Base it of this picture:

This is how pokemon could look like in Unreal Engine 3.

First lets start with mechanichs. How would the game play? Now, i don't want this to be just a home console version of the portable ones, so here are my ideas:

1. 1st/3rd person view. Like in Skyrim you can choose. Not top down like in the handhelds.

2. It should be verticality in the game, and it should be open-world. It shouldn't be flat like in the handhelds.

3. Not sure of this, but perhaps you could take control of the pokemon itself during a battle. How do you think the battles should work?

4. There are three types of pokemon: hostile (they attack you when you are close), friendly (they wont attack you, unless you attack them), and scared (they try to run away if you get close).

5. To be honest I don't have many ideas, that's why I don't make games, but I'll add yours when you post good ideas that most people agree with.

Also, Do you think this is a pointless thread?

I'm afraid I haven't played Ni ni Kuni, so I wouldn't know. How would you break down the mechanics?

It could still be turn-based. You would see the Pokemon in the wild, and if they reach you, or if you reach them, you start a battle with them, Stadium styled. Afterwords, you go back to the world. Or it could be like how Pokemon is now, and have them appear randomly in the grass, ocean, cave, etc, but it would be nicer to see them there in the area live. It doesn't have to be live action, Stadium style could work.

I'd say Final Fantasy XIII styled battle system would be great. Missions from NPC's a PvP areas for battles, tag team battles, and trading.

The game should play like the Anime in action. Active turn based system with anime like visuals (something like Valkyria Chronicles graphically.)

IMO the visuals in the picture i posted in the OP will have a much larger appeal.

yeah you should definitely control the actual pokemon... now in memorizing a LOT of key moves would be awesome!!!! this is not sarcarsm..... i imagine a naruto-ish kinda control system while fighting.... that would be nice

you could easily do that map the 4 buttons to a b x y menu to the bumpers and triggers, main menu u with start, the pad could be actual movesets or inventory, In fact Pokemon Adventures has a better story and fighting system then the Anime IMO.

ahhhh i hope there would be a time i would see a real time battling pokemon.... then instead of pp, they have energy bar like typical fighting game aside for their hp....