The Pokémon franchise has spent recent years searching for a new identity, experimenting with different formulas to refresh its classic structure. The Legends subseries, which began with Arceus, emerged as the most promising attempt to redefine the future of the saga and Pokémon Legends Z-A continues down that path, though not without missteps.
This new entry introduces a real-time combat system, allowing players to send Pokémon into battle freely within a 3D space while the trainer moves around the field as well. This setup encourages dodging attacks and taking a more strategic approach, moving away from the traditional turn-based formula. Additionally, Raid battles have been replaced by oversized Mega Evolutions, acting as boss fights that add a more cinematic flair to combat.
However, the most notable change is the shift from an open world to a massive city as the main setting. While the city is large, its urban design can feel confusing at first, and its visual direction lacks the variety needed to keep things fresh.
The core Pokémon experience remains intact: catching, training, evolving, and climbing the ranks of the Royal League by battling trainers and completing side missions tied to the investigation of Rogue Pokémon and new Mega Evolutions. Unfortunately, the overall structure feels repetitive, especially for players familiar with Pokémon Violet or Legends Arceus.
The new combat system brings interesting tweaks moves no longer use Power Points (PP) but rely on a cooldown timer, forcing you to keep moving or switch Pokémon mid-battle. Status effects have also been adjusted; paralysis now only slows your Pokémon, and sleep causes them to attack erratically. While the real-time battles are visually impressive, the AI is disappointingly inconsistent: Pokémon often stand still, take unnecessary hits, or miss attacks due to environmental obstructions.
Visually, the game doesn’t impress either. Its art direction feels uninspired, and the city’s repetitive design filled with similar windows, doors, and benches makes navigation disorienting. The lack of new Pokémon or regional forms also diminishes the excitement of discovery that fans usually expect.
In conclusion, Pokémon Legends Z-A is an ambitious yet uneven entry. It introduces a combat system with potential to shape the franchise’s future, but its execution still needs refinement. Its missions, narrative, and environments don’t innovate much, though they’re still enough to keep dedicated fans engaged through a full playthrough.
Final Score: 3/5
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