Pokemon Legends: Z-Ais likely to change the formula when it comes toPokemongames, but there are some areas that don’t need improvement.Scarlet and Violetincluded plenty of innovations as well, andPokemon Legends: Z-Awould be an excellent opportunity to expand on one of them. ThePokemon Legendssubseries is still in its infancy, withLegends: Z-Aonly being the second game of its kind. As a result, it will probably take heavy inspiration fromLegends Arceus, but it shouldn’t stop at gathering its content from just one game.
Scarlet and Violetare the most recent mainline games in the series, and possibly the most innovative entry thus far. With all the advancements those games made in map style, non-linear story, and varied character motivations, it can be easy to overlook one of its less prominent inclusions. Since it took place partially at a Pokemon academy, the player could take classes andbuild a relationship withPokemon ScarletandViolet’s teachers. Completing each teacher’s storyline would reward the player with various items or Pokemon, giving them an incentive to be diligent in their studies. With the emphasis that thePokemonseries has always placed on making connections with others, this system deserves a chance to grow inPokemon Legends: Z-A.
Pokemon Legends: Z-A Needs a Friendship System
A major theme across thePokemonseries is the idea of the player forming connections to their Pokemon, and to a lesser extent, to other trainers. Even from the earliest games, inclusions like trade evolutions encouraged players to interact with other people with the goal of helping friendships grow. The later inclusion ofcertain Pokemon evolving through friendship levelsstrengthened the bond between players and their Pokemon. This is an idea that the series would return to from time to time, but nothing has made that theme work with other humans in the way the teacher/student relationship did inScarlet and Violet. Moving forward,Pokemon Legends: Z-Ahas a chance to take that framework and expand its scope.
SinceLegends: Z-Awill be taking place entirely within Lumiose City, some players have worried that the smaller scope of the map will make gameplay stale. Allowing the player to form friendships with certain NPCs would provide them with an extra activity to ensure a variety of ways to interact with the people around them. This could also play well into the game’s main quest of redesigning the city. Lumiose city is full oflocations that should return inLegends: Z-A, but those locations would need a purpose. Using familiar landmarks of the city as a place to hang out with NPCs could become an important part of the city’s redevelopment.
Pokemon is All About Friendship
ALegendsgame taking place in Kalos even has the perfect potential characters for the player to befriend. One ofLegends Arceus' standout inclusions were the ancestor characters. Since that game took place in the past, it took full advantage of that setting by introducing characters whose descendants players have already met. Characters like gym leaders and villains from previous games were given new attention by the introduction of their ancestors. IfLegends: Z-Atakes place in the future, which it looks like it might, it would have a similar opportunity to create descendant characters.New relatives of past characters inPokemon Legends: Z-Aare already a popular fan theory, so giving fans a chance to truly befriend such characters would be a wish come true.
Pokemon Legends Z-A
The sequel to Pokemon Legends: Arceus, Pokemon Legends: Z-A takes Pokemon trainers back to the Kalos region’s Lumiose City.
