During their Nintendo Direct event Nintendo has just announced Pokemon Shuffle, their next free-to-play title for the 3DS.
Nintendo isn't really known for free-to-play games, but they have dabbled in it on the 3DS with games like Steel Diver and Rusty's Real Deal Baseball. This is undoubtedly the biggest name they've used for the controversial genre, of course.
Pokemon Shuffle looks similar to Pokemon Battle Trozei, which launched last year and is another puzzler. Nintendo President and CEO Satoru Iwata explained just how it works- each battle will contain a minimum number of moves available to complete a stage, and as with all Pokemon games you're encouraged to collect them all and level them up. Some of them will even have Mega Evolutions that deal more damage.
The free-to-play aspect comes in with a limited number of hearts you have that have to be spent to attempt a level. You start with five and each level costs a single heart to play. Your hearts regenerate but slowly on a timer, so in order to keep playing you'll have to wait, or use an item to replenish them. These items can be found in-game or be purchased from the store.
Iwata also revealed that there will be other items available to help you out in battles, that can be found in-game or purchased with real money.
Pokemon Shuffle will be available in Feburary 2015.
