Gratz!

Any game that tries to 'pokemon but online' is immediately an instant no from me.

I actually struggle to think of one that doesn't do combat better, and the only one I can think of is disc beasts, which....also does combat better, and evolution better. Only thing it does worse is catching.

Not gonna disagree. I personally think a lot of the other monster collector series do things better than pokemon because they are focused. Monster Sanctuary is amazingly balanced and does team fights really well. Casette beasts has a much better thrill of 'what will this evolve into'

I honestly heard a decent bit about it whenever it was mostly fresh, and it still comes up whenever people mention "I want to play pokemon but not pokemon". Its on the same tier for me as Monster Sanctuary

Very much so. Inevitably, the official clue books they sold are full of party composition info and what pitfalls to avoid in class choice. Could just not have put those pitfalls in.

Good luck, hopefully all the nerves were for naught!

If their curse gets a hold of them they become werewolves permanently, but yeah, even without that very human-wolf feeling, including being on a planet with giant wolves. Though honestly their best bit of theming is not having librarians, but rune priests.