Trailer for Detective Pikachu Game Is Finally Here [Video]

As the biggest icon in the Pokemon franchise, it's not surprising that Pikachu is the main character of many Pokemon titles. But the new Great Detective Pikachu: The Birth of a New Duo trailer shows the electric mouse doing something a bit out of character: talking.

No, seriously. He's pulling a Meowth and speaking a human language. Japanese, to be exact.

Having grown up on Hey You, Pikachu! (where I spent hours over-enunciating my commands, which were obeyed very selectively), this is quite a culture shock. Not only does Pikachu stray from his usual "Pika pika," but he's also reached at least Level 16 (or whenever male Pokemon hit puberty and their voices change). No joke, Pikachu's voice is easily an octave lower in the Detective Pikachu trailer than every other Pikachu I've ever heard.

Oh, and I guess Detective Pikachu drinks coffee now, too.

According to Kotaku, "Meitantei Pikachu: Shin Konbi Tanjyou[, the official Japanese title for the game,] will be released on the Nintendo eShop on February 3 in Japan. It’s priced at 1,500 yen ($12.65), but will be available for the special price of 1,200 yen ($10.12) until February 29."

No word yet on its availability in the United States, but you can check out the Japanese trailer below.