Catching monsters. Forcing them to fight against each other to become a master battler. Training them to their full potential. Exploring a vast open world, wanting to become champion. This is obviously Poke–Palworld?
Released on January 19, 2024, Palworld took the gaming world by storm, selling over 12 million copies in just a week. With more than 19 million players, it doesn’t look like Palworld is slowing down… or is it? Before I can explain why it might face legal consequences, let’s find out what it is.
Palworld is an open-world survival crafting game with many activities to do. The major part of the game is exploring a vast world, searching the earth for Pals. Pals are monsters you find on your journey that you catch and battle with. You can also craft useful items, such as swords or axes, and eventually, even guns.
You can capture wild Pals in Pal Spheres, and use them for your benefit. Whether leveling them up in battle, training, or even working. Yeah, you heard me right. In this game, you can build giant factories for producing spheres, food and weapons. Just be sure to feed and let your pals get a good night’s sleep to keep them nice and healthy.
The game has a level system, and it’s very key to game play. Leveling up allows players to craft better gear, tools and benches, which are work spaces that allow you to craft certain items specific to that bench. Basically, the higher the level, the better you will be when fighting against others.
However the creative team behind Palworld, Pocket Pair, Inc. is facing quite a controversy for having “similar game play” to that of Pokemon. In a public statement, Nintendo stated that “We intend to investigate and take appropriate measures to address any acts that infringe on intellectual property rights related to the Pokemon”.
It’s no surprise that Nintendo is thinking of taking legal action. The two games do have similar properties and aspects, such as Pokeballs versus Palspheres, gym leaders versus tower syndicates and even similar monster designs. But that’s where the similarities stop. One game has guns and crafting, while the other is solely based on catching wild “pocket monsters”.
Palworld is its own unique game, blending multiple ideas into one beautiful piece of artwork. Even in its Beta form, Palworld is a well-put-together game. With many more areas and monsters yet to come, Palworld is on its way to catching a Game of the Year nomination.
