This review is a little premature given that the game is in Early Alpha. Anything missing will be added later or is in the process of implementation. For the trailers and arena bosses hinted at an overarching story, but I understand it's not in Early Access since it's either not yet in the scop of testing or it's too big to put in EA yet.
I only came here to fix RHG-related things and spruce up the Waterworks pages. (pls help, it needs attention badly)
It does not matter how complete the game is. If they release something to the public with a retail price for purchase then I am logically in the right as the consumer to make a review about my experience with the product.
Opinions are worthless if they're unbendable over time.
Besides, people are already calling it a Pkemon-killer, so if it is in a good possition to be compared with Pokemon, then it is also in a good possition to be criticized as well.
More to the point, the things Midnight was criticising, like the art direction, lack of originality, or its humour, aren\'t the sort of things that will be changed along the way to a full release. Minecraft was in development for years and still gets updates, but the fundamentals have been the same since the alpha.
Book me today! I also review weddings, funerals and bar mitzvahs.
Honestly, this criticism is way more valid and truthful than several of the false accusations (some of which have fabricated proof) spreading around the internet. This right here is how a criticism of Palworld's flaws should be written, rather than false/baseless accusations.
Subjectively also had similar criticisms here
— the game being so derivative that it ends up soulless, uncoordinated, uninspired and lacking a proper identity.
I honestly wasn\'t entirely sure if I had worded my thoughts well enough, but I appreciate the reassurance, Iron.
Opinions are worthless if they're unbendable over time.
Personally, I would disable the function for reviews on games that are still Early-access, but that\'s just me.
I absolutely would not, because even if it’s an incomplete product that they are offering to fix or update for you later, it’s still a product being sold and bluntly, not every game in early access gets finished.
Spectral is correct. And to reiterate what I myself said above in this comment section: It does not matter if the game is actually finished or not. If someone is selling their product for money, then I am perfectly in the right as a consumer to review my experience with said product. Early-access doesn’t mean it can't be critiqued.
Opinions are worthless if they're unbendable over time.Leave a Comment:
A Success In Its Mediocrity
I anticipated having a lot to say about this game given the initial reactions of the public, and having gone through it personally? It leaves me wanting more... in that the overall experience has absolutely nothing that jumps out to me as a player. At its core the gameplay (although stable and polished) delivers nothing that I haven't experienced before in other games, and while I could appreciate that familiarity I did expect better, especially because of the reputation it quickly built up. Rather than do anything unique it just takes gimmicks from other games and attempts to jam it all together to make it seem like something new.
Moreover, it's impossible to overlook the striking similarities between the game's creature designs and those of a certain established franchise. While the obvious resemblances do understandably raise concerns, that's not necessarily why it irks me. I'm not all that interested in defending a franchise that I'm OK with saying has lost a lot of steam over the last several years, even as a casual player myself. My issue here is just a general lack of commitment from a creative standpoint. Many other games such as Cassette Beasts also draw inspiration from the same big franchise, but they are able to keep their own unique edge while Palworld simply does not. It's not plagiarism, per say, but it is just blatant laziness.
I also frequently see arguments saying that this game is supposed to be a parody of sorts, as if that's meant to excuse the game's lack of creativity? Frankly it's about as much of a parody as Date Movie is a parody to the romantic comedy genre. It's certainly no Spaceballs either.
Overall, Palworld falls incredibly short of establishing itself as a noteworthy contender in the monster companion based genre. With lackluster gameplay mechanics, an uninspiring world, questionable originality in creature design, and a general lack of charm, it just floats in limbo as something that I really had expected to be more engaging.