Layton games I haven’t played through yet. Still really bummed about the Fantasy Life delay since its original release was right after my birthday.
My biggest fear is they’ll release these only in Japanese and they won’t be localized
Holy horror mansion is a completely different series that's the point
Nope, it’s yokai Watch look it up yourself it’s been announced as the trailer says it’s that
@@scottdreemurrthegodofcreation no it's the next concept
It was a tough jump from the DS and 3DS to the Switch 1 and probably Switch 2. Not only was it a jump from a handheld to a home console, but Professor Layton Inazuma Eleven and Yo Kai Watch are the Mario Zelda and Pokemon of level 5 and all three franchises used the double screen and touchscreen for everything with the gameplay
Man if they have to delay the showcase, who knows how much more delays we’re going to get. But I’m for sure still excited for the games herer
Im so worried that Holy Horror Mansion is going to fail bc of poor marketing. Referencing pen-pineapple-apple-pen really took me out of it. I’m still going to pick it up bc I don’t wanna miss it and the game become super expensive like Blasters and YKW3
this isn't a '' reboot '' or '' new game in the yo kai watch series ''. It's an entirely different game. Putting yo kai watch next concept was pretty bold of them though
Level 5 is so back
In 2025
Or 2026
I love HHM so far, the Apple Pen reference is crazy though.
wtf. i was expecting decapolice to release atleast in 2024. fml
I don’t trust any of these release dates💀 I love the products Level-5 releases, but they have terrible follow-through
I know this is a meme at this point, but I think this applies well enough
It's close enough, welcome back Yokai Watch
Adding the flaming eye of Sauron in Holy Horror Mansion is a unique choice.
The games look very good but there’s something wrong internally with these delays or early announcements.
Be excited for our 2026 games!…yeah no
Level 5 going to support switch forever
Holy Horror Mansion for Yokai Watch is basically Megaton Musashi for LBX. A needless rebrand for a game.
i can’t see it doing nearly as well as YKW tbh
i’m sure it’ll preform fine, just not amazingly
Holy horror mansion is Yokai watch look it up level five already confirmed it
they better make it "yokai watch 5 - ghost crafter"
A gut feeling is telling me that they are focusing on Professor Layton the most lmaoooooo
Again, who knows what's up with Level 5.
I heard level5 has been using GenAI in their concept art and trailer backgrounds.
So as a creative, I don't really want to support them anymore.
Eventually they're going to replace their staff with AI when they need to safe money.
hi BoTalksGames
You misunderstood their usage of "concept" i think. It was a design idea. Since u create yo kai now.
So yokai wacth still dead?
Man I dont givea shit who you're gonna play the game with if at all. Get to the news