Coromon

Coromon takes aim at one of the greatest series of all time and, while it isn't any threat to Pokémon's worldwide domination, it is a charming and fun nostalgia trip for fans. Excessive grinding and a story that takes its time to get going mar what is otherwise a worthwhile journey, but if you're a fan of old-school Pokémon, that shouldn't put you off investigating this title up. Whether you're a new trainer or you've been catching 'em all for years now, Coromon has something for you to enjoy.

Coromon is a game filled with potential but past sinking sands and perplexing puzzles it starts to fall flat. Fans of the genre will be delighted by the levels of customization thanks to the potential system and easy skill switching. The shake-ups do let Coromon stand on its own and create an enjoyable experience, but it could've evolved to be something a little more.

Coromon might be a new game, but the idea is all too familiar. However, different game settings, a new story, over 100 different monsters and a vast world to explore make this game a fun experience. If you love the retro Pokemon games, I definitely recommend checking out Coromon.

Since 1996, Pokémon has been a franchise whose success no other developer can replicate. The monster-catching phenomenon’s mainline games may stir up quite a bit of discourse nowadays due to some of Game Freak’s design decisions, but there is no denying that Pokémon’s earliest generations are timeless. In a year where more monster-tamers than ever before are trying to take a crack at the top spot, it is unsurprising that Coromon would shine amongst its competitors as it attempts to imitate the unbeatable champion by targeting its classic roots.

There’s not much else to say about Coromon. However you slice it, you’re ultimately getting a slavish homage to the early-era Pokémon games, but one that can’t get anywhere near their quality. Coromon is let down by having even fewer monsters to collect than the very first Pokémon, and some amateurish production values and gameplay design that Game Freak, for all its faults with the presentation of its own games, would never let happen. It’s still fun, because it’s so akin to Pokémon that of course it’s fun, but Coromon’s immediate rival, Nexomon (also available on Switch), actually tries to subvert some of the expectations of the genre, and comes off as the most interesting work as a consequence.

Coromon is a special tribute made by Pokémon fans to fans. While the game seeks an identity of its own and improves some aspects of the Nintendo series, such as customization and difficulty options, it also limits itself by bringing together elements of the series that are not necessarily interesting and that could have been reworked or left out. Still, it's a great option to the millions of trainers around the world and certainly one of the most competent "Pokémon-like" so far.

If I'd gone into Coromon blind and someone had told me that it was a Pokémon game, the only reason I'd have to be suspicious is that there's no Pikachu in sight.

It’s clear that Coromon was worth the wait, even if it didn’t quite live up to my hype as the game that dethroned Pokémon. That said, this is a beautiful and creative adventure full of heart, with hours of gameplay to keep you going and plenty of reasons for hardcore players to pay attention. Sure, I might have wanted more optional content, but what’s here is hard to dismiss. If you’re a fan of monster-hunting games and want a new portable adventure on Switch, look no further.

With unique monsters, an original story and setting, and a lot of tribute in-between, Coromon offers a new spin on a familiar franchise.

TRAGsoft organizes a fantastic and curious Pokémon-like that is both friendly and challenging to players; That keeps many basics but innovates with original details in gameplay and art design; That follows a simple and enjoyable story line for anyone.