February 27th is Pokemon Day, and that meant it was time to get new information on things from The Pokemon Company at the aptly named Pokemon Presents events. The event has ended, and the company decided that it was best to end things with a true first look at Pokemon Legends Z-A. From the get-go, you can tell that things are incredibly beautiful and vibrant, mixing the visual aesthetics of the previous two entries in the franchise. More specifically, the visuals of Gen 9 and the Arceus spinoff. It creates a unique look that works in the setting of Lumiose City.
Speaking of which, as noted before, Lumiose City is indeed the setting for the game, and you are a trainer who starts out by going to the city for some “sightseeing” but gets wrapped up in so much more. That’s because the city is going through a redevelopment plan, one that is creating “wild zones” for people and Pokemon to go to so that they can be “more connected” with one another. It’s in these zones that you’ll be able to battle and catch wild Pokemon to grow your Pokedex.
To that end, the game brings three more classic Poke-starters to the mix for you to choose from. This time around, you’ll get to choose from Chikorita, Tepig, or Totodile. Choose wisely!
Going back to the redevelopment plan, there will be plenty of people to meet in Lumiose City that are helping the plan go forward, including the return of AZ, who now heads up a hotel with his partner Pokemon, Floette.
A key change that’s happening in Pokemon Legends Z-A is within the battle system. This time around, you’ll actually be able to guide your Pokemon around the battlefield and help them dodge attacks while dodging them yourself, all the while ensuring that the attacks you choose have the range to defeat your opponents. It very much makes the battles feel more like the anime fights, where things are far more dynamic and fluid.
There were some key teases in the mix as well, including the role of Zygarde in the game, as we saw two of its “Cell Forms” in the trailer. We also saw a Rotom appear at the end, teasing a “Promotional Match,” indicating that there’s far more going on in Lumiose City than previously thought.
The final main announcement was that the game would arrive in “Late 2025,” and while not confirmed, this would indicate that the game won’t just be coming to Nintendo Switch, but the Switch 2.
