Palworld, a game that has recently garnered considerable attention on Steam for its remarkable resemblance to the beloved Pokémon series, has undergone an unexpected transformation at the hands of an innovative modder. With the original game featuring creatures called Pals, which captivated players with their striking familiarity to Pokémon, it was only a matter of time until a mod would bring the actual Pokémon into the Palworld universe.
What started out as subtle hints and nods towards Nintendo’s iconic Pokémon in Palworld has now been turned on its head. A modder, effectively bridging the world of Palworld directly with that of Pokémon, has replaced Palworld's original creatures with the classic Pokémon, and has even transformed the player character into none other than Ash Ketchum, the famous protagonist from the Pokémon anime. This was recently showcased in a video by YouTube user ToastedShoes, highlighting the impressive extent of the mod’s alterations.
The intricacies of the modification are meticulous and far-reaching. Key Pokémon from various generations, including Pikachu, Oddish, Piplup, Hoothoot, and Torchic, can be seen engaging in activities uncommon for the pocket monsters: wielding firearms and partaking in manual labor within factories and mines. Moreover, the mod transcends the mere replacement of creatures by also changing non-playable characters (NPCs), with Palworld’s NPCs being replaced by Ash's companions, Brock and Misty, the latter equipped with a shotgun in the modded game.
The ingenuity in the mod doesn’t stop there. The modder has taken the overhaul to boss encounters as well, turning the game's first boss fight against Zoe and the Electabuzz-like Grizzbolt into a confrontational showdown against the duo Jessie and James from Team Rocket, alongside an actual Electabuzz. It’s quite a spectacle to behold, broadening the narrative into what feels like an alternate dystopian Pokémon episode.
