Pokémon’s Major Gameplay Change Is What the Franchise Needed, But I’m Concerned

Pokemon Legends: Arceus taught us that a Legends game isn’t going to quite stick the usual Pokemon mold. This game was something between a full-on spinoff like Pokemon Snap and a main series entry like Pokemon Scarlet & Violet. So when Pokemon Legends: Z-A was revealed, fans knew to somewhat expect the unexpected. What we didn’t know was how similar, or how different, the game would be from the prior Legends title. Now that I’ve had the chance to play Pokemon Legends: Z-A, I can tell you it feels like a whole new spin on the Pokemon franchise. What I’m not sure about is who, exactly, the game’s major change is for.

Pokemon battles have undergone some changes over the years. This was particularly true with Pokemon Legends: Arceus, which introduced Agile Style and Strong Style moves. There were also the Noble Pokemon boss battles, which introduced light real-time elements before transitioning into more turn-based battles. With Pokemon Legends: Z-A, however, fans can forget what they know about battles. These real-time battles are an entirely different take on the Pokemon game, and I’m curious to see what fans make of them.

Real-Time Battles Turn Pokemon Legends: Z-A Into an Action RPG

One of the things many fans like about Pokemon is that the battles are turn-based. This gives you time to think about your next move, or even pause and wander off to get a snack. With Pokemon Legends: Z-A, the battle mechanic is entirely different, and it feels much more akin to playing an action RPG like Elden Ring or Skyrim. From the moment I booted up the game to the moment the demo was done, I had to be in full-on focus mode.

The real-time battles involve positioning you as the trainer, as well as your Pokemon. You move around, and your Pokemon try to follow you. But as you move, you also have to remember to dodge enemy Pokemon attacks, lock onto your target, and choose your own moves from the menu of four. It’s all very fast-paced and can be a lot to juggle, especially if you’re more used to traditional Pokemon battle formats.

The new mechanic is fun, but it doesn’t necessarily feel like Pokemon. Given that Legends games are something of an experiment, a chance for Game Freak and The Pokemon Company to try something new, I’m kind of glad to see them iterating on the formula. After all, we’ve been playing Pokemon games with a relatively familiar formula for years now, and sometimes, risks can pay off. But in this case, without seeing much of what Z-A has to offer outside of these fast-paced battles, I’m not wholly sold on the game just yet. I think many Pokemon fans won’t be, until we see a bit more of what we’ll do when we’re not running for our lives from Alpha Houndoom.

A New Battle Style Could Entice New Players, But It Might Alienate the Current Fanbase

In a way, I think trying out real-time battles in Pokemon makes a ton of sense. Turn-based combat has always been controversial. Some gamers love it, some hate it, and some only tolerate it. Bringing a whole new combat mechanic straight into a game like Gen 10 would be wild, but Legends: Z-A offers a testing ground for how this will go over. We expect to see new things in a Legends game, and this battle system is definitely something new.

With the right marketing and word of mouth, this new, action RPG-style combat has the potential to attract a new audience to Pokemon. People who might not have been interested in the prior games could be enticed by a faster-paced battle mechanic. After all, there has been a subset of players who complain that Pokemon games have become too easy. Given the amount of time I spent being revived in the Pokemon Center during the demo, I can assure “too easy” isn’t a label I’d put on Z-A. Those who’ve abandoned the franchise or never tried it just might get curious about the new mechanic.

But then again, they might not. And what’s more, I’m not sure how my fellow longtime Pokemon fans are going to feel. For me, the demo was a bit of a mixed bag. On the one hand, I was excited to be playing a new Pokemon game. On the other hand, it felt a bit more like I was playing a new action RPG. Lucky for me, I like those kind of games. And I’m sure there’s plenty of crossover between the Pokemon audience and fans of games like Elden Ring and Skyrim. But I don’t go into Pokemon for that experience typically. I go for a slower, cozier experience. I go, if I’m honest, to catch a bunch of cute Pokemon and run around exploring.

The new battle system in Legends: Z-A is certainly a big swing from Pokemon. It is a massive change to how prior games have operated, building off the slight changes in Arceus to bring us something that feels entirely brand-new. Personally, I still don’t know how to feel about it, and that leaves me wondering whether my fellow Pokemon fans will be sold on it or left wishing for a bit more time to relax with their Pokemon in Lumiose City.

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It Sure Looks Like Pokémon Legends: Z-A is Finally Altering the Pokémon Formula