A new Pokémon clone hit its Kickstarter goal in just ten minutes, and, after looking at everything it has to offer, I'm not surprised. While we wait for further news on Wind and Waves, there's no better distraction than the thousands of Pokémon imitators, spiritual successors, and homages out there.
But few offer anything as unique as Wonderful Neoran Valley, a new Pokémon rival by Italian independent studio Nara. Describing itself as a roguelite monster collector, Wonderful Neoran Valley launched a Kickstarter campaign on February 27, with a fundraising goal of $116,306. It hit that goal in just 10 minutes, and has since reached over 700% of its original budget, soaring past $833,000 as of writing.
Watching the trailer for Wonderful Neoran Valley, it's easy to see why it smashed its Kickstarter goal so quickly. First, the monster designs are excellent; they strike that perfect balance between weird and cute in a way that many Pokémon successors struggle to do. There are over 70 of these creatures, called Neoran, to collect. That fat bat with the purple ears? Its name is Chugaloo, and I want it on my team.
Also of note here is the battle system, which is markedly...
