Palworld: A Controversial Game Blurring the Lines Between Pokémon and Weapons
The game Palworld, often described as “Pokémon with weapons,” has stirred up a frenzy in the world of computer gaming. Despite gaining an unprecedented number of players, its popularity has been on the decline in recent weeks. The game’s developers have also revealed the staggering costs of maintaining servers, amounting to nearly $6 million annually. However, despite these challenges, Palworld still has the potential to become the highest-grossing game of 2024.
Nevertheless, the gameplay and striking resemblance to Pokémon have raised concerns among both fellow game developers and critics. The character designs are so reminiscent of Pokémon that accusations of plagiarism have surfaced. Some of the 3D creature models in the game bear a striking resemblance to those in the latest Pokémon installments. The Pokémon Company is currently conducting an investigation into the matter, while Takuro Mizobe, the CEO of Pocketpair studio, claims that Palworld has undergone the necessary legal procedures and does not infringe upon the intellectual property rights of other companies.
Palworld also borrows ideas from other games, offering little in terms of novelty. It is not your typical Pokémon-style game but rather more akin to Ark: Survival Evolved, a survival-based game where you tame dinosaurs, gather resources, and build. After capturing a creature in Palworld, you can either enslave it in your base or take it with you into the wild to battle.
Palworld doesn’t bring anything new to the table compared to other survival games, but it excels at eliminating the burdensome aspects of gameplay, allowing for a smooth progression of upgrades. Similar to Genshin Impact, Palworld incorporates familiar gaming motifs, making gameplay simple and immersive.
However, Palworld’s greatest appeal lies in the absence of player competition. Unlike other survival games where someone is always lurking, ready to attack and steal your belongings, Palworld encourages cooperation among players on the server. While the game treats creatures as objects for killing, enslaving, or consuming, it remains exceptionally friendly towards players. This is precisely why it has gained such immense popularity.
Personally, Palworld is a hard sell for me. The game lacks soul, and worse still, it seems to attract many children despite not being intended for them. In comparison to Pokémon, where the bond between trainers and their creatures is evident, Palworld is aggressive and morally questionable. In Pokémon, creatures are companions, not merely beasts, and battles don’t subject them to suffering. In Palworld, however, you employ weapons to kill and destroy.
Nevertheless, I am not inclined to ignite a moral panic surrounding Palworld. The game may be cynical, but it is also harmless and captivating. I would not allow my seven-year-old child to play it, but for individuals above the age of 12, it should pose no significant concern. Perhaps, in the future, the majority of new games will consist of repackaging existing ideas. Nonetheless, I still hope that the next unexpected game I play this year will leave me with a smile rather than an unpleasant feeling.
Palworld – FAQ
The source of the article is from the blog macnifico.pt