Summary
The survival crafting, creature collecting gamePalworldis slowly making its way out from beneathPokemon’s shadow. When the game was first announced by developer Pocket Pair, it was often referred to as “Pokemonwith guns.” Even thoughPalworldhas established itself as much more than just aPokemoncopycat, there are countless ways in whichPalworldhas been compared toPokemon: the monster collecting, the Pal Spheres' marked resemblance to Pokeballs, the tower bosses mimickingPokemon’s gyms, and of course, the design of certain Pals.
Hoocrates, a Dark element Pal known as the “Purveyor of Wisdom”, is a squat, owl-like Pal with big eyebrows and a crest that resembles a witch’s hat. While this Pal might not look like the Pokemon Noctowl, the information about Hoocrates in the Paldeck is rather telling. According to the Paldeck, Hoocrates is a philosopher like its namesake, the Greek philosopher Socrates: “Often lost in thought, it sometimes finds it difficult to sleep. ‘I think, therefore I am.'” This emphasis on deep intellectual thought is actually what hits home Hoocrates’ glaring similarity to Noctowl, rather than its mere appearance.
The Wise Owls Hoocrates and Noctowl
Most of Noctowl’s Pokedex entries mention its keen sight and ability to see in the dark. The description for this Pokemon is that of any owl; it can fly silently, see in the dark, and rotate its head 180 degrees. When it rotates its head, however,Noctowlis said to be sharpening its intellectual power. This is the case for Noctowl’s description in thePokemon Silver,Pokemon FireRed,Pokemon Pearl,Pokemon SoulSilver,Pokemon Y,Pokemon Shield, andPokemon Shining PearlPokedex entries.
“I think, therefore I am” is a quote from 17th century French philosopher Rene Descartes.
Owls have often been associated with wisdom and intelligence, despite the fact that as compared to other birds, owls aren’t all that smart; they are apparently quite difficult to train. The notion that owls are wise creatures dates back to Ancient Greece where the goddess of wisdom, Athena, was often depicted with an owl. Noctowl and Hoocrates might fit this bill, but real life owls can’t compare to the smarts of parrots, crows, and other feathered thinkers. Therefore,Palworldassigning the noble trait of wisdom to Hoocrates hits home how much this Pal has taken inspiration from Noctowl. The base facts surrounding these creatures are undeniably similar.
The Wisdom of Palworld Copying Pokemon
Some Pal designs, as in this case, seem blatantly pulled fromPokemon,to the extent that Former Pokemon Company Chief Legal OfficerDon McGowan labeledPalworldas “ripoff nonsense.“That said, it is hard to create a creature collecting game likePalworldwithout stepping onPokemon’s toes.Pokemonhas enjoyed a long history, and now boasts a collection of over one thousand Pokemon. Developers approaching the genre are now faced with the challenge of designing wholly new monsters. It’s easy to see how that will sometimes result in designs that have already been partially used byPokemon:a wise owl, a water dragon, a plant fairy, and so on.
Considering this, players shouldn’t be surprised when Pal designs mirrorPokemondesigns. Still, there is something to be said for flexing some creative muscles and attempting to create designs that can’t immediately beidentified asPokemonclones. Pocket Pair could have leaned away from the misconception of owls being wise and featured a silly owl that does not quote famous philosophers. As it is, Hoocrates lives in Noctowl’s shadow.
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!
