The concept of "asymmetric gameplay" was coined by Nintendo, and adopted by nearly every developer during E3. It describes the different experiences Gamers will get when playing the same game together.
Many games take advantage of this concept, like fighting games where players go head to head against each other in a ring, each with unique abilities and fighting skills. The upcoming Pokken Tournament for Wii U is set to take asymmetric gameplay to a whole another level.
According to reports, the newest 3D Pokemon fighting title, Pokken Tournament, will take full advantage of the Wii U's GamePad. The new arcade-style controller will possibly eliminate the need for split screens by allowing one player to play from their character's perspective on a TV screen, while the other player uses the GamePad as their own full screen view.
Although the Pokken developers themselves have not yet released any official statement on how this approach will fully materialize when the title is released, an announcement on the Japanese HORI controller website spilled some details on how the GamePad will be used.
Unfortunately, the announcement also details that two controllers cannot be used at the same time in this manner.
Nevertheless, allowing both players to have their own full screen during gameplay evens out the playing field. In the past, some players are left in the background as their fights are put at a disadvantage because they are unable to gauge properly if they are aiming correctly or if their attacks even land at all.
In addition, reports said the Pokken Tournament will employ quite an "unorthodox" fighting method where close-combat will have a familiar Tekken-like approach to it but ranged brawls will feel more like Naruto-style controls.
The variations in controls depending on the range of attacks are expected to benefit fully from the use of the GamePad and giving each player their own screen. This allows an asymmetric gameplay experience on an equal playing field.
