Z-A – (Nintendo Switch 2)
Lumiose City awaits new and returning trainers in Pokémon Legends: Z-A. As somebody who started playing Pokémon games relatively late, with 2013’s Pokémon Y, I was excited to revisit and see this city translated to HD on bigger screens. I was even more excited to see the Legends sub-series continue.
For better or worse, Legends: Z-A keeps you within the city limits. It’s not an open-world game, but it is an open metropolis one. How “thriving” the city is by contemporary standards is debatable. But certainly compared to its 3DS origins, there’s a good amount here. Thankfully, Lumiose is no longer troubled by subpar camera angles either. This improvement goes a long way towards making the game’s visual shortcomings seem minor.
Like past Pokémon games, Legends: Z-A does not prioritize visuals. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a fine-looking title, especially if playing in handheld mode, but this isn’t a Switch 2 game that will wow you on a big screen television. While clean and well-lit, it doesn’t look like something the original Switch couldn’t do with Pokémon. In fact, it does, as this is a cross-platform release. That said, anyone comparing this to PS2-era graphics should have their eyes (and possibly heads) examined. The resolution, vibrant colors, and improvements to framerate and load times that Switch 2 brings should satisfy all but the most jaded Pokémon fans who value graphics above gameplay. And the beautiful music is above reproach.
The gameplay is a proven winner, and Legends: Z-A tweaks it in fun ways. One of my issues with older Pokémon games was how every battle felt drawn out and sluggish. Legends: Z-A continues the recent effort to speed things up by introducing real-time battles. You and your Pokémon team (mine led by starter Totodile) can move within a limited radius. And Pokémon can be swapped out with barely a blink of the eye (be mindful of letting animations finish to limit any feeling of a delayed response). The approach might take some initial adjustment, but various wild zones scattered about the city will allow you to quickly get a handle on it. Urban redevelopers designed said zones so the growing Pokémon population could live comfortably amidst the city. Additional wild zones get introduced the further you progress through the main tale, and are fast-paced and strategic.
The plot has you ostensibly trying to climb the ranks of the Z-A Royale competition to drum up business for Hotel Z, a lodging struggling to attract guests, tucked in a hard-to-reach alley of the city. Structurally, this design slightly resembles the tradition of earning badges from gym fights. But while the latter format could get repetitive and stale (even more so for long-time series fans), here it comes off fresh, thanks to better pacing, much more variety, and emphasis on story beats. I won’t dare spoil anything, but don’t expect the first few competition matches to be reflective of the later ones. Engagement is consistent.
To even qualify for a ranked match, you must acquire enough points in a battle zone to earn a ticket. Battle Zones appear at night, as Lumiose City transforms with other trainers seeking the same outcome as you. Fighting through these reminds me of working your way from town to town in older games. Except it’s a much less linear process. A lot of fun comes from seeing a trainer wandering about one path, and realizing you can stealthily sneak up on them and strike early by taking a different path. Once you’ve hit the point goal, it maxes out until your fight, so don’t think you can sprint through battles and grind your way through multiple ranks quickly. You will keep earning currency, though, which is always addictive and useful.
Besides battling your way through the story (which soon gives way to rogue mega evolved Pokémon and the mystery of Prism Tower), Legends: Z-A has entertaining side quests galore that send you all over the city. Many of the people milling about the streets of Lumiose will want to battle you, for various reasons. Some also have more puzzle-type requests for a welcome change of pace. These add a lot of playtime and rewards.
Alphas (high-level) Pokémon also return, providing a real challenge. They’re not just in wild zones either, something I quickly discovered as I started stumbling upon them during my back alleys and rooftop scampers. While Legends: Z-A retains my favorite feature of Legends: Arceus (catching Pokémon sans battle with a well-timed throw), this does not apply to Alphas. Expect a tough, but rewarding fight.
Returning to Lumiose City as a whole, it’s not as small as you might think. Yes, you run across it reasonably quickly, and the number of buildings you can enter is a tad limited for my liking (although they increase in time). But navigating (and eventually gliding over) the rooftops grows in fun and proves integral to your adventure. You’ll even roam the sewers, accessing parts of the city you couldn’t previously. If you’re a completionist, there’s more than enough to occupy your time in this city under urban redevelopment with a gradually filling map. This map can guide (or warp) you to your next key destination, but it can also be put out of your mind if you want to be distracted trying to fill your pokedex. Not to mention the time you can spend shopping for outfits and other things. Many surprises await.
Of course, you aren’t just looking to fill your pokedex, although Legends: Z-A does a better job of making me want to do so than any game prior. You’ll meet people in your travels who you’ll help, and who will help you. These allies are a bit of a mixed lot, and I admit that in early game hours, I identified them by things unrelated to character development. Emma is the tight pants-wearing detective. Naveen is the fashion designer with a resting sulk face. Corbeau is the dude with Hunger Games attire. And so forth. Still, each major player eventually has a chance to shine (no spoilers), and I give credit for that.
I’m not nuts about $30 DLC on an already $70 game. I hope the start of it will account for players’ experience. The first couple of hours of this main game are hand-holdy. A valid complaint (one of a few), but in the end, it’s all about as far from a dealbreaker as possible. I’m focused not on ultimately minor stuff like this, but on the sheer fun I’m having. I hope many players can think similarly, and not rob themselves of a fun time.
If you prioritize up-to-the-minute aesthetics, Pokémon Legends: Z-A — and arguably any title in the series — isn’t for you. Still, I can’t deny how much fun I’ve had playing this game. Its addictiveness triumphs over any minor issues. Real-time battles and entertaining side quests shine in Lumiose City. Launching at $70 with $30 of DLC might give some pause. But if you have a spouse or kids who will play this one too, the value is there, with dozens of hours of thoroughly satisfying adventuring. Don’t miss this release.
