Mr. Mime’s Atrocious Miming in Pokémon Pokopia

After dedicating 50 hours to building a virtual life in Pokémon Pokopia, I have crossed paths with over 200 creatures, each boasting a unique disposition. It is typically a treat to sign in and be welcomed by a spirited Squirtle or a playful Greedent neighbor. I have genuine affection for almost all of them—save for one specific resident. It is disappointing to report that developer Omega Force has done a massive disservice to Kanto’s strangest icon: Mr. Mime is an utterly incompetent mime in Pokopia.

For decades, Mr. Mime has been one of the most intuitive Pokémon to translate across different media. His entire identity is baked into his title; he is a mime who mimes. While the franchise has occasionally taken liberties—such as the anime allowing him to vocalize his name—he has traditionally been a creature of few words. The 2019 Detective Pikachu film offered the definitive portrayal, leaning into the silent, pantomime-heavy nature of the character. It felt as though the industry had finally mastered the art of depicting this little oddball.

Image: Game Freak/Omega Force, The Pokémon Company/Nintendo via Polygon

Inexplicably, Pokémon Pokopia discards this core trait in a move that feels like an affront to the mime community. Although he still performs the classic “invisible glass wall” routine while idling, he now speaks in full, articulate sentences like every other monster in town. He has been transformed into a generic “bro” who greets you with a “yo” in the same vein as a Rotom. Upon our first meeting, I anticipated some self-aware commentary regarding his broken vow of silence, but no such irony exists. He simply chatters away as if nothing is out of the ordinary.

The issue extends to his pre-evolution, Mime Jr., though I can offer the little one some grace. He is still a novice learning the ropes; one expects a youngster to break character to excitedly show off a hoard of berries. Mr. Mime, however, is a seasoned professional who should have more discipline. Omega Force has effectively undermined the dignity of the craft, and it is a hard change to swallow.

Image: Game Freak/Omega Force, The Pokémon Company/Nintendo via Polygon

That said, I must commend the studio for the rest of the cast. A standout feature of Pokopia is the effort put into characterizing each species, imagining how they would express themselves if humans could finally understand them. It is delightful to observe a stoic Hitmonlee training in quiet solitude or a Trubbish bouncing along the shoreline like a bundle of sunshine. Pokopia refines the environmental storytelling that began to emerge in Scarlet and Violet, fostering a genuine sense that these are real creatures inhabiting a living world.

I only hope that Mr. Mime eventually receives the creative respect he deserves. I don’t want to engage in small talk with him, nor do I need him to thank me for decorating his house. I certainly don’t want him challenging me to trivia about whether he or Onix is heavier. I simply want to see the man struggling against his invisible walls in silence.

Pokémon Pokopia is available now on Nintendo Switch 2.

Source: Polygon