Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of the Sky Dated in Japan

via IGN


Nintendo and The Pokemon Company wasted little time in setting a Japanese date for the new Pokemon Mystery Dungeon game. Across the great pond (or the great plain -- if you're in Europe somewhere), Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of the Sky is now scheduled to hit the DS on April 18.

This followup to Explorers of Time and Explorers of Darkness promises new characters and episodes along with more robust online features over its predecessors. Today, Pokemon detailed a new type of episode that players will encounter in the game. Referred to as "special episodes," these put you in control of a separate character in a story that's set apart from the main character. New special episodes become accessible from the main title screen as you progress through the game.

We've updated our media section with official Japanese box art (featuring newcomer Shaymin) and screens of two of the special episodes, whose Japanese names can be translated (unofficially) as "In the Dark Future" and "Genius Igglypuff." Check out the shots while waiting for some sort of confirmation about an American release.