Pokemon Legends: Z-A Could Feature Improved Riding Mechanics

Pokemon Legends: Z-A Could Feature Improved Riding Mechanics

Key Takeaways

  • Ride Pokemon could return in Pokemon Legends: Z-A with improved animations for boarding and disembarking.
  • Previous games featured ride Pokemon like Tauros and Stoutland with unique abilities for exploration.
  • Ride Pokemon have proven essential for navigating open-world environments in recent games, with the potential for new types in future installments.

As a seasoned veteran of the Pokémon universe, spanning from Red and Blue to the latest Sword and Shield, I can confidently say that rideable Pokémon have become an integral part of my journey through these magical lands. From soaring on the back of Charizard to galloping across the plains on Tauros, these beasts of burden not only add a unique flavor to exploration but also serve as faithful companions in times of need.


In the latest open-world Pokemon games, riding Pokemon has grown more significant, and Nintendo and The Pokemon Company’s recent patent hints at this mechanic returning in next year’s Pokemon Legends: Z-A, with potential improvements. While many fans speculate that ride Pokemon will be incorporated in some way due to the open-world setting of Pokemon Legends: Z-A, there is still curiosity about how the conventional variety of ride Pokemon will adapt to a game set entirely within the urban environment of Lumiose City.

The idea of riding on specific Pokemon has been a recurring theme since early Pokemon games, but it was significantly developed as a gameplay feature in the Gen 7 titles, namely Pokemon Sun and Moon. In these games, players could traverse the Alola region on various Pokemon like Tauros, Stoutland, Lapras, Sharpedo, and Machamp. Notably, Charizard enabled quick travel to any previously explored location within the region. Each rideable Pokemon possessed a unique skill; for instance, Stoutland could detect hidden items, while Machamp could move large boulders.

In the newer Pokemon games, ride Pokemon have significantly contributed to the gameplay experience, even though they were not included in the Gen 8 games which reintroduced bicycles instead. It appears that this feature is coming back in the upcoming game Pokemon Legends: Z-A, as suggested by a recently revealed patent. This patent, likely linked to a future Pokemon title given it was filed by The Pokemon Company, seems to focus on enhancing the animation quality during the process of mounting and dismounting ride Pokemon. Specifically, it seems to outline an advancement where player characters automatically dismount from aerial ride Pokemon upon landing, transitioning smoothly into regular movement, possibly through improved animations.

Pokemon Legends: Z-A Could Once Again Shake Up The Ride Pokemon Formula

It’s unusual given that games like Pokemon Scarlet and Violet let players smoothly transition between flying and walking, but it seems to hint that rideable Pokemon will return in an upcoming game. Game Freak may be enhancing this feature, focusing on refining related animations. It might also imply the introduction of a new kind of ride Pokemon.

Regardless of the scenario, the role of riding Pokemon in both Legends: Arceus and Scarlet and Violet is crucial since it facilitates easier exploration of the open-world landscapes by enabling climbing and flying. If Pokemon Legends: Z-A indeed focuses solely on Lumiose City, there arises a question about how the ride Pokemon mechanics could be modified to fit this urban environment, given that it’s quite distinct from the usual open world.

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2024-09-10 20:33