October has come, and along with it, a decent amount of monster collection games, with Digimon and Pokémon dropping games within in weeks of each other. Pokémon Legends: Z-A focuses less on the world this time and moves back to Pokémon and what is Mega Evolution.
Story:
The story goes back to a future Lumiose City from the Kalos region. Developments have been going on and a lot of holographic technology is being used, which may have attracted unwanted attention from certain species of Pokémon. Running parallel to this is Lumiose City’s Z-A Royale, a battle royale in which rank A trainers can make a wish and it can be fulfilled in-game. The plot is simple to understand, which is something Pokémon does well. Without talking spoilers, the story moves forward as an unnamed protagonist enters Lumiose by train and is thrust into the world.
Side Quests:
Pokémon uses side quests to expand on the story with mentions of events happening alongside the main story. Players can get more starters such as Charmander or Froakie to add to their teams by taking time to engage with them. These are just a few of the features of side quests in the game. White circles with blue pop up as players progress the game.
Art:
This is some of the weaker art Pokémon has put out in years. The art isn’t complex and doesn’t try to stand out. Pokémon looks great and that is where the art shines on Switch 2. The trainer looks about how the models looked for Scarlet and Violet, but a bit higher quality. The Wild Zones can be interesting at times, with variations of the 20 mini maps being things like an ice park or a cemetery for players to catch Pokémon.
Wild Zones:
Wild Zones are a selection of zones that are reserved for players to catch Pokémon. They have a green hologram around the area. There are three of these at the start of the game, and more are added (up to 20) as more parts of the city are unblocked.
Z-A Royal, Ranked Matches, Hotel ZA, and Team ZA:
Hotel ZA the player’s base and Team ZA are player’s teammates for the Z-A Royal. The Z-A Royal is a battle royal in a red grid map that appears at night where players can fight other trainers and get medals and points. Cards randomly appear to which players are given quests. Once the required points are collected, a ranked match happens. Ranked matches affect player placement inside the tournament and the level in which Pokémon will listen to trainers.
Combat:
Pokémon is moving to an ATB (Active Time Battle) system akin to “Final Fantasy.” Players hit ZL and then chose one of four moves based on A, B, Y, X. The right stick is used to Mega Evolve Pokémon. Mega Pokémon have plus move they can use. A doge rolling move was added because Pokémon can now attack players. Players hit Y to roll past attacks. Three hits will cause trainers to faint.
Online:
“Pokémon Z-A” has an online mode for trading and battling. Mystery gifts return with a Ralts being one of the first gifts Nintendo has released alongside a code for 100 Pokéballs.
Private battling and trading happen with a private code and players search for others with that code.
Catching Pokémon:
This is one mechanic that has not really changed much. Holding ZR allows players to toss pokéballs at Pokémon in and out of battle. Canari plushies help to increase catch rates. A ^ will indicate how many tries trainers have to catch them after so many the Pokémon will get angry or run off. Trainers can catch knocked out Pokémon before they faint. This change to Catching is only for Z-A at the moment.
Alpha Pokémon and Rogue Mega Pokémon:
Inside the Wild Zones there are Alpha Pokémon which can be caught and given rewards for beating them. These Pokémon are vastly more powerful and can attack players and Pokémon. Rogue Mega Pokémon are a story feature which allow the player to get mega stones for select Pokémon that have progressed into a rogue state of forced Mega Evolution. These are story battle unlike Alpha Pokémon.
Mable Requests, the Pokédex, and Mega Pokédex:
Professor Mable has a series of requests that get harder over time and need to be completed for trainers to get moves and even the Master Ball. These are sections like catch a certain number of X type of Pokémon or catch all the Pokémon in Wild Zone 10. These sections add to the replayablity of the game. The Pokédex is broken into a normal Pokédex and one for all the Pokémon that can Mega Evolve.
The Pokémon Center, Cafés, and Canari plush:
The Pokémon Center is tucked away inside certain buildings it comes with a store inside it and ball finder which will go out and get all the lost Pokeballs players use. Cafés are used to help friendship Pokémon evolve as these places could be food trucks selling coffee, actual restaurants or just small cafés where players can hang out with certain Pokémon. Around three trips allow for Pokémon to evolve with friendship evolve specifics. A soothe bell is needed to make best use of cafés. Canari plushies are items traded for getting colorful screws which can be found in the overworld of Lumiose City. Racine Construction does the exchange for players. These different colored plush dolls do different things like adding XP-increasing effects and higher catch rates.
Racine Construction and Quasartico Inc.:
Racine Construction do construction work around Lumiose City such as adding more Wild Zones or adding and working on lifts. Lifts allow players to get to the roof to which they can jump across and float with the A bottom by doing a Roto Glide. This is another new feature to Z-A. Quasartico Inc is the big company running Lumiose City where players can buy mega stones.
Mega Shards and overworld usage of moves:
Mega Shards are shards collected from breaking Mega Crystal chunks which can be traded for actual stones. Pokémon can break rocks, burn weeds and roots, and wash away poison on the map with certain moves specific to the type needed.
Final thoughts:
“Pokémon Z-A” feels like it changes the dynamic of the series just enough to make up for the short comings of Scarlet and Violet. Overall, more things could have been done to improve the game, but it is fun for the time invested.
Grade: B-
