When a Pokémon Presents was announced for Pokémon Day, everyone wondered how Pokémon Legends: Z-A would feature in the Direct. After all, it’s the only main series title in development at the moment, and one which we knew very little about since its reveal last year.
So, it only made sense we were going to learn more this time around. To get a better understanding of this Kalos set game and what it holds for the series going forward.
And today, we got our answer. For better or for worse.
Since Pokémon Legends: Z-A is exactly what you’d expect it’d be. It’s a Pokémon Legends game set in Lumiose City where you capture Pokémon directly in the overworld, with an engine and graphics style heavily inspired by Scarlet and Violet. Here’s an overview trailer showing the game in action:
Plus an extended look at the game and its mechanics:
For the most part, it checks all the right boxes here. The game looks better than Scarlet and Violet, with a huge city full of areas to explore. Familiar characters make their return, like AZ as the head of the hotel you’re staying at. Plus, Mega Evolution makes its comeback too, with the likes of Mega Lucario and Mega Gardevoir being some of the first ones shown.
But there are still a few things worth noting nonetheless. For one thing, battles are a bit more dynamic than before.
Since your Pokémon can now move around and dodge attacks on command. In other words, it’s more of a real-time system than the turn-based ones from previous installments, and something somewhat akin to the mechanics from the anime rather than the video game series up until that point.
There also seems to be less pressure to keep enemy Pokémon HP low rather than knocking them out too, since the trailer showed stunned Pokémon being captured after their seeming defeat. So yeah, an untimely KO doesn’t seem to mean the end of your capture attempt this time around.
So mechanics wise, it’s an interesting step forward for the series.
And the same might be true of the story too. Why? Because despite the previous Legends game taking place in a long-gone era, that doesn’t seem to be the case this time around.
No, Legends Z-A seems to be set shortly after X and Y, at least based on the presence of various characters and references in the trailer. So, not only will it feature the mechanics and world of the 6th generation titles, it’ll seemingly also let you catch up with many of the characters and story elements from it too.
Again, a brave choice for the series, but one which we’re somewhat optimistic about nonetheless, especially given the presence of a suspiciously evil sounding development organisation called Quasartico Inc and its suspiciously admin like team of leaders (Jett and Vinnie). There’s definitely something crazy going on here, and it definitely seems like it’ll help answer a few pressing questions about the events of X and Y too.
Sadly, the graphics and presentation aren’t exactly that impressive here. Indeed, just like 3D Pokémon games past, Legends Z-A looks rather cheap for a Nintendo Switch game, with blocky buildings, reused character models and low-quality textures in abundance. It’s not as bad as Sword and Shield or Scarlet and Violet in our opinion, but it’s also hardly an impressive showing for the hardware.
And it doesn’t seem to have much of a unique style to carry it either. Indeed, while Legends: Arceus looked rough as hell for a Switch game, (especially compared to the likes of Breath of the Wild or the Xenoblade series), it at least stood out in terms of its art style. It tried to go for a more painterly look, and (in a very limited sense) succeeded.
Legends Z-A has not done the same thing.
Nope, it’s just reused the Scarlet and Violet art style, and looks all the worse for it. It’s a real shame to be honest, especially given the potential the title had for a unique look of its own. They could have made it look all shiny and futuristic with a Jetsons style aesthetic, or gritty and dark with a more Cyberpunk inspired one… but no, they took the safe route instead. It’s a nicer looking gen 9 game, and that’s about it on the visuals front.
Regardless, that’s Legends Z-A for you. It’s coming out later this year, and looks to bring the Legends formula into the modern day with a more real-time battle system and near future Kalos plotline.
So, what do you think about it? Are you excited to try it out? How do you think it’ll compare to Legends: Arceus on a technical and mechanical level anyway?
Leave your thoughts in the comments below, on social media, or on our Discord server today!
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