Upcoming open-world survival game Light of Motiram is already attracting attention, but perhaps not for the right reasons, as it has been called “shameless” amid comparisons to Guerrilla Games' Horizon series.
As Gematsu ReportsDeveloper Polaris Quest is a subsidiary of Tencent Games and it has to be said that its survival and crafting game looks very pretty, with lush and vibrant environments. But there's something about it that seems quite… familiar. It's set in a “world overrun by colossal machines” and, well, anyone who's played Horizon Zero Dawn or Forbidden West will know that concept well.
The machines that populate the world of Light of Motiram are called 'Mechanimals' and appear to be direct relatives of Aloy's mechanical enemies. You'd be forgiven for confusing a bull-shaped Mechanimal with one of Horizon's Broadheads, for example. Its location in the aforementioned lush world makes everything seem even more similar – the Horizon vibes are undeniable and viewers were quick to point this out.
“I am greatly amused that there is no longer any shame,” says Dr. Serkan Toto, chief executive of Japanese games industry consultancy Kantan Games.
It amuses me tremendously that there is no longer any shame. https://t.co/bKbcb6CBLxNovember 28, 2024
The game's news account @Genki_JPN also calls it “shameless,” while another says it's like a combination of “Zero Dawn, Forbidden West, and Frozen Wilds all rolled into one.”
Despite this, it looks like it will play differently than Guerrilla's Horizon games. In fact, if we make comparisons, its gameplay seems quite similar to pal world. Players will be tasked with building a base and will be able to tame and train over 100 Mechanimals, customizable to receive “exclusive battle modes and production traits,” making them useful companions regardless of whether you need “combat support or a boost to production”.
Additionally, players can explore the world with friends in “seamless” co-op, which will support up to 10 players. It also mentions cross-play, although at the time of writing, the game has only been announced for Steam and the Epic Games Store.
Anyway, it seems that Palworld developers at Pocketpair are aware of the comparisons between Light of Motiram and their own survival game, but they're certainly not complaining. In response to a person calling the upcoming Polaris Quest title a “Horizon x Palworld style game”, Pocketpair Community Manager Bucky simply says: “Palworld mentioned – POG.”
We'll have to wait and see if Light of Motiram can differentiate itself a bit more when it releases; At the moment, no release window has been provided.
In the meantime, be sure to check out our recommendations for the best survival games and best pc games you can play now.