Summary
Palworld’s meteoric rise to popularity at the beginning of 2024 came somewhat out of the blue, and made a big impact on the gaming world. Thanks in part to its Steam Early Access status boosted by its inclusion on Xbox Game Pass,Palworldput up noteworthy sales records and concurrent player numbers in a very short window of time. Indie developer Pocketpair even stated it was a little unprepared to handle the massive amount of attention its crafting/survival and monster hunting mashup title garnered upon release, and the related support needed to keep it running smoothly, even as it is still in early access.
On top of that,Palworldalso shortly found itself in a bit of hot water over some of its resemblances to Game Freak and Nintendo’s juggernautPokemonfranchise. While perhaps this is understandable on the surface, given thecomparisons that can be made between creature designs inPalworldandPokemon, there are important distinctions between the two that are apparent upon closer inspection, separating them in tone and approach. One example of such can be seen in a particular Pal, the Hangyu, whose function and depiction would likely never be something seen inPokemon, due to its much more menacing nature.
Nintendo has previously commented onPalworldandPokemon’s similarities, though no legal or related actions have taken place at this time.
Palworld’s Hangyu Has A Far More Disturbing Description and Role Than Any Pokemon
Pokemon Would Never Have a ‘Mon Like Palworld’s Hangyu
AsPokemonhas traditionally been geared towards being friendly and accessible to all audiences, the franchise’s foundation largely precludes it from veering too far into upsetting subjects. Upon release,Palworldwas sometimes reductively described as “Pokemonwith guns,” which instantly set it apart fromPokemon’s established image. While fans have discussed howPalworlditerates and improves on some aspects ofPokemon’s standards,Pokemon’s presentation has always been more lighthearted at its core. It is thus extremely unlikely the series would ever risk tarnishing or drastically altering its reputation in this area. The same, though, isn’t necessarily true ofPalworld,and this is on clear display with Hangyu.
The Dark Nature of Palworld’s Hangyu
Generally speaking, most ofPalworld’s creatures are cute and cuddlya laPokemon, and many of their behaviors, quirks, and personalities might be said to be mischievous at worst. However, there are a few that tend toward more disconcerting territory, and Hangyu is a prime example, with its name being a play on “hang you,” along with its appearance resembling a living, flying noose. Hangyu’s unsettling nature is explicitly confirmed in its official Paldeck entry, which states:
“Its gigantic arms can rip apart even iron. As a particularly cruel form of execution, serious criminals would be strung up in a public square, and a Hangyu would rip off the skin from their bones.”
In and of itself, this is a disquieting description, leaving players to possibly imagine the gruesome image of this otherwise unassuming Pal enacting such a deed. It also speaks the darker underbelly ofPalworld’s world building, if this is or was a practice within the lore of the world, which is somethingPokemonwouldn’t dream of incorporating. Perhaps more innocuously and in terms of present practicality, though, the Hangyu can be one ofPalworld’s more helpful Pals for exploring,as it can be used similar to a glider, but also reach much greater heights, allowing players access to more out-of-the-way areas and secrets.
AsPalworldcontinues to update and tweak various items, it might also be interesting if the mention of Hangyu’s arm strength later comes into play in terms of base/resource management. It could potentially expedite mining or refining iron ore, rather than mainly serving as a transportation Pal as it currently does. In any case, as it stands,Palworld’s Hangyu is definitely shades darker than any critter contained inPokemon,and serves to keep their identities distinct.
Palworld
WHERE TO PLAY
In this game, you can 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!
