Gaming Pokemon Legends: Z-A is Making a Controversial Choice With Its Setting

Taking the Pokemon Legends subfranchise into Kalos is an exciting choice, but one Pokemon Legends: Z-A feature is bound to draw some ire.

During February 27's Pokemon Presents, Game Freak and The Pokemon Company pulled the curtain back on Pokemon Legends: Z-A. This brand new Pokemon: Legends title will likely play a lot like Pokemon Legends: Arceus, but fans will have to wait a while before they see more about the title, including gameplay. However, fans do know that Pokemon Legends: Z-A is bringing back Mega Evolution. They also know the game is set in the Kalos region, specifically Lumiose City, which will serve as the entire setting of the game.

Many have been wanting another Pokemon Legends game practically since Arceus came out. It introduced new elements and played with the old Pokemon formula enough that it stood out, while telling an interesting story and introducing players to Sinnoh's past. Interestingly, it seemed Unova would likely be the next Pokemon Legends pick, although there was an argument for each region. It's not clear why Kalos was chosen, nor will it likely ever be, but seeing what appears to be the future of the region is interesting. Except, players won't be able to see the whole region in Pokemon Legends: Z-A.



Trainers will be catching all the Pokemon that live in Pokemon Legends: Arceus, but there are some that should definitely be caught early on.

Pokemon Legend: Z-A is Doing Something No Other Mainline Pokemon Game Has Done Before

Pokemon Legends Z-A Reveal Trailer

​

In a tweet following Pokemon Legends: Z-A's reveal, Nintendo of America confirmed that the game takes place entirely within Lumiose City, with variety likely being introduced through the form of manmade structures like lakes, caverns, and so forth. It's easy to see how Pokemon Legends: Arceus' map style could be used for a city, but it's proving itself a controversial choice nonetheless. Many fans replied to the below tweet, asking "Entirely?," saying their hype was deflated, calling it a red flag, and more. Of course, it'll be interesting to see how Lumiose City is brought to life exactly within the confines of this new game.

​

​

​

While the disappointment is understandable, it's worth pointing out that no mainline Pokemon game has ever done this before. Pretty much every mainline game has explored an entire region, as well as the majority of spin-off games that had some form of exploration (excluding things like PokemonColosseum). This gives Game Freak another way to shake up the formula and do something the franchise has never done. It could be that the futuristic, cyberpunk-esque aesthetics seen in the reveal trailer are indicative of themes and tones as well: a cyberpunk Pokemon game sounds like a lot of fun, as long as it is all balanced well, and focusing on a city as opposed to a region could be one way to accomplish that.

For now, perhaps the best thing to do is exercise patience. Pokemon Legends: Arceus had a lot of criticism heading into launch, but ended up being loved pretty well by the community. It could just be that Pokemon Legends: Z-A will endure the same thing, but an expansive city, new Pokemon based on futuristic trends/cyberpunk aesthetics, an interesting core mechanic like Space-Time Distortions, Mega Evolution's return, and everything seen in this teaser could be more than enough to justify the setting.

Either way, this proves Pokemon Legends: Arceus is not a one-shot. It'll be interesting to see how Pokemon Legends: Z-A ties into Kalos' lore and, perhaps, which regions future Pokemon Legends games adopt.

Source