Pokémon will always have a special place in my heart, and no matter how hard PocketPair tries to mimic the iconic designs of Ken Sugimori and other designers, it just won’t measure up. The upcoming Sakurajima update could have been a chance for Palworld to bring in some fresh, original ideas. But instead, here’s what their latest Pals look like.
At first glance, you might think the new creatures are Lucario, Dusknoir, Golisopod, and Delphox straight out of Pokémon, but they’re not. These are actually new Pals from Palworld’s Sakurajima update.
When Palworld first launched, it drew a lot of comparisons to Pokémon, and this update just adds fuel to that fire. Initially, the similarities helped it gain attention, as the game looked like a Pokémon clone. But, with time, an expanded team, and more financial resources, Palworld should have gone in a new direction to showcase some innovative creativity instead of recycling familiar-looking characters.
When I think of games that took inspiration from Pokémon but did something unique, the Megami Tensei series comes to mind. MegaTen games have been around longer than Pokémon and have a distinct monster collection and character design style that stands out. With the recent release of SMT V: Vengeance, it’s clear how these designs have defined a unique brand for the series. The Demons in the Megami Tensei world have so much personality and charm that it’s impossible to compare them directly to Pokémon. Both have their own styles that make sense for their worlds.
I was hoping for something similar from the new Pals in Sakurajima. Instead, we got what feels like re-skinned versions of familiar Pokémon characters. PocketPair’s game has now established a name for itself. It doesn’t need to lean on Pokémon’s success to thrive; it needs to bring in some unique personality. There’s a saying: “Good artists copy, great artists steal.” Perhaps PocketPair could consider this and strive for more originality.
The gameplay of Pokémon and Palworld is quite different. The idea of gun-wielding, pal-trafficking creatures in Palworld is a fresh take on the monster collection genre. All it needs now is a fresh take on its character designs.