New details about Pokémon Legends: Z-A announced, including the three starters and new real-time battle mechanics

After a long wait since its first announcement during last year’s Pokémon Day, The Pokémon Company is showing off new gameplay details and images for the next mainline Pokémon game, Pokémon Legends: Z-A. The game will take place in Lumiose City in the Kalos region, which is undergoing a “high-tech redevelopment,” where the player will explore, battle, catch Pokémon, and interact with characters both familiar and new.

The three starter Pokémon for Legends: Z-A have been revealed; either Chikorita, Tepig, or Totodile will be the player’s first partner Pokémon, meaning all three of the Gen II starters have been included in the two games with the Legends title. Certainly the most unique reveal in the new trailer is the new battle mechanics. Battles now take place as real-time actions, where the player and Pokémon can move around the battlefield. Moves now feature field-of-effect and timing mechanics, meaning moves will take different times to launch and will launch as the player makes commands. Swapping out Pokémon will also require precise timing.

Several characters the player will encounter throughout the game have been revealed as well. Fan-favorite AZ appears as the owner of Hotel Z, where the player stays, along with his newly-revealed Eternal Flower Floette. The player’s “new friend and ally” - traditionally the rival - will be either Urbain or Taunie, who also lives and works at Hotel Z. Also introduced was Quasartico, Inc., the company managing Lumiose City’s redevelopment, and its CEO Jett, along with her secretary Vinnie.

The new trailer is also showing off Wild Zones - reminiscent of Sword and Shield’s Wild Area - where wild Pokémon roam. Wild Zones are located throughout Lumiose City and serve as places where the player can battle and catch wild Pokémon in Poké Balls. Pokémon in Wild Zones will be able to “see” the player, just as in Pokémon Legends: Arceus, and players will be able to hide and sneak up on them from behind.

Mega Evolution will make its return in Legends: Z-A after having not appeared in a mainline game since 2016, in Generation VII’s Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon. With the same concept of a Pokémon holding a Mega Stone that reacts to a trainer’s Key Stone, several known Mega Evolutions can be spotted in the trailer, like Mega Ampharos, Mega Kangaskhan, and Mega Charizard X. Several known Mega Evolutions will also be returning to the Pokémon Trading Card Game.

Zygarde can also be spotted in the trailer in its 10% Forme, as well as a Zygarde Cell crawling along a rooftop. Story teasers on the official website hint at the Pokémon being a part of Legends: Z-A’s story after taking an interest in the player. The new trailer finishes with a mysterious announcement from a Rotom Phone that says, “This is a promotion match announcement,” maybe hinting at a ranked battle facility feature which was missing in Scarlet and Violet.

Pokémon Legends: Z-A will release simultaneously worldwide in the Fall of 2025.

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YYYYYEEEEEAAAAAHHHHH!!

 

YES!

 

This is gonna be epic