Summary
While playingPalworld, players will find journals across the map that help them better understand the game’s world and its mechanics. The most prevalent of these journals were written by an unknown castaway, and help explain the lore behind the Palpagos Islands and howPalworldsets itself apart from its biggest inspiration.
The castaway begins their journals by explaining that they come from outside the islands. They’re an explorer who discovered a barren area on world maps, and washed ashore an uncharted chain of islands while investigating. The story of the castaway is meant to parallel the story of the player, helping them understand the strange world around them as they come across new mechanics and locations. In addition to acting as a guide for players, these journals also spend time speculating on the history of the islands and the mysteries that abound there. The third, and possibly unintentional, implication of the castaway journals is that it explains how the world ofPalworlddiffers from the world ofPokemon.
The Palpagos Islands Offer a Vastly Different Setting than the Pokemon World
One of the biggest differences in setting between the two games is stated early on in the castaway journals. Before reading them, players would be forgiven for thinking thatPalworldoffersa clone ofPokemon’s formula, but a key difference becomes apparent when the castaway explains that Pals don’t exist beyond this specific island chain. They document their confusion when first coming across Pals and the absence of any normal animals such as sheep or cats. This cements the idea that, apart from the Palpagos Islands, Pals aren’t found in most of the game’s world.
“Every living thing I’ve found here is nothing like I’ve ever seen… normal creatures you might find on any other island seem to be almost entirely absent.” - Palworld’s Castaway Journal- Day 1-2
As a contrast, thePokemongames have always implied that Pokemon are the norm in their world, completely replacing all normal animals from the real world. The series has even taken interest in exploring thePokemonworld’s version of real locations, basing regions on places like France, Hawaii, and Spain. Without this option, one wonders howPalworldwill expand its setting beyond this initial game.
What Are the Implications of Pals on People Beyond the Palpagos Islands?
Future updates toPalworldcould explore new areas of the map featuring more humans from a more normal world. The castaway had no knowledge of the Palpagos Islands, but they can’t be the first person to find them. Thinking about what happened to other normal humans as they learned about Pals might offer a chance to showcase differences in how people view animal life. Perhaps the player could be revealed as the first human to fully respect Pals. A human colony in the Palpagos Islands being led by the player opens plenty of opportunities to expand on the gameplay.
Future updates might choose to expand onPalworld’s base building mechanics, allowing the player more freedom in their bases as they teach others about their findings. Alternatively, with great power in a real world setting often comes powerful weapons. An all-out war among Pals would be a sight to behold. Surely not everyone who comes to the islands is pure of heart; the game’s villainous factions prove that much.
InPokemongames, players experience a world that has evolved alongside creatures of immense power. But in a world where those creatures evolved separately from humans, there’s no telling how a normal society would react. This opens the door for plenty of different types of stories to be told that wouldn’t be possible in thePokemonfranchise. While the two series have more than their share of similarities, this is one area wherePalworldcould evolve away from its inspiration and make a name of its own. In light of thecontroversy amongPalworldandPokemon’s similarities, this might be just what the series needs to stand out.
Palworld
WHERE TO PLAY
In this game, you’re able to peacefully live alongside mysterious creatures known as Pals or risk your life to drive off a ruthless poaching syndicate. Pals can be used to fight and breed, or they can be made to work on farms or factories. You can even sell them or eat them.Survival: In a harsh environment where food is scarce and vicious poachers roam, danger waits around every corner. To survive, you must tread carefully and make difficult choices…even if that means eating your own Pals when the time comes.Mounts & Exploration: Pals can be mounted to traverse the land, sea and sky—allowing you to traverse all kinds of environment as you explore the world.Collect all kinds of exciting Pals to fight, farm, build, and work for you in this completely new multiplayer, open world survival and crafting game!
