Older gamer here who missed the whole pokemon hubub when I was actually in the targeted demographic for that game.

Pokemon is a game I tried to get into for the last two games - because everyone loves it so there has to be a great game behind it, right? So anyway I got the version with the pokewalker thingy and X when it came out.

Things I really disliked:

• Shitton of abbreviations with no explanation
• Rock paper scissors system only touched on superficial
• Overall game feels like they don't expect newcomers but only people in the know
• While I certainly don't expect Shakespearen level of story how about something more then friendship?
• Matchmaking a joke? Went online a few times with my level 20 somethings and got matched with megastone infused level 99s - ok...
• I love Monster Hunter so bear that in mind when I say Pokemons grind is horrible
• While X/Y has some nice graphical fidelity it plays it super safe campared to the older gens.

Things I loved:

• X/Y Rollerblades in the second town, weeeee!

I guess I get why everyone who once played pokemon still loves it, but it does not seem to scracth any itch I have. Now remember this is only after watching 2 trailers and reading an interview but things that intrgued me about yokai:

• Humor
• Finding Spirits is more akin to clues finding in Layton games (I search active vs. I wait till rng jesus blesses me with an encounter)
• Fresh creature design
• That watch fight thingamajing looks fun and has a deeper layer of tactics behind it.

Tl;dr Pokemans feels like a tried and true checklist game, yokai actually intrigues me and looks like it could be a game where I feel like a little kid discovering a weird world.