With better attention to detail, “Legends: Z-A” could have been one of the best Pokémon games.
In 2013, the launch of “Pokémon X and Y” introduced the Mega Evolution gimmick, which allows the player to transform their Pokémon for a drastic stat boost temporarily. “Legends Z-A” revisits the old concept in a new light, with new Mega Evolution designs and further developing its story in Lumiose City.
The game introduces a new system, departing from the traditional 1 vs. 1 turn-based format of Pokémon, allowing you and your Pokémon to move around and use multiple attacks simultaneously. It encourages players to use their environment to their advantage while planning out their next combo. But don’t think you’re safe in the wild zone, as wild Pokémon will now target you.
Rather than walking into a path and meeting eyes with a trainer to start a battle, the game encourages players to sneak up behind them. The game is based around a royale system, where areas appear at night, and you can fight trainers. Level up in the ranking system to prove that you are, in fact, the very best that no one ever was.
Although it feels like the tutorial gets longer with each generation of Pokémon game, after finally finishing the tutorial, the world is your Cloyster to explore. The game introduces many new characters with stunning designs and side stories to flesh out the world. With over 100 side quests in the main game and more to come with the DLC, “Z-A” has a lot of content to be explored. Each side quest feels like you become a part of the city, with some quests unlocking secret eye and hair colors.
For the first time, players can wear clothes from either gender. No more wishing that you had picked the opposite gender just to get more clothing variety.
However, the game’s high price tag comes with a few lackluster qualities. Some of the newer Mega Evolution designs feel low effort and don’t capture the same vibes as the older ones. Many people online complain that Mega Starmie is just a stretched-out version of the regular Pokémon. But the game does offer stunning designs like Mega Hawlucha and Mega Froslass, letting more of the design influence shine through.
Not only that, running around in the world for quite some time, the buildings start to feel flat and dull. Some users found that there are certain buildings that are just floating. Someone noted that the entire perimeter of Lumiose City could be traversed in under seven minutes. People have also found bugs that let you clip into the floor and fall into the void.
The lack of polish holds the game back from being an innovative and fresh take on the Pokémon format. But, if you care more about gameplay and story than graphics, “Legends: Z-A” might just be the Pokémon game for you.
