As a passionate Pokémon fan, I’ve been eagerly awaiting the release of Pokémon Legends: Z-A for Nintendo Switch 2 this year. At Gamescom 2025, TopMob got an exclusive hands-on with the game’s preview build, and here are my thoughts on it.
To provide some background, Pokémon Legends: Z-A is the newest addition to the popular game series. It takes us back to Lumiose City, a familiar location from the X and Y games. What’s exciting is that this new game features an innovative battle system that revolutionizes how players engage in battles within the series. Recently, we were fortunate enough to get a sneak peek at the revamped Pokémon Legends: Z-A battle system during Gamescom 2025.
Dynamic Battles Keep Players on Their Toes
In a nutshell, during the Gamescom preview, we got a brief 10-minute sneak peek at Pokémon Legends: Z-A, specifically its Switch 2 version, but it was exclusively in German language. Despite this language barrier, we managed to grasp the novel battle system quite effectively. The demo took us through a confined Red Zone, where we encountered three distinct trainers for battles. Unfortunately, due to its compactness, we couldn’t get a feel for exploration – all we could really do was battle it out!
I was able to control four different Pokémon: Chikorita, Weedle, Mareep, and Fletchling. Each one had its unique set of abilities that could be triggered with a simple button press. Now, instead of the PP system, there’s a cool-down system in place, which means players need to wait briefly before using their next move. Additionally, you can quickly switch between Pokémon during gameplay, making it easier to dodge some attacks.
In this updated battle system, there’s an exciting new mechanic called ambush. Players have the option to surprise attack another trainer’s Pokémon or find themselves on the receiving end of such a sneak attack. Additionally, a stealth feature has been introduced, enabling players to evade combat with trainers if they prefer not to engage at that particular time. However, if you’re caught unaware during an ambush, the opposing trainer can deal significant damage before you have a chance to respond.
Each Pokémon possesses the capability to perform four distinct actions, activated by pointing at the adversary using the ZL button followed by a press of either X, Y, A, or B. The visuals of these actions appear sharp and smooth, while the overall performance seems stable as well. Notably, much like in past games, a Pokémon acquires new abilities through leveling up during battles.
Final Thoughts
The updated combat mechanism seems promising, offering a new dimension of tactics and interaction that should resonate with long-time franchise enthusiasts. No longer is it a slow-paced turn-based game; instead, you’ll need to act swiftly as your opponents can be ruthless, leaving little room for hesitation. During the demo, we only got a taste of what’s to come; hopefully, future previews will unveil more of the revamped Lumiose City, mega evolutions, gym challenges, and other exciting features in due time.
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2025-08-23 21:18