Pokemon Legends: Z-A

The way Legends: Z-A pulls from the traditional mainline games and Legends: Arceus but ultimately doesn’t incorporate the best elements of either is similarly unsatisfying. Still, a vacation must be truly catastrophic to be considered “bad,” and Legends: Z-A is plenty fun with its real-time battles and Rogue Mega-Evolved raids. Yet the game’s itinerary feels like it isn’t making the most of what the Legends sub-series has to offer. Instead, Pokémon Legends: Z-A feels like yet another in a long line of Pokémon game with growing pains. With the commonplace around every corner, you may feel the experience is one big tourist trap, but it’s still a trip worth going on and making the most of while you’re there.

The franchise continues to grow and evolve in the right direction, even if it sometimes feels held back—whether by technical limitations or a reluctance to take risks. Despite these drawbacks and visuals that aren’t particularly impressive, the adventure remains genuinely fun, filled with activities and dynamic exploration. It preserves the signature mechanic of capturing creatures stealthily or engaging in large-scale battles, offering players multiple ways to approach encounters. The storyline stands out as one of the best in recent years, and by breaking free from the traditional turn-based combat system, the game opens the door to fresh and exciting gameplay experiences.

Pokémon Legends: Z-A is a game from Game Freak's 3D era that at least gets things somewhat back on track. The battle system is enjoyable, the Pokémon's attacks and that familiar collecting feeling are strong. However, confining you to four walls with similar designs takes away the free spirit of Pokémon games.

While it wasn’t the game I had thought to spend much of my winter holiday pursuing, Pokémon Legends Z-A turned out to be a pleasant romp, a delightful return to a part of the game world I hadn’t seen in over a decade, and the chance to learn many new and interesting words in French. I shan’t be delving too deep into the post-game or DLC, so others may touch on those as they wish. All I may say is that this was, in the end, a very welcome Christmas present.

Pokémon Legends: Z-A on the Nintendo Switch brings new and welcome ideas to a familiar formula which can feel fresh and captivating, while at the same time denounces hardware limitations that are impossible to escape on a system that's almost nine years old. The combat is more dynamic and engaging, the cast of characters is very appealing, there's plenty to do on exploration and side quests, and the soundtrack is magnificent. However, the game's world is rather small (though full of content), and its visual direction needs updating. Legends Z-A features good ideas but it craves a new space to live up to their promises.