You’ve got the right stuff, Detective Pikachu

This freakin’ game

I’ve been following Great Detective Pikachu for years, and what a journey it has been.

There was a time when we just had a scant few seconds of nightmarish facial-capture footage to go on for the 3DS game and even then, in its infancy, I was intrigued. But now that it’s nearing release (February 3, 2016 in Japan) and we know the full story — that sometimes Pikachu is an English-speaking, upright-walking private eye — I think I’m in love.

These latest screenshots, you guys. Oh my goodness.