Things That Pokemon Legends: Z-A Should Avoid Doing

Key Takeaways

Avoid repetitive main quest requirements; it detracts from the enjoyment of the game.
Be cautious with mega evolutions to prevent unbalancing the competitive meta.
Graphics should enhance the hunting experience, not hinder the identification of shiny Pokemon.

As a dedicated Pokemon trainer who has been collecting these magical creatures since the days of Game Boy and Red & Blue versions, I can’t help but express my concerns about the upcoming game, Pokemon Legends: Z-A. While I eagerly await the return of some forgotten gems from Gen 2, 3, and 4 as Mega Evolutions, I fear that Gamefreak might inadvertently disrupt the competitive meta that forms a significant part of the franchise’s appeal.

The eagerly awaited Nintendo game, Pokemon Legends: Z-A, has been creating quite the buzz with its unannounced release date, leaving fans of the series on tenterhooks. However, there are some gamers who express apprehension over certain developments in more recent versions of Pokemon. Despite being largely entertaining, the Gen 8 and 9 games experienced several issues that Pokemon Legends: Z-A should strive to sidestep to ensure its ultimate success.

This is a list of 7 things that fans definitely do not want to see in the next Pokemon game that could cause greater rifts among the community. From repetitive and unnecessary mechanics to graphical overhauls causing a serious disturbance in their hunt for prized Pokemon, these things should be avoided to ensure a strong showing for Pokemon Legends: Z-A.

7 Repetitive Main Quest Requirements

This Made Some Parts Of Legends: Arceus Hard To Enjoy

Pros: Easy content breakdown, clear approachable goals
Cons: Annoying, unnecessary, tiresome

One of the most disturbing things about Legends: Arceus is its tendency to lock content behind repetitive tasks, for example: “Hunt X quantity of Pokemon.” As hardcore Pokemon fans grow more and more impatient to know all about each new iteration of the franchise, having certain repetitive main quest objectives could be a deterrent for them to fully enjoy the experience. Needless to say, it was one of the major flaws of the previous Legends game, so in Legends: Z-A, it is a mistake they cannot repeat.

In contrast, the multi-path feature in Pokemon Scarlet & Violet could potentially enhance the game, but it may need adjustments to align with the city-focused design of Legends: Z-A. Since Legends: Z-A is confirmed to offer a vast metropolis and its surrounding regions for exploration, similar to Arceus and earlier games in the franchise, the multi-path feature should be calibrated accordingly.

6 Subscription Locked Content

A Growing Worry Of All Pokemon Fans

Pros: Great for the company
Cons: Bad for the players, makes them lose trust in the company

Given the advancements in the video game industry and the rising trend of Games-as-a-Service (GaaS), some Pokemon enthusiasts are expressing concern that their cherished franchise could eventually adopt this model. With the multiplayer aspects of the game already requiring an online subscription, the upcoming Gen 9 games demonstrate both the exciting possibilities for enhanced social interaction as well as potential risks involved.

As a dedicated gamer, I’ve grown accustomed to DLCs in recent Pokémon games, especially with the release of the two-part expansion packs like Crown Tundra and The Isle of Armor for Sword & Shield. If Legends: Z-A follows suit, it might leave gamers feeling a bit stretched thin. I get that the creators want to maximize the content in the Pokémon universe, but there’s a fine line we don’t want them to cross or else they might overstep it and risk losing our support.

5 Lifeless Open World Experience

Exploring Paldea And Hisui Was Okay, But Some Parts Felt Lacking In Content

Pros: Easily to fill up with generative/procedural content
Cons: Breaks immersion, tiresome

In the initial phases of games like Pokemon Red, Blue, Yellow, and Green, as well as later installments such as Gold, Silver, and Crystal, players gradually adapted to a semi-linear role-playing game environment with defined boundaries. Every section of the game offered something intriguing to explore: from mysterious Pokemon appearing in concealed locations, to enigmatic puzzles that granted entry to legendary and exclusive Pokemon, and naturally, numerous items to uncover and enhance trainers’ journeys.

Time marches on, making even the thrill of discovering hidden items as simple as pressing a button or strolling about. Procedurally generated content can be alright, but it’s a letdown when it fills up the vast open spaces between Point of Interest A to B. In games like Legends: Arceus and the Gen 9 titles, this is all too common. Whether I’m chasing after hidden Gimmighoul coins or hunting for shinies, there’s a wealth of activities in these open-world Pokemon games. Yet, it feels restrictive when the fun is confined solely to hunting and treasure hunting. Why not expand the experience beyond that?

Introducing more diverse in-game activities might significantly enhance the gaming experience. While recurring elements like spawn sprees have been popular across multiple games, they can become monotonous and unfulfilling over time. Raids are alright, but essentially, they’re just larger group fights with added complexity. It would be exciting to see a new gameplay mechanic emerge or even a reintroduction of classic features such as the Alpha Pokemon for a triumphant comeback.

4 Unworthy Rivals

One Of The Main Mistakes Of The Franchise

Pros: Good for younger audiences
Cons: Bad for all audiences, makes them feel like fools that cannot take a challenge

In the annals of Pokemon history, names like Blue, Silver, Trace, and Cheren have become iconic as some of the most memorable rivals for dedicated fans. However, in recent versions of the game, this fantastic element seems to have been abandoned without explanation, replaced instead by less compelling characters that fall short of their role as strong motivators for growth. Fortunately, the latest release, Pokemon Scarlet & Violet , appears to have rectified this with their DLCs, introducing Kieran and his evolving character arc. This dark-edged rival, who is driven by a desire to defeat us, has been met with great approval from fans. The hope now is for more of such engaging characters in the future.

If something works, then stick to it: that is the basics of game design. Sturdy and hard-to-beat rivals are definitely one of the best things classic Pokemon games have to offer. The friendship trope and Academy Life in the Paldea region was a fresh and unusual take, but it hardly presented a potential challenge for seasoned players. While it is true that the games are now catering to a new/younger audience, and difficulty levels have been toned down with the purpose of drawing the attention of that specific scope, gamers (of every age) shouldn’t be underestimated or treated like lazy people. Gamers are tough and resourceful; they might lose, fall, and get frustrated, but they always come back for more. So, again, why treat them like they’re unable to face a challenging opponent? Bring Cynthia back; bring Lance back. That’s what Legends: Z-A needs.

3 Careful With The Megas, Please

Mega Evolutions Need To Avoid Overlapping With The Rest Of The Content

Pros: A highly requested gimmick making a comeback
Cons: Could greatly alter the balance of the game

One of the things that fans are most excited about in Pokemon Legends: Z-A is the glorious (and highly requested) return of the Mega Evolution mechanics. But, despite all this excitement and eagerness to see Mega-Charizard and others, there’s one detail that GameFreak should keep in mind: there are many meta Pokemon that could definitely use a boost, and the balance of the game could drastically shift if they receive a new evolution.

Imagining a Mega-Dragonite, a Mega-Archaludon, or any other potential meta-Pokemon turned into an 0KO machine might be tempting, but Gamefreak needs to be careful not to ruin the competitive meta completely, since that is also one of the fundamental pillars of the franchise. This is an opportunity for forgotten Gen 2, 3, and 4 Pokemon to receive their new and improved Mega versions. But, there are lots of factors to consider when deciding which Pokemon receive the Mega treatment; among them, Regional Forms and Gen 6 as the core roster are major considerations for a game set in the Kalos region.

2 Launching The Game As A Buggy Mess

Pokemon Should Only Have One Bug Type

Pros: None at all
Cons: Game breaking, annoying, makes players want to quit the game

Despite seeming odd to mention, bugs have been an issue in Pokemon games since they first began – not just the harmless ones like Caterpie, but glitches that can disrupt gameplay, steal focus, and even mar the overall Pokemon experience. It’s not just about fixing past flaws; given Nintendo’s size and the substantial income their flagship franchise generates, one would expect them to pay closer attention to quality assurance processes.

If fans received a dollar for each time they lost a prized shiny Pokemon, swallowed into oblivion by a terrain bug, or failed to reach one on time for similar reasons, then they would surely be able to afford every Pokemon product released in their lifetimes. And though this might sound like an exaggeration, just taking a look at forums and community posts asking for help tells the tale: Pokemon Scarlet & Violet remain, to this day, plagued with errors that are unacceptable in a AAA game franchise. Not to mention certain bugs that seem to be already a natural part of the Pokemon franchise, like the silly visual bug of the Luxio-Luxray line, the infamous de-spawn bug, and the corrupted-saved data error that has come back to haunt players since Pokemon Sword and Shield hit the markets back in 2019.

1 Visual Detail That Detracts From Shiny Hunting

Graphics Are Important, But Not At The Expense Of The Hunting Experience

Pros: Add extra flair and visuals
Cons: Poor interaction with meshes causes Shiny Pokemon to be hard to distinguish

Picture yourself, a dedicated Pokémon collector, receiving news of a Mass Outbreak event appearing on your screen, and to your delight, it’s for Eevee! You’d likely think: “At last, this is my chance to catch that elusive Shiny Eevee!” However, the latest visual effects have introduced dynamic lighting. While this would usually be exciting, in the context of the subpar meshes and textures of Shiny Pokémon, it becomes a challenge. Eevee isn’t an exception; many Shiny Pokémon are hard to tell apart from their normal forms, and the dynamic lighting doesn’t make identification any easier.

For any Pokemon trainer seeking a rare Shiny Pokemon like Shiny Litwick, it can get really frustrating because of the fast-paced day-night cycle and sudden changes in lighting due to area transitions. It’s tough to spot the difference after spending hours searching. However, Legends: Z-A presents a chance to rectify this issue that’s been bothering Pokemon fans for some time now. A possible solution could be introducing a special effect for Shinies when you use a certain item, or making the traditional Shiny Charm enhance the visual appearance of these unique Pokemons, which would make finding them less frustrating.

2024-09-06 05:05