Palworld's colossal water elemental, Panthalus, has captivated players since its inclusion in the game's recent 1.0 release, with many fans highlighting its impressive scale and encounter design as a standout feature. The Pal, which bears a resemblance to Pokémon's Legendary Kyogre, is the largest monster currently in Palworld, so large that players can only have one present on each base.
Teased in early access trailers, Panthalus's immense size initially led some players to believe it might be too large to implement effectively. However, its arrival has been met with awe, largely due to the dramatic spectacle of its in-game encounter. The Pal unleashes a tsunami wave upon players, an event that, despite often being accompanied by music from external media like Attack on Titan, is being praised for its grandeur.
This spectacle has led to comparisons with legendary encounters in the Pokémon series, with many Palworld players suggesting that the sheer cinematic presentation of Panthalus surpasses anything seen in Pokémon games. Comments on viral videos of the encounter include sentiments like "Pokémon could never" and "There has never been a Pokémon game with this level of cinematic trust." While some players have offered critiques on the encounter's design, deeming potential improvements possible in the live-service title, the current implementation is widely regarded as impressive.
Palworld is available on Mac, PlayStation 5, Windows PC via Steam, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.