Pikachu will channel his inner Sherlock Holmes in the US and Europe on March 23rd

Add the headline above to the list of sentences I never thought I'd write. Apparently, there's a 2016 3DS game called Detective Pikachu that is exclusive to Japan. At least, it'll be exclusive until March 23rd when it'll make its European and North American debut for USD $40.

In perhaps one of the most creative (or at least unique) spins on the Pokémon franchise, a gruff-voiced Pikachu dons a deerstalker cap (à la Sherlock Holmes) to solve mysteries with a young boy named Tim. The 3DS title is largely cinematic, following a story of intrigue as Tim and Detective Pikachu gather evidence and clues to unravel a conspiracy involving the city police and Pokémon.

Gameplay looks to mainly revolve around gathering pieces of evidence and completing quick-time events to progress the story and build a case. There's plenty of fully voiced cutscenes to drive the plot as well. These are perhaps the most bizarre part of the game as Detective Pikachu's voice sounds nothing like its usually high-pitched squeaks and squeals. Instead, Detective Pikachu has a gruff, gravelly voice that would better fit a film noir crime drama than a Pokémon game. Detective Pikachu apparently also has a penchant for wise-cracks and coffee, further pushing his characterization as a "tough-as-nails" private investigator.

If you feel that the Pokémon games have grown stale, Detective Pikachu is certainly one of the freshest titles bearing the franchise's name. The game will hit US and European shores on March 23rd, as will a new, larger-than-normal Amiibo of Detective Pikachu that can be used in-game to unlock new videos and clues. The game will retail for USD $40 and the Amiibo will go for $30, which is quite pricey for an Amiibo figurine.

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