"Pokémon Legends: Z-A" brings a breath of fresh air to the dusty "Pokémon" landscape with a revamped battle system and new mega evolutions. However, it doesn't change much - for better or for worse.
Always the same with every «Pokémon» release. Outdated technology, annoying design decisions, missed potential - as is the case with «Pokémon Legends: Z-A».
Despite this, as a long-time «Pokémon» fan, I still enjoy collecting the cute pocket monsters and pitting them against each other in battles. Now even in real time!
The entire plot of «Pokémon Legends: Z-A» takes place in the city of Illumina City. It is located in the heart of the Kalos region, the setting for the editions «X and Y». The 3DS games were released in 2013 and introduced one of the series' most popular features to date: mega evolutions.
The special forms return in «Legends: Z-A» not only return, but are once again at the centre of the action.
At the start of the game, all I really want to do is go on holiday in Illumina City. Thanks to a thieving Pam-Pam, I'm immediately involved in a little adventure that brings me together with Alton (if you're playing a boy: Zita). He then takes me to the Hotel Z and wants me to take part in the «Z-A Royale» with him and his troupe. It's the tournament that gets the whole city in an uproar with its fantastic rewards for winning.
But more on that in a moment, because it's not all peace, joy and pancakes in Illumina City.
Alton sets up the «Team MZ» with the aim of reaching the top of the Z-A Royale. However, the group quickly turns into helpers in times of need: they are called up early on during my adventures in Illumina City to take care of the Megamania Pokémon that have gone wild. As a new member, I'm coming along too, of course.
The affected pocket monsters evolve into their Mega form against their will. This is painful for the Pokémon and dangerous for the townspeople. That's why I only have one choice: I make use of Mega Evolution myself and defeat the monsters to put them out of their misery. Of course, I don't kill them, I just stop their mega-evolution by defeating them.
The story of «Z-A» revolves around the tournament, the Megamania developments and the fate of Illumina City. If you've played «X and Y», the new «Legends» spin-off rewards you with references to familiar characters, just like the «Arceus» predecessor before it.
A new cast is also involved in Illumina City. I like the colourful mix because, compared to the previous games, they stick in my mind thanks to their strong personalities. But it's hardly ever really profound or poignant.
Illumina City unfortunately feels a bit empty and soulless as a location. I run after dots on the map and the side quests also largely consist of just three types: 1. Pokémon battles, 2. catching/showing certain Pokémon and 3. going to location X.
Sometimes the side quests shine with charming stories. But they are comparatively limited. I don't feel like exploring Illumina City at the first attempt. I run back and forth between the errands. I don't even want to stop to take in the game world - and that's not just down to the graphics.
During my adventures, my focus is always on planning my team around the mega developments. That means: Of course I want as many mega beasts as possible in my team! This in turn helps me with the Z-A Royale.
It's a clever idea from the developers to build a tournament format into the game. It immediately makes you want to fight your way to the top. I start at Z-rank and have to reach A-rank. There, the fulfilment of any wish beckons (within the realms of possibility, of course) and spurs the participants on.
The tournament has an entertaining structure: Battle sectors spring up at random locations in the city at night. Trainers walk around looking for opponents. If I defeat the competition, I get points. As soon as I reach a certain number of points, a promotion match awaits me. This takes place against a specific trainer, who often plays a role in the story. If I defeat this person, I am officially promoted one rank - and the loop starts all over again.
Collecting points in the battles against the trainers is made easier by certain cards that I find in the battle sectors. I receive bonus points for carrying out prescribed actions. Examples include using five ground attacks or defeating a Pokémon with a single attack.
The tournament also uses game mechanics from the «Legends» series. As with wild Pokémon, I can sneak up on the trainers to perform the first ambush attack with my pocket monster. This gives me the first move in battle and thus a strategic advantage.
With or without an advantage - I love getting into the battles of «Pokémon Legends: Z-A». Unlike in the main games or the «Legends» predecessor «Arceus», the battles here take place in real time. For a franchise that has relied on turn-based battles for almost 30 years, this works surprisingly well.
I use the directional buttons to select my Pokémon, send them into battle or pull them back. When one of my monsters is on the field, I use the shoulder button to display its attacks. As usual, I have four attacks at my disposal. Instead of selecting one of them per round, the attacks now have cooldowns.
Because the battles now take place in real time, I benefit from my accumulated knowledge about the effectiveness of attacks. At the same time, I imagine this is more challenging for newcomers because the attacks and their effectiveness are no longer conveniently displayed in the battle menu.
A little tip to give you some breathing space during battles: If your Pokémon is not currently attacking, you can still use the X button to call up the menu to use items. This pauses the battle. Phew, breathing space.
When I combine the exciting real-time mechanics with the mega evolutions and my own evasion options, I am faced with a dynamic battle system. This brings variety to the dusty «Pokémon» series.
With the «Z-A Battle Club», the game also offers a dedicated online mode. Here I compete against three human players
The 4-on-4 mode lasts three minutes. During this time, I can battle against real trainers with three Pokémon. I can replace my active Pokémon three times - my monsters' damage does not regenerate on the bench. In addition, if one of my Pokémon is defeated, my opponent receives a point and I have to wait a few seconds before I can rejoin the battle with a fully healed team.
For me, the mode is a nice addition to the game that reveals the potential and weaknesses of the new combat system.
On the one hand, the battles are more dynamic than ever. My positioning becomes important. On the other hand, a round can also be very frustrating if the other players focus on me because I have the most points. It's logical - but annoying, because I'm not used to the AI being so clever at my expense.
Also annoying: Mega Stones for three pocket monsters are hidden as a reward in this online mode. In other words, without the paid online membership, I am denied access to three Mega evolutions and therefore game content.
But it gets worse: even before the game was released, Nintendo announced «Mega-Dimension», a paid expansion for half the full price. This includes outfits, additional story content and even more mega developments. The game may therefore have been designed with additional paid content right from the start.
The story of the main game comes to a satisfying end without an expansion and there are new Mega forms too. Nevertheless, I can't help but feel cheated of content. Especially because the «Mega Dimensions» DLC is already on sale. The expansion will be released in two waves: The additional outfits are available from release, with all other content coming sometime later. So why does the trailer for the DLC prominently advertise the additional content, only to point out in the small print afterwards that it won't all be coming at the same time?
The criticism leads to the obligatory technology discussion, which has been boiling up with every new «Pokémon» game since the Switch generation at the latest.
Even the slightly better Switch 2 version looks like a relic from video game times gone by in many places. The graphics on Nintendo's latest console have weaknesses such as flat building walls with textures that don't even interlock cleanly in all places.
In addition, the game still has no voice acting - despite animated cutscenes in which the characters move their mouths to subtitles.
It's also annoying that most actions involve a small wait. For example, if I want to interact with obstacles scattered around the city - destroying stones lying around, burning bushes, things like that - I always have to wait a short moment. Because numerous games from less successful franchises already achieve a better quality of life, I would like to see the same convenience for Pokémon.
«Pokémon Legends: Z-A» is available for Nintendo Switch and Switch 2. I tested the Switch 2 version, which was provided to me by Nintendo.
We are giving away a nice merch package for the game. Consisting of: 3 pins, a cap, an umbrella, a sticker and a set of postcards. To win the goodies, answer the following question in the form: Which starter Pokémon did you choose in "Legends: Z-A" and why (alternatively: which one will you choose and why?)
"Legends: Z-A", like so many "Pokémon" games, is causing a stir and the reasons for this are the same as always. The technology was already a step ahead in the penultimate console generation and interesting content is hidden behind Day 1 DLCs that are announced before release. And yet I'm still delighted that one of my favourite Pokémon, [Pixi], has been given a new evolution.
"Pokémon Legends: Z-A" doesn't do much new despite a fun real-time battle system and fresh mega evolutions. After years of drought, as a fan I'm delighted with the new game fodder and don't regret my time with it at all. However, I also understand the people who don't want to spend any more money when they see the next game with questionable (design) decisions.
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I wrote my first text about video games when I was eight years old. I haven't been able to stop since. The rest of my time is spent on my love for 2D husbandos, monsters, my cats and sport.
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