Highlights
- Palworld’s gameplay revolves around capturing and utilizing “Pals” in various activities, similar to Pokemon.
- Players currently heavily rely on Pals for combat, while weapons only provide minor damage or are useful against weaker enemies.
- Implementing weapon modification systems, unique weapons, and customizable appearances would enhance the overall experience of Palworld.
At the heart of Palworld‘s gameplay is its namesake: adorable Pokemon-like creatures called “Pals.” Palworld‘s regular gameplay loop sees players spending a significant amount of time searching for and capturing various Pals that can then be useful in building and managing a base, in weakening other Pals for capture, or in defeating some of the game’s most challenging bosses, much like they can with Pokemon in the Pokemon series. Unlike in Pokemon, however, players can assist their Pals in battle using a variety of weapons.
Currently, Pals function as the primary damage dealers in the game, making the player’s weapons useful for little more than dealing minor damage on the side or defeating much weaker enemies when traveling alone. As the jobs of Pals in Palworld extend beyond combat, however, more attention could be given to the game’s weapons to provide players with more of a fighting chance should they have weaker Pals, a party full of fainted Pals, or the desire to explore Palworld‘s massive open world solo.
Palworld Seems to Be of Two Minds About Its Pal Progression System
Palworld’s progression system seems to be at odds with itself, due to its view on Pals and the implementation of Statues of Power.
How Palworld’s Weapons Could Be Improved Through Early Access
Mods and Skins Would Be a Welcome Addition to Palworld’s Weapons
Many modern weapon-collecting games have implemented a system that allows the modification of those weapons in order to enhance their abilities and alter their appearance. Even in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, which heavily inspired Palworld‘s open world, players can modify their weapons using the Fuse ability, which allows them to attach a wide variety of materials to their weapons and improve their damage and durability in the process.
Additionally, players can typically customize the appearance of their weapons in games such as these, as with Jin Sakai’s katana in Ghost of Tsushima and the massive arsenal of weapons available in Borderlands 3.
As of now, Palworld‘s weapons are very simple and straightforward, with no ability to modify them or change their appearance. It is possible to get improved versions of Palworld‘s weapons by finding the right schematics, but, even improved, they simply deal more damage and are otherwise the same.
As such, Palworld could use a modification system similar to that of games like Tears of the Kingdom and the Fallout series to allow players more creative freedom over their weapons. Perhaps they could attach mods that would change the weapon’s element to deal more damage to Pals of weaker elements. Furthermore, the ability to customize the appearance of weapons would add to the personality of the game and help make each player’s experience more their own.
Unique Weapons Would Add to the Appeal of Palworld’s Challenges
Another great feature of many looter games is unique weapons. These weapons usually come with a set roll of perks, rather than being randomized, and are often rewarded to players as they complete a game’s most difficult challenges. Unique weapons also cannot typically be crafted, which makes them even more desirable. If Palworld was to include a set of unique weapons for players to acquire, they would likely also come with new challenges.
Perhaps upon defeating a rather difficult boss in Palworld, players could get the chance to obtain a unique weapon that only that boss would drop. It would certainly add to the appeal of Palworld‘s various challenges, making players more likely to pursue them than anything else the game has to offer.
Palworld still has a long road ahead of it in terms of development, being that it is currently in early access. Developer Pocketpair has already been hard at work updating Palworld to remove bugs and increase its quality of life, but there is still more to be done. In light of that, it might do well for the developer to consider implementing changes to the game’s weapons, including the addition of mods, skins, and unique weapons. Still, Palworld remains a worthwhile experience regardless, and the hope is that it will become even more worthwhile down the road.
Palworld
Pocket Pair’s Palworld is a creature-collection game set in an open-world. Entering early access on January 19, 2024, the project blends survival, building, farming, monster breeding, and shooter elements.
- Released
- January 19, 2024
- Developer(s)
- Pocket Pair, Inc.
- Publisher(s)
- Pocket Pair, Inc.
- Engine
- Unreal Engine 5
- ESRB
- T For Teen Due To Violence
- Number of Players
- 1-4 (Co-Op); 32 Players Server Limit
- How Long To Beat
- N/A
- X|S Enhanced
- Yes
- File Size Xbox Series
- 6 GB (February 2024)
