It’s really been that long since the game was announced? I didn’t realize it’s been almost two years. Anyway, I’m stoked to have a new Pokemon game to play, even if it’s not a “main” storyline one. Shortly before this released, we realized we never completed Pokemon Legends: Arceus. We had roughly five or six hours left of the main story, so we beat that game before turning on Z-A. Honestly, after just one hour of playing Pokemon Legends: Z-A, I’m already loving it way more than Arceus.
For sure! This title is the most lively out of them all, in my opinion. I have no idea why our character has arrived in Lumiose City, but in true Pokemon fashion, we get roped into something bigger than ourselves and will eventually become some sort of hero. I’m happy to do it alongside the MC’s friends, Urbain, Lidy, and Naveen. Each has a unique personality and backstory, which is already so much more in depth than most Pokemon games.
Ah, yes, that’s right. I remember us being utterly delighted at our friends following us and going through the first route with us with light banter. These changes are the ones I enjoy the most when the Pokemon games try to do something different. Gives us NPCs with real personalities, make the world feel full. Instead, they keep trying to change up the battle styles and the way the gym leaders and badges work. Out of all those changes, though, I never minded Mega Evolution. So, I’m looking forward to exploring how Pokemon Legends: Z-A revisits Mega Evolution once more.
I agree with you on that, though I didn’t mind the Dynamaxing. I do think Mega Evolution is the most “natural” if you will. The Battle Zones are certainly fun and I like the gimmick. I do miss typical gym battles. I think it’d be cool to get to a certain rank before being able to challenge a gym leader, but I’ll take what I can get. I’m still having fun with this regardless. As for the Wild Zones, I find them just as fun though I would have preferred to go out and about and explore different routes. But I understand being confined to just one city doesn’t make that possible. I think the developers made Lumiose City as unique and vast as possible and I think they did a great job. In addition, I appreciate that the map tells you whether you’ve caught all the Pokemon in a Wild Zone. I do like me some checklists!
Honestly, I remember getting super lost in Lumiose City in X and Y. It was probably because the graphics looks so different because it was on the 3DS, but I think if they’re going to confine us to just one city for an entire Pokemon game, Lumiose City was a good choice with how large it is. I think we’re unsure of it right now because it’s so different and something the Pokemon games have never done before. But I’m looking forward to exploring Lumiose City inside and out, and seeing where the rest of this adventure takes us.
I’m still thinking these games might somehow tie into the storylines of Scarlet and Violet, or at least give us a peek at what generation ten may look like. But I guess that’s a theory for another day. Until then, I’m content with Pokemon Legends: Z-A and can’t wait to dive deeper into its story and catch all the Pokemon!
After being first announced in February 2024 – two years after the original Legends title – Pokemon Legends Z-A has finally graced our Nintendo Switch consoles. Rachel and I each have a Switch 2 copy of the game and wanted to share our impressions of the first hour or so of gameplay. Our initial thoughts? We’re super excited and optimistic about this Pokemon installment!
Agreed! While the first hour of Z-A is basically “tutorial mode,” I’m charmed by the characters we’ve met so far and the mechanics, while similar to Arceus, felt much smoother than the first Legends game. I’m delighted at seeing all of the NPCs in Lumiose City with their Pokemon out, making the world feel full. Despite Z-A taking place only (as far as we know) in the one city, I feel like Lumiose City is livelier than the cities and world of Paldea in the Scarlet and Violet games.
Which, honestly, was something that I recall enjoying about the X and Y Pokemon games, the original ones that introduced the Kalos region to us – I was delighted at seeing the large group of friends the protagonist had back then and I’m glad that Z-A decided to do something similar. They guide you in the beginning just enough to get you on your feet and gently point out the next part of the story, but once you get used to how the Battle and Wild Zones work, you’re free to progress the story at your own pace.
Mega Evolution, I feel, is the most natural of the different types of battles and such that the Pokemon games have tried to do. It’s an extra step, giving you an upper hand in a battle, but still needs strategy to use. Z-Moves, in my opinion, seemed silly, and Dynamaxing your Pokemon was interesting but could make the battles seem one-sided if you didn’t have an opponent doing the same. I’m glad Z-A decided to revisit both Kalos and Mega Evolutions. I’ll be looking forward to when we get the ability to use Mega Evolution in the game but, for now, I’m definitely interested in the way the Battle Zones work. Sneaking up on opponents, getting medals and points to be able to challenge a stronger trainer to rank up, I’m enjoying it!
Checklists are always nice! I also agree that I would have preferred more areas to explore for wild Pokemon, but the setting does make the Wild Zones make sense. I’m still trying to decide if having the game take place only in one city makes it a little stifling or not. Lumiose City is large as a map, and I know there’s so much of it that we still need to explore, but I do miss the more natural settings of routes to travel through for Pokemon. While I’m certainly enjoying Z-A more than Arceus at this time, I did like the wild settings of Arceus. Time will tell if my opinion on that changes.
Same, but I can recall getting lost in the larger cities of the Pokemon games regardless, especially in Kalos and the Unova games! I’m really impressed with the graphics of Z-A on the Switch 2, I have to say. I do like how Arceus took place in the past while Z-A, with its technology and modern looks, appears to have a more futuristic feel to it. It makes me curious as to how the Pokemon games will continue this kind of trend. For now, I’m very much enjoying Z-A and cannot wait to get back to playing!
Kris
Kris is the older sister of the pair, and has been playing video games since she was able to read. She was introduced to the gaming world mainly by her uncles with the Super Nintendo and Nintendo 64 consoles.
As a child, she wanted to grow up to be a teenage mutant ninja turtle, but instead she works a typical 9 to 5 office job. Much of her other time is spent pet-sitting, writing, and role-playing shenanigans in tabletop RPGs.
Rachel
Often seen as the second player, Rachel grew up watching Kris play video games before she was old enough to pick up a Nintendo controller herself. Now she only sometimes gives Kris the hard bosses to defeat.
In real life, Rachel is a full-time pet sitter and part-time storyteller. She writes game reviews for Pure Nintendo Magazine, and is working on creating her own video game.
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