Pokemon Legends: Z-A is out now with Switch 1 and Switch 2 versions available, but it's hard not to be disappointed by the latest game in the long-running franchise. Pokemon Legends: Arceus took the main series games in a bold new direction, and so it's understandable that many fans have been excited for a follow-up. Pokemon Legends: Z-A is the long-awaited sequel to Arceus, offering a new setting, a new battle system, and the return of Mega Evolutions.
Hype for Pokemon Legends: Z-A has been building since its initial announcement, with fans particularly excited about the return of Mega Evolutions and the new Mega Evolutions making their debut in the game. However, there have also been concerns about Z-A, especially in the wake of Scarlet and Violet's lackluster performance.
Pokemon Legends: Z-A Makes Big Change to Mega Evolutions
It seems as though the upcoming Pokemon Legends: Z-A is making a rather noteworthy change to how Mega Evolutions work.
I've just started playing Pokemon Legends: Z-A and have only logged a couple of hours, but I've come away disappointed in the experience so far. Pokemon Legends: Z-A is far from the technical disaster that Scarlet and Violet were at launch, but there are certain aspects about it that are underwhelming, and it also falls into some of the same traps that other recent Pokemon games have in terms of gameplay and pacing. I'll be playing a lot more of Pokemon Legends: Z-A before issuing my final verdict, but my first impression of the game is that it leaves a lot to be desired.
Pokemon Legends: Z-A's Presentation is a Mixed Bag on the Switch 2
Pokemon Legends: Z-A is a Switch 1 game with a Switch 2 upgrade, so it wasn't built from the ground-up with Nintendo's beefier home console/handheld hybrid in mind. Because of this, I wasn't expecting Pokemon Legends: Z-A to feature vastly superior graphics to other Switch Pokemon games, but I've still noticed unfortunate issues that I hoped would have been ironed out on the newer console. As soon as I got control of my character in Pokemon Legends: Z-A, one of the first things I saw was characters popping in and out of existence. They would be there, I would move closer to them, they would disappear, I would move closer still, they would appear. It's a distracting problem in the greater Lumiose City, but it also happens in close-quarters areas.
Colors pop and the frame rate is solid, but Pokemon Legends: Z-A still leaves something to be desired from a graphics standpoint. In terms of audio, it's also disappointing. The game recycles sounds and music from previous games in the series, which is fine for the occasional nostalgia trip, but it's a little excessive here. Most damning is the complete lack of voice acting, even for the more important cut-scenes, which make the events playing out on-screen feel flat and rob them of their potential impact. I don't need voice acting for every bit of dialogue, but the more elaborate cut-scenes should absolutely have it. The lack of it makes the game come across as cheap and stuck in the past. It's time for Pokemon to evolve and better meet modern standards when it comes to its visual and audio presentation.
Pokemon Legends: Z-A is Way Too Hand-Holdy in the Early Hours
A common problem Pokemon games have had in the last decade is the excessive hand-holding and yapping, and unfortunately, that issue appears to plague Pokemon Legends: Z-A as well. I assume that things will let up the further I get into the game, but the first handful of missions constantly wrestle control away from the player for tutorials and talking. The older Pokemon games wasted little time in sending players off on their adventures and these newer gamers could learn a thing or two from their predecessors.
I'm also not sold on the Lumiose City setting. Exploring the wild in Pokemon Legends: Arceus was a blast and gave the game a sense of exploration that I have yet to get from Z-A's Wild Zones. Granted, I've only played the game for a couple of hours so far, so there's still a chance that things can turn around, and I'm made a believer of the Wild Zones, but we'll see.
That's not to say I'm still not enjoying certain aspects of Pokemon Legends: Z-A. Pokemon Legends: Z-A's real-time combat system is an interesting change of pace, and the thrill of catching 'em all is timeless. Still, it's hard not to be disappointed that the follow-up to the groundbreaking Arceus doesn't push the franchise forward more, but perhaps my perspective will change the longer I play. Despite its flaws, I'm in Pokemon Legends: Z-A for the long haul and there's a chance that it gets better as it goes along, which I find is true of most modern Pokemon games.
The Future of Pokemon is Bright
Even if I finish Pokemon Legends: Z-A and come away still disappointed, there is plenty to look forward to when it comes to future Pokemon games. Game Freak's plans through 2030 have leaked online, revealing that the Generation 10 Pokemon games are coming as Switch 2 exclusives, a third Legends game set in the Galar region is on the horizon, and there may even be a multi-region Pokemon remake in the works. Hopefully, my experience with Z-A improves, and the game can tide me over while waiting for more info on the franchise's future.
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 79 /100 Critics Rec: 66%
- Released
- October 16, 2025
- ESRB
- Everyone 10+ / Fantasy Violence, In-Game Purchases
- Developer(s)
- Game Freak, Creatures Inc.
- Publisher(s)
- Nintendo, The Pokemon Company
