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Pokémon has needed a change of pace. Since its debut in 1993, the mainline games have relied on the same battling formula of turn-based action, and that’s all about to change in Pokémon Legends Z-A.
I played about an hour of gameplay at an event held in NYC and am almost at a loss for words. Pokémon Legends Z-A not only flips the brand-name battling on its head but reinvigorates the way you play. It feels almost like an entirely new game, yet still remains totally familiar.
Elements reminiscent in Legends Arceus also remain, keeping quality of life improvements that made that game so special. And, for those worried that Legends Z-A’s world might feel too small to traverse, think again. Adventure is still at the heart of the experience with small MetroidVania elements that keep your stay in Lumiose all the more interesting.
Here’s why I cannot wait to dive back into the world of Pokémon Legends Z-A again on October 16.
Turn-based combat no more
Instead of turn-based combat the series is known for across its years of video games, Pokémon Legends puts a spin on this long-standing formula with real-time battling action. It’s bit chaotic, but in all the right ways.
In my hour of playtime, I got to fight in a number of different battles. Some were with roaming Pokémon, others against trainers in the ZA Royale. The latter were some of the toughest and most interesting of the bunch, and I can’t wait to see even more of it.
Trainers pockmark small zones amid this Royale, which takes place at night in Lumiose. You can sneak up on trainers and start a battle with an advantage by attacking their Pokémon from the rear, which feels so wrong but is totally rewarding.
I found myself defeating tons of Pokémon just from sneaking up on trainers and using a super effective move. It’s pretty rewarding when you get the hang of it, leading to a quick and easy bump up In the Royale.
Battling will take some getting used to, as it will position your Pokémon in the spot where you last commanded an attack. This can leave you open to a brutal hit from the opposing ‘mon if you’re not careful. I found myself getting hit unnecessarily just by using an attack at the wrong time, so finding that good balance of timing is key.
While we didn’t get to see multiple battles like the ones shown in the multiplayer, I’m excited to see how those play out. It will likely feel like a total chaotic mess, but will be extremely fun all the same.
A beautiful city teeming with Pokémon
Legends Z-A isn’t like many games before it. Where other titles focused heavily on an entire region, Z-A zooms in on just a small part of Kalos. Despite that, it feels like a massive world ripe for budding Pokémon trainers looking to catch them all.
Pokémon big and small roam about the streets in tiny zones that are cordoned off by green lighting. It’s here where Pokémon collectors will spend most of their stay in Lumiose, attracting the sights of strong wild Pokémon in their attempt to fill out their Pokedex
You’re not limited to the levels your Pokémon might currently be at either. You’ll be able to find a wide swath of critters ranging in levels and in type. The game also rewards you for making treks off the beaten path, as I found a level 40 Pikachu just hanging out on a roof during my time playing the demo.
Of course, this Pikachu totally destroyed my team. Similarly, a rabid Houndoom pulled up on me after I started battling many of its young Houndoor. Some wild Pokémon will move in packs like this and you might bite off more you can chew if you stick around for too long after defeating many ‘mons.
Pokémon Z-A also diverges from predecessors by allowing you to catch Pokémon much more easily. Whereas before you might knockout a Pokémon and it’s gone for good, now you have a small window after depleting the Pokémon’s health bar where it has a higher catch rate.
It feels so much more aligned with the animated shows and movies, where characters would often leave a Pokémon fainted in order to catch it. The horror stories of losing a shiny Pokémon to an accidental attack will finally be long behind us. But, I’m curious where this alteration might leave the False Swipe attack.
Megas at the heart of the experience
Mega battling is finally placed at the heart of a Pokémon experience. First introduced in Pokémon X and Y, mega evolution fast became one of the most exciting and beloved mechanics in the series. But in most games it appeared in, it was used very sparingly.
In Z-A, that’s all about to change. Mega evolutions seem to play a pivotal role in the narrative, with wild megas running amuck across Lumiose, which leads you on a quest with a few friends to put an end to the craziness.
During the demo, we got to fight against a mega Victreebell. It was a pretty tough encounter, similar in spirit to the Noble Pokémon battles from Legends Arceus.
Victreebell will spit out poison that will litter the ground. You have to be careful not to step in it or command your Pokémon in a way that might lead them to step in it, otherwise it will poison them and cause them to faint faster. It’s a nail-biting encounter, but we did have Mega evolutions at our disposal.
I got to use Mega Houndoom and Gallade in this bout, both of which served pretty well in bringing Victrabell’s health down using super effective movesets. It was a total blast and slightly stressful seeing my Pokémon’s health depleting whenever I accidentally commanded them to attack right in the poisonous sludge.
Anyone that’s a big fan of megas will love Legends Z-A and the game is going to be an exciting return to form for the mechanic.
One of the most exciting Pokémon games yet
It’s no secret that Legends Z-A is one of the most anticipated Pokémon games in a long while. It follows in the same footprints left by Arceus, which similarly flipped the Pokémon formula on its head in all the right ways.
Although totally exhilarating and a complete change of pace for Pokémon, I do wish Z-A finally introduced voice acting to the series. It’s probably my only gripe with the game, making dialogue and encounters feel far less impactful than they should.
Aside from this minor setback, Z-A could be one of the best Pokémon games to date. It’s a brilliant return to Lumiose City, giving both returning and new players a look at this massive Paris lookalike in a more intimate, three dimensional light. Mega evolutions will definitely play a big part in making Legends Z-A a huge get and I cannot wait to dive back in.
It’s going to be a total thrill ride and I’m all in to see where its exciting twists and turns lead us through Lumiose. Pokémon Legends Z-A launches October 16, with a new DLC led by Hoopa already announced.
English (US) ·