The newest PUBG Cellular occasion melds the hand-held battle royale with anime masterpiece Neon Genesis Evangelion. Amongst different issues, this implies we get to see collection mascot Eva Unit-01 carry out foolish dances, which is each pleasant in an irony-poisoned form of approach and a severe indictment of the crossover development’s culturally harmful rampage by means of gaming.
“[P]layers will have the ability to seize numerous new unique Evangelion collaboration gadgets, from the enduring character plugsuits to themed armor and parachutes to backpacks,” PUBG Cellular developer and Tencent subsidiary Lightspeed and Quantum Studios introduced when the occasion kicked off on Could 14. “A particular buddy can even be touchdown within the recreation for gamers to companion with.”
Along with cosmetics, which embody outfits modeled after Neon Genesis Evangelion’s distinctively hued mecha and the youngsters who pilot them, the PUBG Cellular crossover will unlock a complete new recreation mode on Could 19. “Core Circle,” because the mode is named, duties gamers with aiding Eva Unit-01 in destroying an Angel, one of many mysterious entities that function the franchise’s most outstanding antagonists.
PUBG Cellular is a port of PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds, the sport that kickstarted the battle royale craze what looks like one million years in the past. It’s the identical idea, simply on a smaller display screen: You parachute onto a abandoned island, scavenge for weapons and tools, after which do your greatest to kill dozens of fellow gamers to be the final individual standing.
It’s unsurprising that PUBG Cellular can be overwhelmingly profitable and, as such, this isn’t its first crossover. However whereas it’s not so bizarre to think about characters like Jujutsu Kaisen’s Yuji Itadori and League of Legends’ Jinx getting down of their free time, Neon Genesis Evangelion isn’t that sort of story. I really feel like an elitist celebration pooper simply writing that, however it’s true.
For instance—and it is a huge spoiler, however it’s been nearly 30 years since Neon Genesis Evangelion first debuted so you possibly can take care of it—the purple robotic popping and locking within the GIF on the prime of this weblog is actually the primary character’s mother, whose immortal soul powers the big assemble after an experiment gone horribly flawed. Not precisely a trigger for celebration!
I don’t know the way a lot I can say concerning the scourge of crossovers that I haven’t already stated earlier than. I perceive why they occur, in fact. The monetary incentive of bringing followers of different properties into the fold and promoting them loot packing containers for the prospect of enjoying as their favourite characters is probably going too worthwhile to disregard. The technique simply at all times leads to the identical lame, cookie-cutter product.
It’s a tragic actuality that, outdoors of Tremendous Smash Bros., collabs don’t honor the spirit of the supply materials, choosing Mad Libs-style correct noun plug-ins that lead to tragic figures krumping on advertisement-laden essential menus. I could be an outdated man yelling at clouds, unable to let individuals take pleasure in issues, however I feel there’s nonetheless a snug center floor to find between boorish cash-grab and respectful homage.
And if any recreation has sufficient cash to discover that uncharted wilderness, it’s actually PUBG Cellular.