Having devoted over 50 hours to carving out a digital existence in Pokémon Pokopia, I have crossed paths with more than 200 creatures, each possessing a remarkably distinct disposition. There is a genuine warmth in logging on to be greeted by a vivacious Squirtle or observing the playful antics of a local Greedent. I have grown fond of almost every neighbor, with one glaring exception. I regret to report that developer Omega Force has done a massive disservice to Kanto’s most eccentric resident: in Pokopia, Mr. Mime is a fundamentally incompetent mime.
For decades, Mr. Mime has been among the most straightforward Pokémon to translate across various media. His entire identity is dictated by his moniker; he is a practitioner of pantomime. While the franchise has occasionally taken liberties—he famously vocalizes his name in the anime like his peers—he has traditionally remained a creature of few words and grand gestures. The 2019 Detective Pikachu film offered the definitive portrayal, leaning into his uncanny nature by treating him as a silent performer. It felt as though we had finally established a universal standard for this peculiar fellow.
Inexplicably, Pokémon Pokopia abandons this established lore in a move that feels like an insult to the silent arts. Although he still goes through the motions of his “invisible wall” routine while idling, he breaks character the moment you interact with him, speaking in fluent, complete sentences. He has been relegated to just another “guy” who tosses around casual slang in the same vein as a Rotom. Upon our first meeting, I fully expected a self-aware wink or a joke regarding his broken vow of silence, yet the game offers no such acknowledgment. He simply chatters away as if his entire gimmick hasn’t been compromised.
The issue extends to his pre-evolution, Mime Jr., though I am inclined to be more forgiving of the youngster. He is, after all, still an apprentice in the craft. It is only natural for a child to break character to excitedly show off a collection of foraged berries. Mr. Mime, however, is a seasoned veteran who has spent a lifetime mastering his discipline. By making him loquacious, Omega Force has effectively undermined the character’s professional integrity.
Despite this grievance, I must commend the studio for its work on the broader roster. One of Pokopia’s most triumphant feats is the depth of its characterization, imagining the unique voices and social dynamics of creatures if they shared a common tongue. Watching a stoic Hitmonlee train in solitary focus or a cheerful Trubbish bounce along the shoreline like a literal bundle of sunshine is delightful. The game expands upon the immersive ecological foundations seen in Scarlet and Violet, fostering a genuine sense of a living, breathing ecosystem where monsters and humans cohabitate.
Ultimately, I hope future iterations restore Mr. Mime’s professional dignity. I have no desire to hear him articulate his thoughts, nor do I need him to express gratitude for my interior decorating choices. I certainly don’t want him asking me to participate in trivia contests regarding his weight relative to an Onix. I simply want to see a man committed to his craft, struggling eternally against the confines of an invisible glass box.
Pokémon Pokopia is currently available on Nintendo Switch 2.
Source: Polygon
