- Scratches that monster-collecting itch
- Too buggy to be enjoyable
- Text is too small; lacks mobile optimisations
As a seasoned gamer with years of experience under my belt, I’ve seen it all – from the grandeur of AAA titles to the simplicity of indie darlings. And when it comes to mobile gaming, I’m always on the lookout for that one gem that can scratch that creature-collecting itch while still being enjoyable on a small screen. Enter Miraibo GO, a game that promised to deliver a Palworld-like experience right in the palm of my hand.
You step out into the vast world with an empty backpack and unspoiled curiosity, ready to encounter a variety of creatures that you can’t wait to capture. These creatures range from cute fire-breathing dogs to gigantic flying beasts whose wings span entire skies. Each one of these monsters is up for grabs – all you need to do is throw a magical ball at them, and they’ll become part of your collection.
Miraibo GO isn’t Pokemon or Palworld; instead, it offers an exciting creature-collecting experience with a twist of survival crafting, all accessible on your phone. However, one might question whether this game that resembles Palworld is a genuine effort to engage mobile gamers or just another attempt at a watered-down version of the original?
I’ll talk about the elephant in the room right off the bat – Miraibo GO’s creatures (aptly called “Miras”), at least at first glance, don’t look too much like blatant rip-offs from Nintendo’s own popular IP. Sure, there are similarities, but they still somehow look like they’re very much inspired by Pokemon greats rather than repurposed clones (for me, at least, unless there’s something I’m not quite seeing).
This is where it all starts to get interesting, as you’ll finally get the chance to catch a Mira right from the get-go – that is if you can figure out what the heck you’re even supposed to do. To say that there’s no hand-holding here is an understatement – there’s absolutely no tutorial, no guide, no intro. All you have is this measly little checklist of tasks you need to accomplish, and it’s up to you to decipher what everything means and where everything should go.
Now, I knew I could deal with a little bit of fumbling around – constructing my Mira Terminal, how to actually catch a Mira, and how to gather resources to build my measly little settlement. But when things started getting serious – like the mission checklist telling me I needed to eat without actually telling me how to do that – it just took away any kind of enjoyment whatsoever. This particular dilemma had me watching helplessly as my HP slowly whittled itself down because I needed to eat but didn’t know how to – god forbid the in-game tutorial told me how to do such a basic task before anything else.
What’s the appeal?
After about a full hour of grasping at straws, I finally got the hang of the things I needed to do to stay functional. I had my basic base, I had Miras working (Assign tasks to your Miras? Sure. How, though?), and I had unlocked enough skills in my Tech tree to craft the essentials I needed. But just when I thought I was about to finally enjoy the game and everything it has to offer, the bugs started scuttling in and didn’t stop.
One issue I frequently encounter is that the Miras I summon via my Mira Terminal tend to materialize in the midst of rocks, becoming stuck there permanently. To add to the frustration, I find it difficult to accurately lock onto wild Miras without resorting to awkward auto-attacks and a companion Mira who stubbornly refuses to attack my designated target.
At one instance, after I had slain a wild animal named Rolloh, it fell onto the grass and later passed away. Since we were positioned on a slope, I unintentionally nudged it, which caused its carcass to tumble down the hill. True to his unfortunate name, the body continued to roll, rolling downhill, eventually disappearing into the abyss of the ravine below, serving as a grim reminder to any other wild Mira who might cross my path.
Instead, let me emphasize a different aspect of the game that made it challenging for me to play. The user interface was the culprit, as everything is presented in an incredibly small font size. I find myself squinting just to read vital text since there’s no tutorial provided, and the “Use” button, which I need to press, is located very close to the “Batch Use” button that I often accidentally tap instead.
Regarding the game, its precision is commendable; however, there’s an issue with the absence of a zoom function, leading me to question the purpose of the Portrait/Landscape option. Given that this game claims to be a mobile version of Palworld, it falls short in filling the niche it aimed for, which is truly unfortunate. The game lacks any features tailored for mobile devices such as user-friendly controls, quality-of-life enhancements, and an interface designed for smaller screens. In order to play comfortably, I had to restart and use a tablet instead of my phone due to the small screen size making gameplay impossible.
Indeed, there are certain appealing aspects in this discussion – the excitement of discovery and the urge to discover new species is undeniably accurate. The game certainly holds promise for being exceptional, but at the moment, it seems more like an early access version rather than a full-fledged release. Frankly, it doesn’t appear polished enough for a global launch as it stands, and the positive aspects, though noticeable, are significantly outweighed by the negatives.
As a fan, I find Miraibo GO to be a work-in-progress, seemingly searching for its identity. In my perspective, it seems to have been released prematurely. If you aim to experience it fully, I suggest waiting a few more weeks, or possibly even months, before diving in. At the moment, it falls short of its potential.
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2024-10-15 17:18