Pokémon Legends Z-A Reviews

Almost three years after the release of Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, players finally got their hands on the newest installment in the series—Pokémon Legends: Z-A—on consoles.

Pokémon Legends: Z-A is a new installment in Nintendo’s Pokémon Series, launching simultaneously on the Switch and Switch 2 on October 16, 2025.

As the second installment in the Legends series, Pokémon Legends: Z-A serves as both a showcase for Game Freak’s research into real-time gameplay and a testing ground for the technologies that will power the next generation of Pokémon Games.

After spending about 24 hours playing through the first game and trying out both training and PVP battles, I think Pokémon Legends: Z-A is a great Pokémon game to get started with.

The real-time combat significantly reduces strategic complexity, narrowing the gap between new and experienced players, and the actual performance is more in line with most people’s expectations of Pokémon combat.

The NPC presence is also perhaps the strongest in the series, and players will encounter them numerous times throughout the main storyline and side quests.

However, this game also has many unsatisfactory aspects, to the point where I briefly suspected the development team’s design was intended to target certain players.

I bought a Nintendo Switch 2 before Pokémon Legends: Z-A was released, just to experience the graphics on the latest console. Honestly, the frame rate on the Nintendo Switch 2 is excellent, with smooth movement and stable frame rates.

As for the graphical quality… after all, this is a cross-generational title, so the textures and special effects are still at Nintendo’s level.

Pokémon Legends: Z-A: Background and Gameplay

Considering that the game has been released for less than a week, many friends are still waiting to see what it is like. Let me first give you a general introduction to the game:

(1) Game Background

The game is set in Miare City, Kalos, an urban redevelopment project centered on the harmonious coexistence of humans and Pokémon.

In the city, the Quas Atico Corporation has established a “Wild Zone” to provide a habitat for wild Pokémon. Players assume the role of a tourist visiting Miare City, staying at Hotel Z and navigating various urban events alongside new friends they meet there.

(2) Game character creation

As the spiritual successor to Pokémon X/Y, Pokémon Legends: Z-A returns with significantly enhanced character customization.

Players can freely choose clothing, accessories, backpacks, and hairstyles, no longer restricted by their starting character’s size. Skirts, midriff-baring tops, shorts, dresses, and more are now available, greatly enriching the personalized experience.

(3) Gameplay

When players visit Miare City for sightseeing, they can choose one of the three Pokémon: Chikorita, Warm-Up, and Croc as their partner.

how to plays

Catching Pokémon: Players can catch Pokémon in the Wild Zone and in certain locations throughout Miare City.

Some Pokémon will appear on city rooftops and other locations. Some Pokémon may flee upon seeing you. Players can hide, approach from behind, or battle to lower the Pokémon’s HP before throwing a Poké Ball to catch them.

Real-time Battle System: Pokémon Legends: Z-A introduces a real-time mechanic where Pokémon and Trainers move in sync.

During battle, Trainers move alongside Pokémon and instantly activate their moves. In addition to attribute counters, new strategic dimensions include Pokémon replacement timing, move selection strategy, attack range determination, and attack speed.

Z-A Climbing Battle: At night, a “Battle Zone” surrounded by red holographic projections appears in the city, hosting the daily “Z-A Climbing Battle.”

All participants begin at Z Rank and advance to A Rank through continuous victories. Upon reaching A Rank, participants are granted the title of “Strongest” and the honor of being the strongest, and are granted one wish.

Mega Evolution: Mega Evolution is a key element of the game. Some Pokémon can temporarily unleash their hidden power, entering a Mega Evolution state, gaining even greater power than their normal evolutions.

To activate Mega Evolution, players must attack and collect Mega Energy to fill up their “Mega Gauge.” Once the gauge is depleted, the Mega Evolution automatically deactivates.

Game Features

Stealth: Inheriting the motion capture concept from Pokémon Legends: Arceus, the game introduces stealth in the Battle Zone.

Players can duck to avoid NPCs. If undetected, they can sneak attack opposing Pokémon, reducing their health or even knocking them down, adding strategy and challenge to battles.

Reward Cards: Defeating trainers in the Battle Zone earns you medals and ticket points. You can also collect reward cards and complete designated tasks, such as using specific attribute moves and Mega Evolution, to get extra rewards, adding variety and challenge to the game.

It’s important to note that the game has a Switch version and a Switch 2 version. The Switch 2 version costs $69.99 and features a higher frame rate for smoother action and higher resolution for crisper graphics.

The Switch version costs $59.99 and contains the same core content as the Switch 2 version, but lacks the Switch 2-exclusive features.

Pokémon Legends Z-A Play Reviews

Miare is a bit empty

Previous Pokémon games have featured adventures set in diverse regions, allowing players to visit various towns and capture Pokémon in the wild. Pokémon Legends: Z-A takes place in Miare City in the Kalos region, where the protagonist’s adventures and encounters with Pokémon will take place.

I had hoped for a game like “Dragon Among Men,” with its high density of quests and interactive facilities.

My first encounter with Miare City did feel quite large, and the first hour of gameplay was essentially spent being led around by NPCs. Those first few hours were quite enjoyable, with plenty of NPCs and accompanying Pokémon roaming the streets, and even gentle Pokémon nestling in flower beds, lampposts, and even trash cans.

The wild areas that gradually unlocked as I progressed through the main storyline also gave me an incentive to explore the surrounding area.

However, when I played through the middle and late stages of the main storyline, I discovered the problems with the city of Miare.

For example, there aren’t many interactive features in the city. My impression is limited to a few battle restaurants (a legacy from Pokémon X/Y) and a bench for switching between day and night.

There are plenty of cafes in the city, but the owners often operate from the entrances, as if they only serve takeout.

When I ordered my coffee and checked in outside, I noticed that the default camera angle had an indelible UI, and entering photo mode limited camera movement, preventing me from capturing good views.

The streets look nice at first glance, but there aren’t many truly useful things to see. Even the city’s architecture is uniform, like a giant, collective community.

Perhaps Game Freak itself felt the surface was too lifeless, so they created the rooftops as another side of the map for players to explore.

Rooftop exploration and scaffolding “play”

The rooftop is accessible via ladders and teleporters. Initially, you’ll encounter some Flying-type Pokémon not often seen on the ground, and some main quests require accessing the rooftop.

But as I was writing this, I reflected on what the rooftop design actually offered players. I can only say that Game Freak placed some 600-type Pokémon like Dratini and Young Kiras, as well as their tactical units, on the rooftop. I’m not sure how Young Kiras, with its short arms and legs and 72 kg, managed to get up there.

Scaffolding can be seen everywhere in the city. This is a new way of playing based on climbing roofs.

Game Freak has always been keen on adding mini-games to its games, such as the arcade in Gold and Silver and the recent “Balloon Pop” DLC in Vermilion.

Glowing purple screws are often found in areas with scaffolding. Players need to climb, fall, or glide through the air to retrieve these screws, which can then be exchanged for dolls at designated locations.

Dolls can be used to increase the protagonist’s health, resource acquisition, and, most importantly, increase their capture rate. Since I never redeemed them, I barely caught any Pokémon until I was halfway through the main quest.

Back to the scaffolding mechanic itself, it’s designed entirely for the two moves of rolling and Rotom’s glide. Whether it’s fun or not is a matter of opinion, but suffice it to say that the mechanic itself has no direct connection to Pokémon (though the Rotom Phone counts as half a Pokémon).

Pleasant main storyline

While the presentation of Miare City has some flaws, the first week of Pokémon Legends: Z-A is still a good experience. The protagonist of previous Pokémon games has no shortage of companions, but since they are all adventurous teenagers, they only meet on the way to challenge the gym.

This game is different. The protagonist and several companions met while staying at an inn in AZ. After meeting them, they were invited to join the “Super Z Team” to protect the peace of Miare City.

Whenever a crisis arose, the players would gather to prepare for battle meetings. When the player advanced in the ZA Summit, they would gather again for dinner and congratulations. Some of the main storylines don’t revolve around the protagonist, allowing them to continue developing these characters through the main storyline. This is a significant advancement in Pokémon game storytelling (compared to the original).

Many side quests

This game includes over a hundred side quests. All quests are marked on the map, and most require conversations with NPCs to trigger, rather than random encounters on the street corner.

Many of these quests involve requesting a fight, while others are companion quests. Some of the side plots are quite interesting, but unfortunately, the game continues the series’ ancestral formula, resulting in weak performances and a lack of emotional impact.

As far as exploring the open areas is concerned, the entire city of Miare is a canned version of Game Freak’s, and completing all the quests will likely take quite a while. Some skill machines require completing side quests, so if you want to quickly collect them, you’ll have to consult a guide.

Sneak attacks are useful

The Battle Zone, open only at night, is the ultimate showcase for Pokémon Legends: Z-A’s battle system. Earn enough points in the Battle Zone to earn Challenge Tickets, which can be used to advance in the Z-A Climb.

To speed up your promotion, players can also pick up various reward cards, which, if fulfilled, grant them extra points and reward coins. These coins are converted into cash based on your performance at the turn of day and night, making them the game’s primary source of income.

Opinions on cultivation and online battles

After completing the game, I immediately searched for methods to increase Pokémon’s effort value, individual value, and change its personality. It was then that I realized that Game Freak still did not want to let ordinary players get in touch with the knowledge about breeding and fighting through in-game guidance.

The following is my personal summary of the characteristics of Pokémon Legends: Z-A cultivation:

• You can use the Crown on the black girl to the right of the Justice Society’s gym to increase your individual stats.

• You can use the small species to the right of the Justice Society’s gym to enhance your moves.

• Character mints can be purchased at fixed stalls. There are eight stalls throughout the city, but each only sells five types of mint.

• “XX Feather,” used to fine-tune your Effort value, can only be obtained randomly by picking up items while roaming the map.

• You can use 5 Super Fragments at the Rust Team’s front desk to reset a Pokémon’s Effort value to zero.
• Fruits that slightly reduce Effort value can be obtained randomly by picking up items while roaming the map, or you can purchase them one at a time from vendors.
• Buying a booster at the Pokémon Center to raise a Pokémon with a zero Effort value to its maximum value costs approximately 260,000 yen.

After a while, I bred three dominant Pokémon: Banguirus, Garchomp, and Gyarados. While Banguirus maxed out its HP and Physical Attack, the other two maxed out their Speed ​​and Physical Attack.

It’s important to note that since Pokémon Legends: Z-A has switched to real-time gameplay, speed is no longer the sole criterion for attack order, but it still factors in the attack delay. According to Altema, the same attack delay for a Pokémon with a Speed ​​of 30 and 110 has a delay of 35 and 8 frames, respectively.

After completing my preparations, I participated in online ranked battles. I reached J Rank in five matches (reaching K Rank earns Greninja Mega Stones). Online battles are played in a four-player free-for-all format, with each player fighting to see who can defeat the most Pokémon in the shortest time.

You can replace your Pokémon up to three times before your own Pokémon is defeated. The game is so fast-paced that there’s no pre-match check of your opponent’s Pokémon or selection of your own. Players can only adjust their starting Pokémon by re-registering before the game.

After playing a few battles, I felt that most of the transformations were useless in PVP. Poison and Spikelet Sprinkle were easily overtaken by others.

The most useful skills were Guard, which was used to cheat cooldowns, and Dig, Fly, and Bounce, which allowed for both dodging and guaranteed hits.

The overall logic was completely different from the original game. The brawl gameplay and the randomly appearing power-ups further differentiated it from the single-player battle experience of Pokémon Legends: Z-A.

As of this writing, I’ve already spent over 30 hours playing Pokémon Legends: Z-A, and the experience has been quite good for most of that time.

But as a Pokémon game, can Pokémon Legends: Z-A keep players interested and engaged after completing it? Seasons alone might be a struggle. I wonder if the DLC, announced before the main game’s release and released early, will further enhance the game’s replayability.