Pokémon Legends Z-Ahas a lot going for it. It is adding even more drastic changes from the mainline releases, just like its predecessor,Arceus, did back in 2022, and features the series' first ever single-area location, in the form of Lumiose City. There is a lot of potential in the new features thatPokémon Legends Z-Ais adding, especially when it comes to the real-time combat that it is borrowing from Nintendo’s other franchise,Xenoblade Chronicles. This could take the entire franchise in a new and exciting direction, especially if Game Freak has managed to pull it off.
However, as much as these changes will be for the best, they also risk changing too much, especially when it comes to the formula thatArceusestablished for the Legends spin-off series.Legends Arceusis a masterpiece, largely thanks to the risks it dared to take to branch off from the constraints of the main games.Pokémon Legends Z-A’sbiggest change fromArceuscould undo all of that hard workas it threatens to upset the balance and completely transform the experience. WhileZ-Ashould take risks too, one change may have pushed it too far in the wrong direction.
Legends: Arceus' Challenge Came From Its Difficulty
It Was Risky To Explore
Pokémon Legends Arceuswas a surprisingly challenging game. While its general Pokémon battles were relatively similar to those of the mainline series, its open-area exploration came with a substantial amount of risk. Each area was surrounded byangry Pokémon that attacked on sight, hurting the player even before they’d had a chance to throw out their favorite Pokémon.This feature facilitated the introduction of stealth into aPokémongame, something the series had never had a need for before, as the player was always safe so long as they had a full party on hand.
This level of challenge is whatmadePokémon Legends Arceusdifferentfrom the mainline games and helped it stand out as not just any old spin-off, but a worthy successor to the overly-familiarPokémonformula.It gave stakes to running around in tall grass, something that felt apt for both its time period andArceus’novel catching methods, which, in turn, made exploration daring and exciting. Of course,Arceuswas capable of moments of genuine serenity, helped by its phenomenal soundtrack, and these were further elevated by those moments of tension mere minutes before.
I’m Convinced Zygarde’s Appearance In Pokémon Legends: Z-A Will Spell Disaster For Lumiose City
Considering the lore established for Zygarde, its presence in Pokémon Legends: Z-A actually suggests Lumiose City is on the brink of disaster.
It was a perfect balancing act, one that ensured that players weren’t constantly swamped by deadly foes, gave them an enemy to aspire to defeat, and a reason to engage with every mechanicPokémon Legends Arceushad up its sleeve.Game Freak created the perfectPokémonexperience withArceus’level of difficulty, which is something that those who had grown tired of the formulaic structure of the mainline series perhaps thought wasn’t possible. However, much like howScarlet and Violetdid away withArceus’best mechanics, it appears thatPokémon Legends Z-Ahas too.
Threats Seem Less Common In Pokémon Legends Z-A
Lumiose City Seems Fairly Safe
Pokémon Legends Z-Ais set entirely within Lumiose City, a location fromPokémon X & Y. It’s a bustling area filled with shops, cafés, hotels, homes, and the towering gym at the heart of the city. During the events ofZ-A, Lumiose City is undergoing an urban redevelopment project, with sections of the city being set aside for its Pokémon population. While the idea of setting aPokémongame entirely in one city is admittedly quite interesting,Lumiose City is a mistakefor a number of reasons, namely, becauseit conflicts with everything thatPokémon Legends Arceushad established years ago.
As Lumiose City is inhabited by people and Pokémon, there is no danger while exploring it. Players can venture across the city, visit shops, and take in the sights without having to worry about an angry Ursaring trying to tear their head off. This robs thePokémon Legendsseries of its crowning achievement: a sense of real dangerin a world full of wild and potentially vicious Pokémon. Of course, there are the Wild Zones, areas full of wild Pokémon that will engage the player in battle, but as these are designated areas, it makes them a lot less threatening.
This absence of difficulty means thatLegends Z-A’ssetting won’t workon a fundamental level. It is cool that Game Freak has brought to life this sprawling location, butif it is devoid of any real risk or challenge, then exploration will feel as exciting as wandering acrossScarlet and Violet’shollow and empty towns. It is a shame, as ultimatelyArceus’difficulty wasn’t just a gimmick or a means of allowing Game Freak to experiment more, but rather was the foundation that made the entire experience actually fun. Taking that away fromZ-Acould make it boring in comparison.
Arceus' Difficulty Is What Made It Fun, & Z-A May Be Missing That
Z-A Could Feel Completely Different
Not everyPokémon Legendsgame needs to be the same. In fact, thePokémon Legendsseries should exist to give Game Freak the opportunity to try new ideas and mechanics that it otherwise feels it can’t with the mainline games. That’s what madeArceussuch a refreshing experience, and it would be a shame to rob that fromPokémon Legends Z-A. However,it also seems a shame to do away with the things that truly worked inArceus, especially when the mainline games haven’t incorporated them, meaning players don’t really have another opportunity to experience them outside of replaying it.
Pokémon Legends Arceus’fun didn’t come exclusively from its difficulty, but that was a huge component of itand something that influenced the enjoyment one got from all of its other areas. Completing the Pokédex would have felt like a chore and a significantly easier task if there wasn’t a level of risk involved in capturing Pokémon. Similarly, the whole premise of enraged Pokémon wouldn’t have worked if the player couldn’t be attacked in the open world. It also helped to makePokémon Legends Arceusfeel genuinely immersive, something the mainline games have never really achieved.
I’ll Be Disappointed If Pokemon Legends: Z-A Doesn’t Bring Back My Favorite Kalos Feature
If you’re anything like me, you have high expectations for Pokemon Legends: Z-A; there’s one thing that can help retain a nostalgic X and Y vibe.
Pokémon Legends Z-Ais implementing its own novel features, includingreal-time Pokémon battles. However, as great as they are, it would have been interesting to see how its new ideas could have merged withArceus’to create what would likely be the definitivePokémonexperience. Unfortunately, Game Freak risks doing things by halves if it culls the best elements of its previous work. Ultimately,Pokémon Legends Z-Awill likely be another triumph for the developer and praised for its own risks, but one can only hope that Game Freak brings backArceus’difficulty for the nextLegendsgame.
