It really comes down to this sounding like an SMT game using a Pokemon facade. Really.

I think it’s nice to have an old standby, but your point’s valid too. Have you ever played Coliseum or XD?

You know, it doesn’t look bad, and I might give it a shot, but tbh? Tajiri has gone on record saying Pokemon Special is the closest vision he had to his own regarding the Indigo League games.

Also, cults, demons, mon games, Shin Megami Tensei games anyone? SMT was deconstructing Mons tropes before Pokemon codified them.