Return to the shining lights of Lumiose City in “Pokémon Legends: Z-A” where the urban cityscape meets the natural wonder of the Pokémon world. Explore parts of the city in new ways and experience a new take on old places and Pokémon.
The game has players return to the Kalos region, first seen in 2013’s “Pokémon X and Pokémon Y,” inspired by real-world France. The game takes place in Lumiose City which is specifically inspired by Paris.
Like with any game, especially Pokémon ones, there are both good and bad aspects for players to experience. Let’s start with what worked well.
“Pokémon Legends: Z-A” is gorgeous, full of color and rich urban landscapes. Lumiose City feels alive, and is brimming with people and Pokémon at every turn. Not only that, but the characters feel authentic, using realistic phrases that feel very Parisian and European-inspired.
Such phrases include N’est-ce pas?, meaning “isn’t it so?” or “right?” often used at the end of a sentence and “Ouaf!” which is the French equivalent of “woof” and is used in the dialogue of the Pokémon Furfrou.
Some characters have typical traits of Parisians. One good example is Naveen, a member of the player’s character’s team squad but is often dismissive and stand off ish but his heart is in the right place. I really appreciated the nuance of the character.
This is a big step up from previous Pokémon games in which the characters and non-player characters (NPCs) felt generic as they were written in global English rather than a specific region. Furthermore, the characters are authentically diverse, representing a range of ethnic backgrounds and identities. It feels like a real European city.
Another standout is the gender expression possible in this game. From hairstyles to clothing and customization options, you can really build your dream self or character. Clothing and hairstyles are no longer tied to gender so your character’s design can truly be more reflective of your identity.
This allows for authentic world-building and character immersion for a more enjoyable experience.
Longtime Kalos fans will also appreciate the callbacks sprinkled throughout the game. My favorite of these are the various Team Flare members found around the city. Of these, Professor Mable, formerly an admin in Team Flare, the antagonist of “Pokémon X and Y,” has reinvented herself as the director of the Pokémon Research Lab.
She’s a highlight of the game: clever, approachable and actually useful, offering rewards, such as Technical Machines (TMs) and experience candy, and Poké Balls for catching Pokémon. Seeing her shift from a minor antagonist to a main protagonist and overall fun character is one of Z-A’s most interesting additions.
Also, a pair of former grunts which were low level enemies from Team Flare run a coffee truck. The menu has cute fire based names and has a unique touch.
It’s called Nouveau Café, which serves drinks like:Ember Roast, Flamethrower Roast, Fire Blast Roast and Burn Up Roast. All of these drinks are named after fire type Pokemon moves.
Now for the issues with the game. While it was enjoyable, there were still moments that felt difficult and not very enjoyable that caused me to stop playing
.The biggest issue is the real-time combat system. I found it loathsome and physically painful to interact with.
The problem lies in the fast-paced nature of battles with features like lock-on targeting and dodging. The issue with these features is that they did not feel like they were designed for players with joint and hand issues. At times I had to put the game down because my hand had a muscle spasm.
In order to attack, you have to be locked on the target. Oftentimes, I found it difficult to target the right figure and at times I would accidentally switch to another target mid fight.
The combat system from “Pokémon Legends: Arceus” from 2022 was much easier because it didn’t force players out of attacking if their hand slipped. I definitely think the game designers should go back to the drawing board for this one, and redesign “Pokémon Legends: Z-A” with player accessibility in mind.
Visually and narratively, the story has its memorable moments, but the main plot felt dry at times. Getting through the first few missions was sluggish and a tedious experience because of the many tutorials and not many options to skip for seasoned players.
The next issue was the pay wall. Many exciting elements such as mega stones — which are items in the game that help certain pokemon unlock greater power — for the original starter Pokemon (Delphox, Greninja and Chesnaught) are locked behind online battling. In order to participate in the online battles, one must pay for the Nintendo Switch Online subscription.
A Nintendo Switch Online individual membership costs $19.99 per year, while a family membership is $34.99 per year.
Not having them available for free in-game is a mistake for players who’ve been waiting 12 years to see these Pokémon be able to mega evolve, through the mega stones, within the region that started the phenomenon of mega evolution.
Furthermore the company is taking advantage of players by continuing to revoke access to features that are typically included in Pokémon games, such as basic online functions. Pokémon was built on the idea of connection, with friends coming together to play and trade. By continuing the increase of pay walls the creators are only tarnishing this spirit.
To top it off, the creators even introduced paid downloadable content (DLC) before the launch, a move that feels driven by corporate greed.
Overall, “Pokémon Legends: Z-A” excels visually and with character design and customization. While the issues with pacing and paid content can be glaring, the new mega evolutions and exploration make them more bearable. I just wish the map was bigger so players could explore more of Kalos on the Nintendo Switch. If you can put up with the issues then this game could be fun for you.
The “Mega Dimension” DLC, is releasing on Feb. 28. While a bit annoying because players will have to pay extra for it, the promise of new Mega Evolutions is exciting. Only time will tell if it’s worth the price.
