The rivalry between pokemon and Digimon games in the 90s and early 2000s never made much sense. Although fandoms have been arguing for years, a lot of time was spent comparing these two franchises that had little in common. When you really examine both franchises, it’s strange to wonder why they were compared so closely.
pokemon and Digimon both came to prominence within a few years of each other and their respective fan bases developed a rivalry. With both games and anime series being released, many kids at the time would prefer one over the other as if it were a competition. in the end, pokemon would eventually become the bigger mainstream hit with a bigger cultural footprint, but Digimon has still maintained its own loyal fan base. Fortunately, the debate on whether? pokemon or Digimon has cooled better since its peak at the turn of the millennium, although comparisons between the two still occur occasionally.
It’s amazing how much pokemon and Digimon were compared during their early years of relevance. However, these kinds of forced comparisons aren’t really fair to either series as they are each very different from the other and have gone in different directions since their inception. It’s worth explaining why this imagined competition between fans never made much sense in the first place.
Pokémon and Digimon have completely different types of stories
One of the biggest differences between pokemon and Digimon can be easily seen in the storylines of their games. Admittedly, due to the feud between their early fan bases and the fact that the games were on different consoles, many kids probably only played games from one of the two growing up. Still, even though Pokémon Red and Blue might not hold up years later, each series had distinct differences from the start.
the most important pokemon games follow a similar theme with each entry, and that’s for the best. Pokémon training and battles are essentially a sport in the Pokémon universe, and the player must reach the top by beating all the strongest trainers. In comparison, Digimon games have been very experimental, with even the first Digimon World series ranging from a Monster Rancher-like game in the first access to explore different JRPG tropes in later games. However, instead of focusing on competition, Digimon titles tend more towards adventure and mystery.
Both pokemon and Digimon have had a large number of spin-offs at this point, some of which cover similar areas. However, during the height of the fan rivalry, when pokemonThe biggest playground rumors were still rampant, the games couldn’t have been more different while still being JRPGs. A play pokemon game is to this day a very different experience than a Digimon game, so it seems silly to compare the two closely.
Pokémon’s Evolution and Digimon’s Digivolution Are Not the Same Mechanic
In addition to their similar names, the Evolution and Digivolution mechanics of pokemon and Digimon respectively led to the two being compared. While both change a Pokémon or Digimon into a new, stronger form, that similarity is only superficial. In fact, there are quite a few differences between the two mechanics that can be noticed.
Most pokemon evolutions are linear, with some Pokémon like Eevee taking multiple forms. In addition, there are many ways to evolve Pokémon, such as using items, increasing friendships, simply leveling up, and some downright unusual pokemon evolution methods. In addition, all pokemon evolutions are a one-way street and evolution is permanent. In comparison, almost every Digimon has a large number of potential Digivolutions, as well as pre-evolutions, crossing over with several others. In addition, what a Digimon Digivol is up to is strongly linked to how he’s leveled up, taking into account both level and stats. The biggest difference, though, is that Digimon can actually de-Digivolve back into a weaker form, and later Digivolve into something completely different.
In short, pokemon evolutions are predictable and easy to plan. However, Digivolutions in Digimon are more unpredictable and require luck or careful planning for a specific outcome. It’s interesting to see how a simple concept can be taken in two radically different directions, especially with: pokemon with some very difficult evolutions to achieve. However, the contrast between Evolution and Digivolution is still not the strongest difference between the two games.
Pokémon and Digimon ended up going in completely different directions
The last point to be made between the two franchises does not concern their early days like the previous examples. In fact, this is a split that would not happen until many years later. However, it still deserves mention as it continues to show why a direct comparison of the two is wrong. Now, after so many years of existence, pokemon and Digimon have gone in different directions, to the point where the idea of rivalry is almost unthinkable. The fact that many monster collecting RPGs are similar to pokemon and Digimon have since some out makes comparing the two directly even more difficult.
pokemon has stuck strongly to the foundations of the original games and has continued to add quality of life upgrades with each new generation. The series has continued to keep the same core gameplay consistent. In addition, it has kept the all-age appeal it has had since its inception, both in the games and anime. Unlike, Digimon‘s more experimental nature would later lead to some important new directions for their games. Especially the more recent ones Cyber sleuth and Digimon Survival are clearly aimed at an older audience. In fact there were traces of this even in the beginning, with the original Digimon World is rated as T. This divergence between the two has only made their differences clearer, and the darker, scarier world of Digimon Survival perhaps the best example of this.
pokemon and Digimon have gone in different directions that ironically have the same result. pokemon has appealed to them by staying consistent with the mechanics they grew up with, while Digimon started making some titles aimed at a mature audience after the original fans grew up. Both moves are commendable and show how different the series really is.
Finally, the pokemon against Digimon debates never made much sense in the first place. Both were very different series that garnered fans through their own different art styles, stories, and mechanics. Or rather pokemon or Digimon, there is no reason for hostility. Both properties do an excellent job of satisfying their fans.
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