Palworld is definitely one of the most popular video games of the moment, due to its particular proposal that combines survival and firearms with monster-catching mechanics similar to Pokémon. Naturally, there have already been endless comparisons with Nintendo and Game Freak’s iconic franchise, but YouTube channel 64 Bits took it to another level, with this excellent video that answers the question: What if Palworld had been released for Nintendo DS?
Demake of Palworld on Nintendo DS, by 64 Bits
This fun project was directed by Niels Beekes and Niels Koper, and animated by the team of artists of the 64 Bits channel. At the beginning of the video we can see how the Palworld cover would look like if it were a Nintendo DS videogame, in a style similar to the classic Pokémon game covers of that time. We can then see a recreation of the opening cinematic where the Pals find the protagonist stranded on the beach, only it’s done with the same 3D graphics that were possible on the Nintendo DS. This is an adorable detail, and reminds us of the cinematics present in Pokémon Black & White.
The rest of the video gives us a better idea of what Palworld would look like if it were a Nintendo DS game, with a 2D world and an isometric perspective. We can see the protagonist battling Pals and catching them, then using them in battle, as mounts or putting them to work in her camp. It’s everything we’re used to seeing in Pocket Pair‘s gameplay, but with the adorable art style of Pokémon Black & White. This is really impressive, since the 64 Bits artists had to make new sprites of all the characters and the Pals themselves, something that must have taken a lot of time and effort.
Some of these sprites are incredibly detailed, as when we see the protagonist riding a Mammorest and fighting against a group of enemies. But the most striking moment of the whole video is when the initial battle against Zoe and her Grizzbolt is recreated, which also features an incredible 3D cinematic, with a model of the Pal and everything. That’s when the game’s title appears and, unfortunately, that excellent video comes to an end. Palworld looks great as a Nintendo DS game, and we would have liked to see more.
Of course, Palworld became a huge hit because of how well it looks and runs, at a time when 3D Pokémon video games increasingly leave something to be desired. So we’re not sure it would have been as popular if it had been released on this old Nintendo handheld. However, we can’t deny that the video produced by the 64 Bits team looks amazing and it’s clear that the talented artists involved have a lot of passion for both Palworld and Pokémon to have managed to create something so impressive.
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