Katsuma will even be getting his own movie

When you think of pint-sized monsters on a Nintendo handheld you're bound to think of Pokémon, but there is in fact another adorable creature-based title available right now in the UK in the form of Moshi Monsters: Katsuma Unleashed. A whole day before Pokémon X & Y is officially launched - though many retailers in the country have already broken the release date.

For those unaware, Moshi Monsters is an online website that gives children the chance to create, name and nurture a virtual pet monster. It sounds similar to Pokémon but players actually spend most of their time taking daily puzzle challenges, playing mini games, reading stories and communicating with friends.

The series has since expanded and you may have encountered a few toys, trading cards, books and magazines in the UK. Moshi Monsters: Katsuma Unleashed isn't the first time the franchise has wandered onto a Nintendo handheld - Moshi Monsters Moshlings Theme Park cropped up last year on 3DS and DS, while Moshi Monsters: Moshlings Zoo appeared in 2011 on DS.

This time round Katsuma stars in his very own side scrolling adventure that has been developed in preparation for Moshi Monsters: The Movie starring Katsuma, which will be in cinemas this December.

Katsuma must rescue his fellow Moshi Monsters from the evil Dr. Strangeglove, who has gone and kidnapped them all in order to force Elder Furi to reveal the power of Moshi Picchu. The fiend!

You essentially jump, spin, dash and battle your way through six worlds full of pesky enemies and hidden secrets. There are 18 levels to explore, a host of mini games and stage challenges and the 3DS version makes use of the StreetPass feature. Interestingly, each time you rescue a fellow Moshi Monster, Katsuma will be gifted their unique powers - he's like a furry Mega Man.

Moshi Monsters: Katsuma Unleashed was developed by UK-based Sumo Digital, which has created Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed on Wii U and 3DS. Activision is taking on publishing duties, after coming to an agreement with Mind Candy, the company behind the Moshi Monsters brand.

The new game is out now in the UK and is set to emerge on 5th November 2013 in the US. Take a look at the trailer for it below and let us know your thoughts on it in the comment section.