Pokemon Legends: Z-A – Why Zygarde is Making Me Want to Return to Scarlet and Violet

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Spoilers for Pokemon Legends: Z-A ahead.

When Game Freak announced Pokemon Legends: Z-A, I immediately wondered how Zygarde would be included. It seemed certain it would play a key role, as it would have been strange to revisit the world of Generation 6 and use a ‘Z’ title without featuring the Legendary Pokemon that never got its own dedicated game. However, the initial marketing focused more on the return of Mega Evolution than on Zygarde. Now that I’ve played the game and understand Zygarde’s role, I find myself thinking a lot about Pokemon Scarlet and Violet instead.

I have mixed feelings about Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, like many fans. While the graphics aren’t great, and I was hoping for more from the open-world design – the Paldea region felt empty beyond the basic Pokémon gameplay – I did appreciate some aspects. The Terastallization feature encouraged strategic thinking about type matchups, and I was especially impressed with the story. The games made a unique choice by immediately pairing you with the Legendary Pokémon Koraidon or Miraidon, creating a strong bond that previous games, like the one featuring Zygarde, didn’t achieve.

Both Scarlet/Violet and Pokemon Legends: Z-A really need voice acting, in my opinion. However, that’s not the main point I want to discuss right now.

Pokemon Legends: Z-A Confirms that Scarlet and Violet’s Legendaries Set a New Standard for Me

Many Pokémon games emphasize the importance of friendship with your Pokémon, but Scarlet and Violet truly captured this idea. The game immediately focuses on building trust with your Legendary Pokémon, Koraidon or Miraidon, through a simple act of kindness, and it quickly becomes a rewarding partnership. Throughout your journey, you and your Pokémon share adventures, help each other grow, and even support a friend and his sick Pokémon. Koraidon or Miraidon is almost always by your side, constantly showing affection, which made our bond feel genuinely special and unlike anything I’ve experienced in other Pokémon games.

What I really miss in Pokemon Legends: Z-A is the close connection I felt with the Legendary Pokemon. In this game, Zygarde is much more distant and mysterious, only appearing when the story focuses on the secret of Rogue Mega Evolution. While this keeps those moments exciting, Zygarde feels like a plot device rather than a companion. Unlike Scarlet/Violet, where I felt like an equal, Z-A makes me feel like I’m learning from Zygarde, not befriending it.

It’s not shocking how the latest game handles its legendary Pokémon, as previous titles – including Pokémon Legends: Arceus – have established a pattern. However, Pokémon doesn’t need to follow that pattern, and Scarlet and Violet showed us there’s room for something different. I was initially hopeful that Z-A would take that approach. Seeing Zygarde Cells early on made me think I’d be able to add Zygarde to my team relatively quickly, but that didn’t happen. It’s a familiar disappointment, and it makes me wish I could experience Pokémon Scarlet and Violet as if it were my first time.

Pokemon Legends: Z-A Didn’t Learn From Scarlet and Violet, but Gen 10 Can

I still believe the design choices made in Scarlet and Violet can be successful. We’re probably not far from seeing the next generation of Pokémon games, especially with the recent significant leaks about Gen 10. These leaks hint at a new feature called “Seed Pokémon” – a rare creature players receive early on that evolves into different forms based on a random process. That sounds like a good start, but I’m trying to stay cautiously optimistic about Gen 10’s story. A strong beginning means little if the game doesn’t build meaningful connections with its characters. Considering Game Freak’s past work, the rumored Pokémon Wind and Wave games could end up being more similar to Scarlet and Violet than to the Let’s Go titles.

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2025-10-24 00:04