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Pokémon Legends: Z-A is an upcoming game in the Pokémon series, set to be released worldwide in 2025. It is the second Legends game in the series, following Pokémon Legends: Arceus. Little has been revealed about the game, though it appears to be set in Lumiose City in the Kalos region. It was first revealed in a Pokémon Presents presentation on February 27, 2024.
Gameplay[]
Unlike other mainline games, which use a turn-based battle system, Pokémon Legends: Z-A uses a real-time combat system where Trainers and their Pokémon can move around a 3D space. This comes with new mechanics, such as precise timing of when to swap out Pokémon or use their moves, moves hitting specific areas of the field, and different lengths of time required to perform certain moves.
Pokemon appear in "wild zones", areas of the city specifically designated as places for Pokémon to live. Similar to Arceus, players can attempt to catch Pokémon without having to battle them, though battling them and lowering their HP will improve the odds of a successful catch. The player is seen using modern Poké Balls.
During nighttime hours, the Wild Zones become Battle Zones for the Z-A Royale, where trainers wander and can challenge and be challenged by the player to Pokémon battles. The player character's goal is to advance from Rank Z to Rank A via promotion battles with certain trainers to have a wish granted.
At the start of the game, three First partner Pokémon are available: Chikorita, Tepig, and Totodile.
Mega Evolution will return in the game.
Plot[]
The game is set entirely in Lumiose City after the events of Pokémon X and Y. A large corporation called Quasartico Inc. leads an urban redevelopment plan for Lumiose City, aiming to make it a city where humans and Pokémon can live in harmony. During the course of the story, the Legendary Pokémon Zygarde takes an interest in the player character.
Development[]
On February 27, 2024, Legends Z-A was announced during a Pokémon Presents presentation with a release window of 2025. At the end of the trailer, the Mega Evolution mechanic, which was first introduced in Pokémon X and Y, was also teased to return. Pokémon Legends: Z-A is being developed by Game Freak.
On 10 October 2024, the Game Freak "teraleak" revealed multiple details about the game.
During the next Pokémon Presents, on February 27, 2025, a second video was released, giving more information on the plot and gameplay elements with an updated release window of 'late 2025'.
During the Nintendo Direct on April 2, 2025, it was confirmed that Pokémon Legends: Z-A will get an upgraded version on Nintendo Switch 2 alongside with many other Nintendo Switch games.
Trivia[]
- It is the first mainline game in the series with a Latin American Spanish translation.
- This is the first mainline game to be rated E10+ by the ESRB.
- Legends: Z-A marks the first instance of real-time combat in the main series, but not in the overall Pokémon video game series; that distinction belongs to the Pokémon Rumble series of spin-off games.
- This game includes the last 9 Pokémon that hadn't been in a mainline game since Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon (Patrat line, the Elemental monkeys and Furfrou).