Admittedly gacha games aren't my thing, but when I came across the Pokémon - esque monster collector that was Evertale, I decided to give it a try, and as it turns out, not only does Evertale take elements from series like Pokémon and Final Fantasy, it also manages to build its own unique and intriguing narrative. I'm not entirely sold on gacha just yet, but with its impressive plot, visuals, and gameplay, Evertale definitely makes me take a second look and is something that held my interest.
When I say a second look, it's not just the provocative over-the-top waifus in skimpy clothing. Evertale's world is truly gorgeous. The character animations and cut scenes all looked great on my iPhone 13, encouraging me to explore the surrounding environments for rare Poké ... I mean monsters. With these monsters, I could build up my team and tried my best to mix elements as much as I could.
Catching monsters was pretty much the same in Evertale as in Pokémon. Basically, beat it down within an inch of its life and then capture it. There's even a PVP aspect to the game, so building up your monsters is worth it. And although there was a pay-to-win element, in my playthrough, Evertale's monetization didn't come off as overly aggressive. I was happy crawling through bushes, capturing monsters without needing to pay.
But the icing on the cake for me was the narrative. Saving the world from the Pandemonium, a mysterious curse that descends upon Erden once every hundred years, was fun. Even if the plot seems like one I've heard a million times, I was still engrossed.
The team tactics involved in Evertale, the collection system, the story, and the artwork make this one stand out. If you're a fan of Pokémon Gacha, or just a good story, give this one a try.