@ ironcommando:
The base building could definitely use an improvement too. Placing roofs or stairwells is a huge pain in the ass because of how janky the system is or the pieces virtually never snap together. Or how you can't place things if your Pal has been summoned (or another Pal is passing through) and is obstructing the build site... which is rather frequent.
You do know that Masuda is one of the co-founders of Game Freak and knows enough about his company's culture in his time there.
Honestly, if it does come down to Nintendo/TPC taking legal action, it would probably be an out-of-court settlement rather than a full-blown court case. Pocketpair agrees to redesign a handful of Pals, gives TPC a bit of cash, and the two part ways. Neither would want a dragged out court battle: Pocketpair for the risk that the fees would bankrupt them even if they win, and Nintendo/TPC on the off-chance that if they lose, they've opened the floodgates for them (and other JP entertainment companies) to deal with even more situations like Palworld.
I'd need someone with a better understanding of Japanese Corporate Culture to confirm this, and this might just be wishful thinking on my part. But:
That sentence strikes me as a strategically worded "politician speak" sentence. Vaguely:
- He wants to assure investors and whatnot that Nintendo is not going soft on protecting its I Ps, whether he intends to sue Palworld or not.
- He doesn't specifically make a call to action or even definitively say he thinks they're infringing on Nintendo's copyrights.
So instead he says that I think means: "Yes, I know about Palworld. Hypothetically if we find that they're infringing on us, we'll act"
But I could also be completely misreading it.
Leviticus 19:34@derpdart56
The short answer is "yes", if you like Pokemon and Action-y Survival Games. It has a satisfying gameplay loop and I find it a good game to boot up to play in little chunks when I get bored.
Some general thoughts on it:
- The game is nowhere near as edgy or black comedy-driven as it's sometimes made out to be. You can be cruel to your Pals theoretically, but being kind to them feels perfectly natural. In fact, the game is actually pretty wholesome if you're being nice to your Pals.
- Though, on the flipside, it's also very difficult to get firearms in this game for your character to use. This is a disappointment to me, "Pals with guns" was a selling point and bows and crossbows don't have quite the same charm to me.
- My frustration is compounded by the fact that guns are clearly not rare In-Universe. Early game enemies carry firearms (which you can't pick up, sadly), and you get to craft guns for your Pals long before you get to use them.
- Does it matter mechanically? I'd say it does a bit, since using a crossbow as your only ranged weapon doesn't provide as many options. In fairness, there are elemental ammo variants I didn't really experiment with, so perhaps that's my fault.
- Nitpicks aside, combat is fun regardless. Fighting alongside your Pals is a fun dynamic-you're not fully in control of your Pals (they do moves autonomously) but taking advantage of the situations they create in combat is pretty interesting.
- I will, however, note that it is very different from Pokemon's turn-based combat. It's nowhere near as tactical/strategic, so if you're into the tactical depth of Pokemon (such as its competitive scene) then this game won't scratch that specific itch.
- Pal designs vary but are mostly good. They are very much Kirkland-brand Pokemon, but they're good Kirkland Pokemon. The best of them look like they're made with the same "kit" as Pokemon while still being distinct. That is to say, they look like they could be new Pokemon designs, and good ones at that.
- One of my favorites is Kelpsea, I think. It looks like a Gen I-style Pokemon that simply never got made, vaguely like a cross between Dratini and Lapras. Dinossum is also pretty good, so is Vanwyrm.
- My current team consists of: Vanwyrm, Digtoise, Relaxasaurus, Broncherry, and Univolt
- Aesthetically, the game I'd criticize this game for emulating is BOTW, actually. A lot of the UI and sound design emulates it. I think the Pokemon aesthetic works, but I'm less fond of the BOTW aesthetic here.
- On a sidenote, the clothing your character wears looks oddly primitive. Indeed, you start the game in a literal loincloth. I feel like there needs to be a clothing design for "modern outfit" somewhere. Really, more clothing designs in general would be nice, but to be fair this is probably an early access thing.
- Expect a lot of base-building and crafting in this game. Luckily, doing so with your Pals is mostly fun, but it should be noted it is a fairly significant chunk of the game.
- The biggest objective problem the game has in its current form is a lack of quests or general narrative beyond logs you can find. This does matter for me, because it results in a lack of strong incentive to progress the game further. Of course, this is probably an early access thing.
Hm, did you craft it yourself or find it some other way? You have to be level 25 to create the makeshift handgun IIRC.
How would any of you react if this were to occur? I.e. The Loyal Three and Pecharunt becoming guest characters for a Nintendo port of Palworld
Let me get this out of the way. I know this would never occur. You don't need to tell me. This is just a fun hypothetical
No it's fake.
Edited by MisterZygarde64 on Feb 11th 2024 at 7:28:03 AM
Check out Rogues Gallery Transplant: The Game![]()
I did write a quick review of the game if you scroll up a bit.
Short answer is "yes", the game is pretty good if you like Pokemon and survival-themed games. I also find it to be a good game that's easy to pick up and put down.
In its current state, the biggest flaw IMO is that I think the game could use more in-game narrative and quests.
Leviticus 19:34

Might want to read this 2017 Game Informer interview with Junichi Masuda where he says the same thing.
Edited by tclittle on Feb 4th 2024 at 10:32:54 AM
"We're all paper, we're all scissors, we're all fightin' with our mirrors, scared we'll never find somebody to love."