Coromon review – the ultimate Pokémon clone

metro.co.uk:

Catch and battle monsters in this comforting throwback to Game Boy Advance era Pokémon role-playing games.

Now that Pokémon Legends: Arceus has taken some reserved leaps towards rewriting the formula, the next mainline Pokémon outings – the recently announced Scarlet and Violet – feel destined to be divisive. But while many scream for innovation and growth, from a franchise that’s clung to its core formula for decades, there’s just as many who mourn the move away from the accessible simplicity of the traditional mechanics.

Coromon is aimed squarely at the more conservative Pokémon fan, with a game that looks and plays like a late era Game Boy Advance title. Coromon is upfront about its Pokémon inspirations and knowingly emulates the battle mechanics, structure, and whimsy of Nintendo’s juggernaut. There are elemental weaknesses, monsters to evolve, and one-liner spouting trainers to battle, and it all starts on the same note of leaving your mother’s house for the grand adventure before you.

You might be wondering why no one’s contacted the lawyers already, but Coromon scatters just enough unique touches of its own to side-step Pokémon’s shadow. The first you’ll notice is the art style, which feels closer to the vibrant warmth of Stardew Valley than the top-down Pokémon titles. The 2D monster sprites are much better animated, with more variation in battle backdrops to match the area you’re exploring – from woodlands and electric laboratories to swamps.

There are also some subtle differences in the mechanics. As you level-up monsters through experience points, a separate potential meter fills to upgrade individual stats like attack, defence, or HP. It’s a minor inclusion but, for those who enjoy digging into the deeper aspects