Three years later the technical confrontation of the versions Scarlet and Purple on Nintendo Switch, the franchise Pokémon Is she capable of making amends? The reputation of the little pocket monsters has taken a big hit, so much so that players’ expectations are higher than ever: what to do with the launch of Pokémon Legends ZA a major event. For many, it is here and now that everything is at stake.
Game Freak can no longer miss the boat at the risk of losing players’ trust once and for all. The developers have therefore put all the chances on their side to try to get back on track: between a prolonged development period and the gain in power offered by the Switch 2, the new title seeks at all costs to avoid the optimization defects of its predecessor. Unfortunately, Pokémon Legends ZA is nevertheless weighed down by a cross-gen launch while maintaining its presence on Switch 1.
This new opus is therefore not the first Pokémon next-gen, but rather stands out as a taste of what the license will have to offer on Switch 2. And what could be better than a new adventure in the region of Mega-Evolution to mark this renewal that we no longer saw coming. The bet of Pokémon Legends ZA is it successful? Here is our verdict.
Discover Pokémon Legends ZA on Switch 2
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So, is it ugly or not?
From its first trailer, Pokémon Legends ZA had already demonstrated a major graphic misstep: the famous flat textures on all the buildings. It was enough for players to see it as a sign of a visual disaster. Scarlet and Purple. Except that, this time, you shouldn’t trust appearances. On Switch 2, the title runs with spectacular fluidity, while offering rather satisfactory graphics.
Externally, it is clear that Illumis is still far from living up to fans’ expectations. We feel that the structure of the city and the lack of ambient details respond to the power restrictions of the Switch 1, to the detriment of the Switch 2. In the city, only the vegetation, the squares and the various food stands manage to stand out. We will also note the presence of numerous NPCs for a more lively ensemble.
However, it is indoors that the artistic direction of Pokémon Legends ZA manages to shine. The environments are full of details and lighting effects of the most beautiful effect, enough to offer us a better overview of what Game Freak will be capable of on Switch 2. And if the game is far from being flawless in terms of world building, the design of the creatures is truly of another order. The 3D models of Pokémon have never been so elaborate, and the same goes for their animations in battle and out of battle. So, if Pokémon Legends ZA is still far from perfect from a technical point of view, Game Freak’s efforts are evident and the gaming experience is truly pleasant.
Action gameplay that must become the benchmark
After a first experiment in Pokemon Legends Arceus, For pushes innovation even further: real-time combat is a real revolution for the franchise. The turn-based RPG gives way to a nervous loop where dodging and timing are as important as types or stats. Game Freak could no longer offer sufficiently complex combat with the old recipe, and this new approach is particularly confusing. Even the most seasoned trainers risk suffering in the smallest fights while they understand the dodging system.
Note that this move to real time also serves to make the fights more immersive. We enjoy infiltrating during the Royale ZA, the Baron Pokémon give us a hard time and the Mega Evolutions spice things up: what more could you ask for? Pokémon has never been so fun or dynamic, so Game Freak has every interest in applying this recipe to the 10th generation, at the risk of backpedaling which risks going down badly with players. Also, as we anticipated in our preview tests, the day-night cycle and the alternation of Royale ZA mode prove particularly addictive. Climbing the ranks at night to advance the daytime scenario imposes a sustained pace but never exhausting, and as a result of the races, you never want to let go of the controller.
Illumis: nice but far from memorable
One of the big bets of this episode lies in its strictly urban map, limited to Illumis intra muros. The capital of Kalos has been reworked to offer a varied environment, with distinct districts, numerous biomes and landforms, as well as a focus on verticality through the exploration of the city’s rooftops. And if we quickly toured Illumis, the city of light nevertheless offers varied exploration loops: collection, infiltration, side quests, Pokémon hunting and destructible environments thanks to the Pokémon’s abilities. The structure of the title has been worked in such a way that more and more elements are introduced throughout the adventure so that there is always something to do, regardless of whether you pursue the main story or the side quests as a priority.
Wild Areas quickly become more elaborate, with secret passages and other mechanics that make catching Pokémon more exciting. Unfortunately, the city suffers from a blatant lack of identity. Most neighborhoods are similar, so much so that we never differentiate them and no environment marks us. After finishing their game, players will only remember the Parisian atmosphere and the Prismatic Tour, while the games Pokémon usually have many memorable places. It’s a shame.
Customization and modernized ergonomics
The care taken in customizing the trainer will delight fans: for the first time, the clothes are not restricted to the character’s gender, offering a true fashion experience worthy of Paris. Everyone is free to express themselves through their avatar. The city is full of clothing stores hidden in passages and small alleys, making shopping more fun at the same time, since you will have to play tourist to find the gems.
In terms of user experience throughout the adventure, the team management system with evolution on request and the boxes accessible at any time make getting started less daunting. Note that the secondary quest system fits just as naturally into the progression of the scenario, which is also one of the major assets of the title.
An adventure characterized by its characters and their story
Pokémon Legends ZA attempts a more in-depth script approach which does not fail to hit the mark. In addition to the gameplay loops that are already addictive in themselves, the game above all pushes us to come back thanks to the endearing characters who punctuate the adventure. Their stories, each more effective than the last, make it possible to offer a human experience that compensates for Illumis’ blatant lack of identity. In terms of the pace of the adventure and the development of the lore of Kalos, Pokémon Legends ZA is everything we expected, and more.
To conclude, we will also add that the Mega-Ferox fights (caused by the famous phenomenon of spontaneous Mega-Evolution) are a real success and punctuate the scenario with a good dose of adrenaline never before seen in the history of the franchise. The main line of Pokémon games is having its first boss fights and it’s not to displease. The license was in desperate need of refreshing and Pokémon Legends ZA don’t hesitate to shake up our habits for our greatest pleasure.
Discover Pokémon Legends ZA on Switch 2
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