Palworld (Early Access) Review
The Indie game of the year?
Palworld, the new game from Craftopia makers PocketPair, has finally launched after a year of hype and controversy. The game has been accused of stealing, copying and using AI to create its content. But is it really that bad? In this review, we explore why sometimes less is more when it comes to gaming.
Deserts and Tundras all around
The game world of Palworld is simple but diverse. It features various biomes such as deserts, tundras and plains, each with its own temperature and weather effects. For example, you can freeze to death in the tundra at night, or overheat in the desert during the day. This adds some challenge and fun to the exploration.
There is also a lot of content to discover, such as Lifmunk Effigies, Lucky Pals, Boss Pals and Boss Towers. These are special items or creatures that can reward you with loot or power-ups. The Pals have different levels depending on the area, and some of them are protected in sanctuary islands where you are not supposed to catch them (but who can resist?).
The game world is huge and full of things to do.
Base Building and Pal Catching
Palworld is a game that combines elements from Ark and Pokemon. It is a survival game, but with a simpler and more accessible approach. You can easily gather resources and build your base, and you can catch Pals by weakening them and throwing a Pals Sphere at them. This is much quicker and easier than the taming process in Ark.
You can also use a variety of weapons, from bows to assault rifles, to fight enemies and hunt Pals. This makes the gameplay simple but very fun.
Another feature of Palworld is the automation of your base, which allows you to get your Pals to do tasks for you. This feature is still a bit buggy, but it adds a lot of fun and creativity to the game.
Palworld is the most fun and simple survival game I’ve ever played.
There’s no real characters
One aspect of the game that could use some improvement is the character development. The game is still in early access, so maybe this will change in the future, but right now there are no real characters to interact with or care about.
The only characters that have some personality are the tower bosses, such as Zoe and Lily, but they only appear in a brief intro cutscene and have no backstory or motivation.
The bosses are also linked to different factions in the game world, but this is not explained or explored in any depth.
The game is very simple, which is not a bad thing, but it also means that the characters are very simple and bland.
Tutorial and you are on your own
The game has only one quest, which is the tutorial quest. It teaches you the basics of the game and ends with a boss fight against Zoe & Grizzbolt. After that, you are free to explore the game world on your own.
This is similar to other survival games like Minecraft and Ark, which do not have any quests or objectives. They are games that let you create your own adventure and goals.
Therefore, this review will not judge the game based on its lack of quests.
Combat is more than guns
One of the unique features of Palworld is the ability to use your Pals as weapons and vehicles. You can ride your Pals and make them perform attacks, or you can equip them with different gadgets and weapons, such as grenade launchers or rocket launchers.
Yes, you heard that right. You can launch your Pal as a rocket, which will knock them out, but it will also cause a lot of damage to your enemies. You can also use your Pal as a flamethrower, or have them shoot a gun from your shoulder.
The combat in Palworld is very fun and creative, as you can use your Pals in many different ways.
19 Million Players can’t be wrong
Palworld has been a huge success since its launch. It has attracted over 19 million players across Steam and Xbox, and it was also available on Xbox Game Pass from day one. These numbers are impressive for an indie game.
I am one of those players who have enjoyed this game immensely. It is a simple game that fulfills a common wish: to play a game like Pokemon on PC, but with a survival twist. It does not try to be complicated or realistic, but rather fun and creative.
Palworld is one of the best and simplest games ever made, and it has captured the hearts of many gamers.
