How Pokemon Legends: Z-A’s Battle Royale Replaces Gym Badges with a Twist!

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In the game “Pokemon Legends: Z-A,” it seems that the central feature known as the Z-A Royale will serve as a replacement for the traditional gyms found in Pokemon games, possibly taking over another core mechanic present in the main series. Even though recent installments like “Pokemon Scarlet” and “Violet” have adopted an open-world design, most Pokemon games have included a loyalty system tied to collecting gym badges, which regulates player progression. However, titles that deviate from this format, such as “Pokemon Legends: Arceus” and its successor “Pokemon Legends: Z-A,” need an alternative method for handling this in-game loyalty system if they don’t include gyms in their gameplay.

In the game “Legends: Arceus”, instead of traditional gym badges, star rankings were used to track player progression through the story. Interestingly, this new system was linked to the forerunners of Team Galactic from “Pokemon Diamond” and “Pearl”. Since “Legends: Z-A” is set in Lumiose City in present times, it’s possible that the upcoming Z-A Royale could serve as a replacement for gyms and stars. However, unlike the eight gym badges, how the game might structure its alphabetical system across twenty-six ranks in “Legends: Z-A” could prove to be more intricate than initially assumed.

The Z-A Royale Could Be The Answer To Obedience In Pokemon Legends: Z-A

Since the debut of the initial “Pokemon” games like “Red,” “Blue,” and “Yellow,” the concept of Pokemon obedience has been a significant gameplay element to slow down players’ advancement, as higher-level Pokemons are more likely to defy trainer commands without sufficient gym badges. This mechanic, evident in the “Pokemon” anime through characters like Ash and his rebellious Charizard, ensures that players can’t overly rely on powerful Pokemons they’ve either trained or traded to breeze through the game. As “Pokemon” moved beyond linear game design, even open-world “Pokemon” games have maintained this obedience mechanic to regulate player progression.

Pokemon Legends: Z-A Needs an Alternative to Gym Badges, Stamps, And Stars

As a dedicated Pokemon gamer, I’ve always been accustomed to the routine of collecting badges from eight regional gyms in the mainline games. However, with titles like “Legends: Arceus” and its counterparts breaking the mold, it’s clear that change is on the horizon. In the case of “Legends: Z-A”, set within the expansive Lumiose City, a fresh approach is needed to replace badges, stamps, and stars in managing Pokemon obedience and player progression. The intriguing reveal of its Z-A Royale feature could be a game-changer, as its alphabetical ranking system might not only apply to “Legends: Z-A” but extend beyond, tying into the game’s subtitle in an exciting way.

Based on the latest game previews, it seems that the storyline for Z-A Royale, in addition to Quasartico Inc.’s Lumiose City renovation project, is a significant focus. It’s hinted that players of Legends: Z-A will be rewarded with a wish upon reaching the highest rank. Instead of the ranks and gym badges from Legends: Arceus‘s Galaxy Expedition Team, progression in Legends: Z-A might relate to Pokemon obedience, where higher ranks translate to higher-level monsters obeying the player. The game’s structure indicates that there are potentially twenty-six ranks, since players will advance from “Z” to “A.

Pokemon Legends: Z-A’s Lettered Ranks Might Complicate Obedience

Essentially, there’s a notable distinction between the usual eight badges in Pokémon and the potential twenty-six lettered ranks in Legends: Z-A. This becomes particularly clear when considering that each letter in the latter represents a hundred levels a Pokémon can attain. A possible solution could be to compare these with badges or stars, dividing obedience among level-based groups, with every five or so ranks in the Z-A Royale boosting a Pokémon’s obedience. While this method could highlight specific ties between each rank and obedience, it may be the only approach Legends: Z-A can employ for its obedience system; otherwise, the levels of Pokémon would have to be divided even more finely across the twenty-six ranks from “Z” to “A.

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2025-04-22 15:35