I get a lot of emails about new retro games coming to fruition, many I try, many I don't, some I love, some I don't. But this game caught my attention immediately because of my love of Pokemon, and my love of GAME BOY pinball games, so when I heard that a new game that mixes them both together is coming, I immediately shat my pants in excitement.
Even more so when I realised the email was from my friends over at Incube8Games, who have been co-publishing GAME BOY games for years now, so I asked for more information, a ROM file and an embargo date, then got to work writing this news post, just for you.
And my wishes were true, it feels like Pokemon with fun catching pinball elements that test your skill, your patience and your luck. It's an RPG at its core, with a storyline that makes you stumble across a monster that you catch early on in the game, with many mysteries and questions surrounding its origin. You come across friends, foes, new monsters and unique ways to battle early on in the game, which immediately creates a refreshing gaming experience from the get-go.
I am only a few hours deep at the moment, but it's clear what the goal is with PachiPals. It's been designed to keep the nostalgic touches from the GBC era while bringing an original storyline with a new combination of mechanics that makes you fall back in love with these pixelated stories that we all miss so much.
The monster designs feel fresh, too. You catch them by playing a literal pinball game, with 3 or 4 tries to catch it, each monster bringing a unique environment that changes the pinball level. Some monsters hide in grass, some hide behind stones that you have to break, and some can even bite back. It does require some skill, and a bit of luck, which I'll be honest did annoy me at times, but I can't catch em' all on the first try, or that'd be too easy!
The battling mechanics are one of my favourite parts, because you typically fight 3 v 3, allowing you to pick your team before the match, each coming in different sizes and different HP, so you can again think tactfully here. You aim a ball down to the other side of the map, and if it hits the opponent's monsters, it does damage. It can hit multiple times, it can miss, and it can even attack multiple monsters if you get lucky, so again, it mixes both skill and luck in a unique manner, one that keeps you glued to your screen at all times.
The story also feels refreshing thanks to new touches such as fast travel using campfires and puzzles throughout the map that get you thinking between battles and catching. In total, there are 100 monsters to catch, which includes evolutions, so it's no small game to complete!
PachiPals can be pre-ordered on 11th August, and Incube8Games, in collaboration with Rebusmind, are planning to release it in October in both physical and digital forms. A physical copy of the Standard edition will cost $49.99, and the digital edition will cost $13.99. Incube8Games has also informed me that there's a new supply chain dealing with this release, meaning faster and cheaper shipping times for most countries around the globe, especially Europe, which is great to hear as I write this from the UK. It will also be available to buy and demo on Afterplay at launch.
Incube8Games is not planning on doing a collector's edition, but they are exploring the route of potential merchandise, even going as far as asking us if they should make trading cards, which I answered "absolutely". They're also playing with the thought of creating a rumble pack cartridge to go with it, which would enhance the gaming experience for sure. I have to see a modern GBC game come out with a rumble cartridge. I know Self Simulated: Pinball Anomaly are doing it once it is released, but I want to see more!
