Expert Review: Nintendo’s Pokémon Legends: Z-A

In the newest Pokémon Legends game for the Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2, players will pay a visit to Lumiose City. There, they are trying to make the city a place where people and Pokémon can coexist in harmony.

Players will choose one of three Pokémon to be their partner Pokémon during the adventure: the Water-type Totodile, the Fire-type Tepig, and the Grass-type Chikorita. Expect to meet the city’s residents, such as Team MZ, AZ, Emma, and the Rust Syndicate, while catching Pokémon in each of the city’s Wild Zones. These zones are designed to keep both wild Pokémon and residents safe. Players can also visit the city’s various shops or the in-game menu to customize their character and show off their unique style.

As the story progresses, players and their teams will grow alongside the city, battling in the Z-A Royale in the hopes of achieving the highest rank and becoming the strongest Pokémon Trainer in the city.

The game reimagines Lumiose City from Pokémon X and Pokémon Y, bringing back older Pokémon fans to a familiar, yet refreshingly new place and introducing newer fans to the magical metropolis. The massive scale of the city makes it easy to spend a gaming session or two exploring rooftops, buying new outfits and accessories, or combing through each sector for special items and Pokémon.

Pokémon fans who love battling but want something different can enjoy the fast-paced action of the Z-A Royale, online Ranked Battles, and the game’s new battle mechanics. With this entry, there are now more than 60 different Mega Evolutions for players to use in battle, and combined with the new battle format, players can try using more than one per battle. Shiny hunters will love that the sparkling effects and chiming sound, indicating that a rare shiny Pokémon is near, are returning from the previous entry, Pokémon Legends: Arceus.

Unlike the mainline Pokémon games, this entry does not use turn-based gameplay, so players will need to stay alert and quick on their feet to gain the advantage in battle. Players who want to add some power to their battle strategies should let their Mega Power gauge fill up, then press the plus button during combat to turn their Pokémon’s moves into Plus Moves, which deal more damage than their regular counterparts. Pokémon that are Mega Evolved will use Plus Moves by default, but Pokémon unable to Mega Evolve can use them too!

Pokémon fans; families with older kids and a Nintendo Switch 2; gamers who want a different experience from the mainline Pokémon games