Palworld is just fantastic, even if the game has to defend itself against plagiarism. Despite the Pokémon controversy, we've especially taken the Pals to our hearts because some of them are just real moods.
Palworld, the new Building & Crafting Open World Survival Game, has surged to the top of the Steam Charts in just a few days, sparking a massive hype within the gaming community.
Despite encountering some criticism and maybe even legal consequences, we can certainly understand the hype. The game has done so many things right, and especially the small, affectionate details never fail to bring a smile to our faces.
Amidst the ongoing controversy surrounding the game, our attention is drawn to the lovable stars of the show: the adorable Pals.
Why Palworld Is Such A Delight
The focus on the many adorable Pals is completely understandable. Right from the start, players were impressed by the beautiful, vibrant world and the first little monsters that happily roamed the meadow. Each Pal has its own uniqueness, different expressions, attacks, most importantly, emotions!
One Pal that has undoubtedly won the hearts of many players is Depresso.
Depresso resembles a two-legged, navy-blue cat with lavender eyes and an ever-grumpy expression. He has short, closed ears with dark purple tips, a dark bluish-gray pattern around his neck, and a bushy, bluish-gray tail matching the neck pattern.
On Depresso's head is a large tuft of dark purple fur. And when he works... well, let's just say he does it with a little less enthusiasm than his counterparts.
I went to get a gif of depresso because he always looks really annoyed and it's funny but when I went to go click it he looks so sad and I realized it's because I forgot to feed him & made him work LOL *my favorite one* #Palworld pic.twitter.com/00vfPJbpTp
— AyoBrittany (@LoveBrittany) January 25, 2024
However, reading his description, it's hard not to let out a little "aww":
"It has few friends because of the perpetually grouchy look on its face, but it is, in fact, kindhearted. Some have seen it feeding Vixy who have strayed from their pack."
I mean, come on! A cat with a depressed look named Depresso, with few friends, but actually very affectionate – how can you not love this Pal?
Another Loveable Pal: Meet Lovander
Looking at other Pals, you'll also come across Lovander, a pink Pal with a fluffy chest, a heart in its step, and the following description:
"Seeking a night of love, it is always chasing someone around. At first, it only showed interest in other Pals, but in recent years even humans have become the target of its debauchery."
In the Paldeck, this Pal is, of course, entry number 69.
In palworld, the 69th deck entry is Lovander, a tall lizard like pal with a carnal desire to mate. They eventually moved on from pals and to humans. I'm not making this up pic.twitter.com/59Ns0T223i
— JFJ (@jifferey) January 20, 2024
Palworld Is Unique – Despite The Familiar Looking Pals
And I have to say, I'm enjoying the game. I love open-world building games, and I've enjoyed playing Ark, which is similar in gameplay to Palworld.
But most of all, the individual Pals have captured my heart, and I love exploring the world, discovering, and catching new ones – or modding them into Pokémon with guns.
Yes, the developers of Palworld have faced accusations of plagiarism and moral questions about the use of AI, and I understand concerns about certain designs and aspects. There are many Pals that come very close to being clearly inspired by Pokémon.
However, the Pals are implemented with a great attention to detail, even in the small things mentioned above. The game is unique in that it's a best of of many different gameplay mechanics we've seen before – but never in this combination.
If you want to read more about the plagiarism issues surrounding Palworld, you can do so right here: