At this year’s Pokémon World Championships, trainers from around the globe were able to get their first taste ofPokémon Legends: Z-A. Though the demo was short, it still offered a lot of insight into the game, including details about combat, Lumiose City’s nightlife, and the return ofPokémon Mega Evolutions.
Players were treated to two different demos lasting ten minutes each: one focusing on combat within battle zones, and the other showcasing a Mega Evolution fight. ThoughZ-Adoes contain a lot of the same elements asArceus, the biggest contrast between the two - outside the obvious elements like where the game fits within the franchise’s timeline - is combat, which has changed entirely fromturn-based battles to real-time events.
How Battle Zones Work In Pokémon Legends: Z-A
Lumiose City Becomes A Night Time Battleground
My first demo began in the Vert District area of Lumiose City at nightfall, thrusting me right into a battle zone. Another trainer, Urbain, laid it all out for me: to be promoted to the next rank, Y, I needed to earn a ticket to participate in a promotion match. To do so, I had to take on trainers within a nearby battle zone - special areas that light up on the map at night that are filled with trainers ready to fight.
My Challenger’s Ticket would cost me 1,000 Ticket Points, which I could earn through three victories against other trainers. While sneaking up on Pokémon to gain an advantage has been a gameplay element in some past titles,it’s arguably more important than ever before.Players can sneak up on other trainers to gain a first strike, which can strongly tilt the battle in the player’s favor. Conversely, players can be stunned momentarily by other battlers that employ the same strategy.
Pokémon Legends: Z-A Battles Are Extremely Fast-Paced
Real-Time Combat Is A Whole New Ball Game
The first thing that stood out to me about the combat inPokémon Legends: Z-Ais that it’s even faster-paced than I’d imagined. As soon as I stepped into my first battle, it was a completely different mindset than I’d ever had before in aPokémontitle. There was very little time to strategize best moves or Pokémon type weaknesses -I just knew I needed to act quickly or both my avatar and my Pokémon were going to die.
In addition to the standard strategic elements trainers typically consider in battle, there are now new layers to factor in. Pokémon’s moves have cooldowns, so players can’t simply spam attacks as quickly as possible. Being able to move around efficiently during combat is also key to success. Pokémon attacks from opponents can hit trainersandtheir targeted Pokémon, but can be dodged by both parties with the right dashing and rolling, since Pokémon follow their trainer around the battle zone.
Players will target the enemy Pokémon with the left trigger, then use the face buttons to select moves. Though I was overwhelmed at first, it was also an incredibly engaging new system that, even after 20 minutes, I’d become much more comfortable with. Pokémon battles, particularly in the show, have often been portrayed as intense events with high stakes, andthe real-time combat inPokémon Legends: Z-Acaptures that feeling better than turn-based battling ever has.
How Mega Evolutions Work In Pokémon Legends: Z-A
Pokémon Are Going Rogue In Lumiose City
The second portion of my demo once again threw me right into the action, immediately instructing me to chase down a mysterious Zygarde - in 10% Forme - that was running through the city. The Pokémon led me to a rooftop, where an Absol was clouded in a magenta haze of Mega Power. Before the battle, AZ arrived, bestowing upon me a Mega Ring and offering the aid of his Lucario to try to calm down the Absol.
After Absol Mega Evolved, the battle was on, but Lucario needed to do more work to get as beefed up as his opponent. When players attack Mega Pokémon, Mega Power will spill out of them in the form of small glowing orbs, which players will collect to build up the power of their Mega Ring. Once the corner gauge has been filled, they can Mega Evolve, though the state isn’t permanent.
Players can keep collecting Mega Power to refill the gauge slightly, but for more protracted battles, it will likely run out eventually. However, Pokémon can Mega Evolve multiple times in battle, making these boss-style Mega fights an even more layered strategic endeavor. I needed to continuously balance keeping myself and Lucario out of harm’s way while also collecting Mega Power orbs, alongside all the other elements of battle I mentioned previously.
Much like the struggles of the Noble Pokémon inArceus, there have been reports all over the city of Rogue Mega Pokémon, and it will once again fall on the player to calm them down and revert them back to their original state, as theRogue Mega Evolution state is painfulfor them. It’s unclear if the same is true for Pokémon that Mega Evolve via the ring, but it seems to only be an ailment for wild Pokémon plagued by Mega Power.
Pokémon Legends: Z-A Has Evolved For The Better
I Thought I’d Miss Turn-Based Battles, But I Don’t
Though I left my preview with lingering questions about Lumiose City, the game’s story, and numerous other mysteries, experiencing the real-time combat really emphasized to me just how much the franchise has evolved - and I think it’s for the best. I’m a player who loves the slow, strategic nature of turn-based combat, and when the new style forZ-Awas revealed, I was honestly disappointed, butthis demo has completely changed my tune.
It may not be for everyone, but battles feel significantly more intense and engaging, which in turn makes them more immersive. I was so completely enraptured and engaged by my Absol fight, I didn’t even notice the demo timer announcing the end of my session, which I don’t think would’ve happened had it still been a turn-based system. After so many years, the franchise was frankly due for a fresh take, andPokémon Legends: Z-Aseems to have done just that.
Pokémon Legends: Z-Awill release for Nintendo Switch consoles on October 16.
