Pokemon Legends: Z-A will be here in a few months, and fans can’t wait to get their hands on this one. It’s only the second game in the series, but fans already have high hopes for this one after Legends: Arceus impressed everyone on Switch, and even if the graphics aren’t great, what we’ve seen of Legends: Z-A looks great.
Two games in, and it already feels like this sub-series has hit the ground running with momentum. Because of everything we’ve seen so far, we think it’s not too bold to say that the Pokemon Legends series might be this franchise’s best spinoff series. Fans of the Mystery Dungeon and Colosseum games might have words with us, but hear me out.
One City and One Goal
Rather than getting gym badges and winning the Pokemon League, Pokemon Legends: Z-A has players taking part in a not-so-secret tournament that happens every night in Lumiose City. This is the only city players will be visiting, but it will be made lively with the various wild Pokemon and the more active battles that are new to this franchise.
Similarly, Legends: Arceus only took place in one city, but did have various open areas to explore and wild Pokemon to catch or battle. Arceus is more about completing the Pokedex, while Z-A is more about being the best battler, but the focus on a core aspect of the series sets them apart from the main games.
Progression Is up to You
The recent trailer for Pokemon Legends: Z-A revealed that you can capture all the critters you want by day, then take part in the massive Z-A royale by night. Because it’s up to the player when they want to progress to the next story beat, it adds a layer of freedom that we can all appreciate. Most mainline Pokemon games limit you to your main objective, aside from Scarlet and Violet, so choosing when to progress feels fresh.
Legends: Arceus was all about capturing Pokemon, but things didn’t progress until you talked with your professor or took part in the main objective. Being able to catch Pokemon and decide when to progress in your own terms was oddly relaxing, somewhat making this entry feel like a “cozy” game. We wouldn’t call this Animal Crossing, but we’re sure some players prefer it over that signature Nintendo franchise.
Classic Pokemon in a Different Way
Most Pokemon spinoff titles put the franchise in a different genre, usually to mixed results. What makes the Legends series special is that it takes one core aspect of that familiar Pokemon gameplay and makes it the focus, which feels fresh. It’s weird because something like Legends: Arceus shouldn’t feel that different from a normal Pokemon game, but that central focus on one specific gameplay loop is enough to get that feeling.
It will be interesting to see if a third Legends game can do something entirely different. Now that Pokemon Legends: Z-A is more of the battler, and Legends: Arceus is the catcher, we wonder what a third entry will be like. Could it focus on trading? Exploration? More catching and battling? We’ll have to wait and see.
For more Pokemon features, stick with us here at Gfinityesports.com: the best website for Poke fans.