A new game by the Pokémon GO creators Niantic called Peridot has been announced. It has some similarities but also significant differences – will Peridot be an alternative to Pokémon GO?
What is Peridot? Peridot focuses on taming, raising, and breeding virtual pets – the titular “Peridots”, or simply “Dots”. Augmented Reality will play a major role – you will see your new friends interact with you and the real world through your smartphone’s camera.
You can find a closer look at Peridot here:
The aspects presented so far of the new game are elements that are indeed not foreign to the core concept of Pokémon GO and the broader Pokémon universe. This raises the question: Will Peridot be a real competitor to Pokémon GO?
At least it offers some features that players have long wanted in Pokémon GO.
What can Peridot do that Pokémon GO cannot?
These are the features that Peridot gets: The most striking and at the same time interesting aspect is the point “breeding”. Those who have played the classic mainline Pokémon games intensely know that breeding is also an important factor here.
Numerous trainers have invested countless hours to breed Pokémon with perfect stats. In contrast, this feature has never made it into Pokémon GO, although players expected it especially in the early days.
While there are Pokémon eggs in the game that you collect at PokéStops or receive from Team Rocket – that’s about it. Ultimately, what hatches from the egg is left to a small monster pool and chance.
You have no influence over which monsters you hatch – and this despite the fact that this aspect is so popular in the main games.
With Peridot, however, this topic will take an important focus. Every Peridot you raise is supposed to be unique. You can then use this to pass on certain traits to the next Dot generation.
An additional aspect is certain social features that Pokémon GO trainers have long desired. These are clearly visible in the Peridot announcement: Among other things, there is an in-game chat where players can interact directly.
Such a chat has been missing in Pokémon GO to this day, even though it would be very useful for organizing raids. At least there are hints that Pokémon GO could also get such a feature.
Moreover, Peridot seems primarily to be a “friendly” game, focusing solely on raising and caring for individual creatures.
This might appeal more to players who enjoyed “Tamagotchi” or “Nintendogs”. In Pokémon GO, however, you collect a lot of monsters with little focus on individual ones – with certain exceptions, like the buddy aspect.
What can Pokémon GO do that Peridot cannot?
Where does Pokémon GO have the advantage? The most important aspect is certainly the Pokémon themselves. Searching for and collecting monsters is classic Pokémon and fits really well with the approach of searching outside with your phone. At least it has survived other examples like “Harry Potter – Wizards Unite” quite effortlessly.
This is also written by some players in the Pokémon GO subreddit: “If they added these features to PoGo, I would be interested. I want to play with my Sneasal, not with these things,” writes user BenPliskin (via reddit).
Due to the different approaches to gameplay, Peridot may become more of a supplement rather than a competitor to Pokémon GO. For example, when you no longer have new monsters to search for in Pokémon GO, have little interest in PvP, and prefer to dedicate your time to a single monster.
However, it is important to note: At the end of the day, both games are likely played primarily while walking and moving around. Therefore, capacities are also limited. Whether players simply have enough time for both games – that will still have to be seen.
What do you think of the new game? Are you interested in Peridot, do you want something new? Or do you prefer to stick with the classic Pokémon? Let us know in the comments!
Meanwhile, discussions are taking place in Pokémon GO about a revision of mega evolutions. Recently, new hints about mega Pokémon have surfaced again.
Furthermore, Pokémon GO offers combat elements. Gyms, Team Rocket, raids, PvP league – these are all aspects that have not yet appeared in Peridot. It is possible that competitive elements may be introduced here – but so far, it does not look that way.
What connects both games?
Apart from the points mentioned so far, both games want to lure players outside. Discovering new places while collecting monsters – that lies in the DNA of both games. In Pokémon GO, this factor is also being emphasized again.
Additionally, the monsters in both games can interact with your environment, thanks to the AR camera. In Pokémon GO, however, this has so far been somewhat limited in terms of available functions.
- You can catch monsters in the real world
- Or interact with your buddy Pokémon
Apart from a few nice animations, the feeding of berries or photo shoots, your buddy Pokémon do not do much in camera mode.
At least in the announcement, Peridot seems to place a greater focus on interaction. There is also a feeding and play system, but you should also be able to teach the Dots tricks or let them search for treasures. Raising the monsters will be based on interaction – so it’s possible that Peridot may have the edge here.
Could Peridot replace Pokémon GO?
As it stands, Pokémon GO and Peridot seem to share some similarities, but also have sufficient differences. Purely from the gameplay perspective, no direct competition seems to be developing here. Nevertheless, it seems that the new Peridot features could have done Pokémon GO as an extension a lot of good.
It should also be noted that many trainers have been playing Pokémon GO for years and have invested not only time but also money. This naturally creates a commitment. At the same time, some trainers might have experienced boredom, which certainly provides an opportunity for something new.
Due to the different approaches to gameplay, Peridot may become more of a supplement rather than a competitor to Pokémon GO. For example, when you no longer have new monsters to search for in Pokémon GO, have little interest in PvP, and prefer to dedicate your time to a single monster.
However, it is important to note: At the end of the day, both games are likely played primarily while walking and moving around. Therefore, capacities are also limited. Whether players simply have enough time for both games – that will still have to be seen.
What do you think of the new game? Are you interested in Peridot, do you want something new? Or do you prefer to stick with the classic Pokémon? Let us know in the comments!
Meanwhile, discussions are taking place in Pokémon GO about a revision of mega evolutions. Recently, new hints about mega Pokémon have surfaced again.
