Pokemon Legends: Z-A is likely to change the formula when it comes to Pokemon games, but there are some areas that don’t need improvement. Scarlet and Violet included plenty of innovations as well, and Pokemon Legends: Z-A would be an excellent opportunity to expand on one of them. The Pokemon Legends subseries is still in its infancy, with Legends: Z-A only being the second game of its kind. As a result, it will probably take heavy inspiration from Legends Arceus, but it shouldn’t stop at gathering its content from just one game.
Scarlet and Violet are the most recent mainline games in the series, and possibly the most innovative entry thus far. With all the advancements those games made in map style, non-linear story, and varied character motivations, it can be easy to overlook one of its less prominent inclusions. Since it took place partially at a Pokemon academy, the player could take classes and build a relationship with Pokemon Scarlet and Violet's teachers. Completing each teacher's storyline would reward the player with various items or Pokemon, giving them an incentive to be diligent in their studies. With the emphasis that the Pokemon series has always placed on making connections with others, this system deserves a chance to grow in Pokemon Legends: Z-A.
Pokemon Legends: Z-A is Already Leaving the Door Open for Clear DLC Options
With the setting of Pokemon Legends: Z-A practically confirmed, the upcoming title's scale could indicate a new release plan following its launch.
Pokemon Legends: Z-A Needs a Friendship System
A major theme across the Pokemon series is the idea of the player forming connections to their Pokemon, and to a lesser extent, to other trainers. Even from the earliest games, inclusions like trade evolutions encouraged players to interact with other people with the goal of helping friendships grow. The later inclusion of certain Pokemon evolving through friendship levels strengthened the bond between players and their Pokemon. This is an idea that the series would return to from time to time, but nothing has made that theme work with other humans in the way the teacher/student relationship did in Scarlet and Violet. Moving forward, Pokemon Legends: Z-A has a chance to take that framework and expand its scope.
Since Legends: Z-A will be taking place entirely within Lumiose City, some players have worried that the smaller scope of the map will make gameplay stale. Allowing the player to form friendships with certain NPCs would provide them with an extra activity to ensure a variety of ways to interact with the people around them. This could also play well into the game’s main quest of redesigning the city. Lumiose city is full of locations that should return in Legends: Z-A, but those locations would need a purpose. Using familiar landmarks of the city as a place to hang out with NPCs could become an important part of the city’s redevelopment.
Pokemon is All About Friendship
A Legends game taking place in Kalos even has the perfect potential characters for the player to befriend. One of Legends Arceus' standout inclusions were the ancestor characters. Since that game took place in the past, it took full advantage of that setting by introducing characters whose descendants players have already met. Characters like gym leaders and villains from previous games were given new attention by the introduction of their ancestors. If Legends: Z-A takes place in the future, which it looks like it might, it would have a similar opportunity to create descendant characters. New relatives of past characters in Pokemon Legends: Z-A are already a popular fan theory, so giving fans a chance to truly befriend such characters would be a wish come true.
As for which character's descendants the player would meet, Kalos comes with some great candidates built right in. Pokemon X and Y explored connections by having the player set out on their adventure as part of a small group. Characters like Shauna and Tierno were introduced specifically to become friends of the player. The idea might not have hit the heights Game Freak hoped for, but now it has a chance to try again with their children or grandchildren. Of course, more villain or gym leader descendants are welcome as well. Sitting under a brand new Lumiose Tower and becoming friends with new characters that have a history might be the perfect advertisement for Pokemon Legends: Z-A.
Pokemon Legends Z-A
- Released
- 2025
- ESRB
- e
- Developer(s)
- Game Freak
The sequel to Pokemon Legends: Arceus, Pokemon Legends: Z-A takes Pokemon trainers back to the Kalos region's Lumiose City.
