Pokémon Legends Z-A: An evolution that changes the rules

Pokémon is about to turn 30. And in that time, we have seen how the franchise has evolved, first on portable devices, showing its first glimpses of 3D with some spin-offs, following the basis of collecting what are now more than 1,000 pocket monsters. Now it’s the turn of Pokémon Legends: Z-A, a title that brings with it one of the most significant changes to the franchise, along with the return of one of the mechanics that had the biggest impact on the game just over a decade ago. But what is the experience like?

Welcome back to Kalos

Pokémon Legends Z-A is an action RPG that puts us in the role of a young trainer who arrives in Lumiose City, the largest and most iconic city in Kalos, a region we first encountered about 12 years ago in Pokémon X & Y. The city is undergoing reconstruction by Quasartico Inc., in an effort to turn it into a place where humans and Pokémon can coexist in harmony. Upon arrival, you are taken to Hotel Z, owned by the mysterious A.Z., and join Team MZ to participate in Z-A Battles at night. However, something threatens the region: Rogue Mega-Evolved Pokémon that are undergoing uncontrolled Mega Evolutions, transforming without a bond with a trainer.

As in previous installments, you must capture and train your Pokémon. They can be found in Wild Areas—special areas throughout the city where they live freely—although you can also find them on rooftops or in alleys. As the story progresses, the Wild Areas expand, increasing the variety and allowing you to find Pokémon in environments that, although not their natural habitats, allow them to move freely.

One of the details I enjoyed most was its connection to the past. Returning to Lumiose City and reconnecting with some characters I met more than a decade ago was something that really struck a chord of nostalgia. Although it’s not a detail that everyone will enjoy, finding those references to X & Y throughout the game, and even to Pokémon Legends: Arceus, was more than rewarding.

The city that never sleeps

One of the areas where Pokémon Legends: Z-A takes a step forward is by revamping the concept of combat. For starters, turn-based combat has been completely abandoned in favor of something closer to a free-roaming action RPG with a combat area where Pokémon and trainers can move freely. The Pokémon on your team still adhere to the classic rules, with a maximum of four moves and the classic system of advantages and resistances that have been part of the franchise since its inception. Now, attacks depend on the main buttons on our controller. Once used, they will have a recharge time before they can be activated again. While one of those moves may be recharging, you can select another of the available moves, making these battles even faster, more spectacular, and more intense. An important thing to note here is that Pokémon will no longer forget moves, allowing you to combine what they learn as they level up, adding an extra layer to the decisions you must make as a trainer when building your team.

The game is divided into two stages, with the clock ticking away. During the day, you can explore Lumiose City, meet its people, and discover its restaurants and places of interest. This is the time to go to the wild areas to catch Pokémon or help people throughout the city who will ask you to bring them a Pokémon or have a battle. You can also complete missions assigned by the local laboratory to obtain items and moves for your Pokémon. Similarly, you can walk around and go into shops to change your clothes and accessories or hairstyles or even have a drink with one of your Pokémon in the many cafés throughout the city.

Everything changes when night falls and Z-A Royale begins. At dusk, the Z-A Battle Club on the map will be locked so that competitors can enter and face each other. Here, you’ll need to accumulate points to obtain a pass that allows you to challenge another competitor to move up in rank. To achieve this, you need to be strategic in two ways. On one hand, you can avoid the trainers’s sight and try to launch the first attack to catch them off guard. On the other hand, you will have to collect tickets with very specific missions that will allow you to accumulate more points. Along with these tickets, you can also obtain holocoins that will help you increase your money. These battles take place throughout the night, so when the sun rises, the area will disappear, and the results of your night of combat will be delivered.

As in Pokémon Legends: Arceus, accessing our equipment is much easier, even allowing some of our Pokémon to accompany us on our journey. This is also useful, as Lumiose City is full of objects that our Pokémon can destroy, whether they be rocks, dry vines, or even familiar crystals from which we can obtain Mega Fragments and, with them, the Mega Stones needed to evolve our Pokémon to their maximum potential. This mechanic is back and gives certain Pokémon greater strength and attack power. This is very useful, as at certain points in the story we will encounter Rogue Mega-Evolved, leading to truly complicated battles where we will not only have to take care of our Pokémon’s health, but also that of our character, as enemy attacks can also affect us.

Not everything shines in Lumiose City

However, not everything in Lumiose City is so full of change. Once again, Pokémon gives us a title that, visually, despite certain improvements, falls short. Since Game Freak released Pokémon Sword & Shield, it seems that the leap to full 3D has been difficult. Although Pokémon Legends: Z-A performs better than Scarlet & Violet, there are details that, even as a fan of the franchise since its inception, are difficult to ignore. Flat textures when a higher level of detail could be provided, character pop-ups, and although it is not a fundamental part of the game, it does detract from the experience by exposing the player to elements that end up distracting them, breaking the immersion that a video game can deliver. Beyond the fact that it is a game that looks bad, it once again falls into a point where it is not visually consistent.

In terms of performance, my experience was on a Nintendo Switch, and I must say that it wasn’t as bad as I expected. Certainly, it’s not the most optimal version compared to the stable 60 fps, higher resolution, and better textures found in the Nintendo Switch 2 version. However, it feels quite stable, and although it runs at 30 fps and there are some character pop-up details as you progress through the city, it’s a decent version.

Pokémon Legends: Z-A represents an important step in the evolution of the franchise, although it is not without its flaws. Its focus on real-time action, the return of Mega Evolutions, and the urban setting of Lumiose City refresh the formula with notable successes. However, Game Freak continues to face the technical challenges that have accompanied its latest releases. Despite improvements in performance and stability, the visual presentation remains uneven, with flat textures and a level of detail that contrasts with the ambition of its proposal. Overall, Pokémon Legends: Z-A is a solid installment that delivers what fans expect in terms of the connection between trainer and Pokémon, although it makes it clear that the series can still aspire to more.

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