Exclusive Look: ‘Pokémon Legends: Z-A’ Demos

by

In early 2022, Pokémon Legends: Arceus marked a daring departure for The Pokémon Company, venturing into uncharted territory. Unlike previous titles, this one offered an open-world setting that encouraged players to explore like never before in the world of Pokémon. Instead of the usual battles, players sneak up on and capture wandering Pokémon. Additionally, Noble Pokémon enter frenzies, requiring players to dodge their attacks and feed them their favorite food to calm them down. Abandoning a tried-and-true formula for the franchise was a gamble, but it proved successful. Critics lauded it, and fans showed their appreciation, making Legends: Arceus the first Pokémon title on Nintendo Switch without any significant fan backlash.

Given the resounding success of Legends: Arceus, it wasn’t unexpected that there would be another Pokémon Legends title. Last year during a Pokémon Presents livestream, we caught our first glimpse of Pokémon Legends: Z-A. Since then, fans have been eagerly anticipating the game, with several trailers released to build excitement. The title is set for launch on October 16 this year. We were fortunate enough to attend the Pokémon World Championships and be among the first to play the game. Here’s our comprehensive rundown of the thrilling experience, complete with sneak peeks behind the scenes of the gameplay.

Teaser Recap

Before we jump into the two-part demonstration, let’s quickly recap what we’ve gleaned from the last year and a half of previews. Unlike its predecessor, “Legends: Z-A” focuses on combat. The game offers real-time battles, a novelty for the Pokémon RPG series. Each night, players are invited to join the Z-A Royale, where they can fight their way from Rank Z to Rank A.

In the game, all the action unfolds within Lumiose City of the Kalos region, where specific zones allow Pokemon to roam freely. Compared to its appearance in Pokémon X and Y, the city has undergone significant changes. These games pioneered Mega Evolution, a popular mechanic within the series that enables Pokémon such as Charizard to metamorphose into a more powerful version, showcasing an even more intimidating appearance. However, Mega Evolution was absent in the last two generations of Pokémon games. Yet, it’s been announced that this feature will make a comeback in Legends: Z-A. Several Mega Pokémon have been confirmed for return, with one new addition being Mega Dragonite.

Real-Time Battling Demo

Initially, I was given a sneak peek at the latest real-time combat system. Assuming command of my trainer, who had a group of four low-level Pokémon, I spent a moment getting acquainted with the controls. The movement mechanics are similar to those in Legends: Arceus, featuring options for sprinting, sneaking, and rolling for seamless mobility suited to different scenarios. Following this, I entered the first “Battle Zone,” where my objective was to defeat fellow trainers in order to secure a pass to battle the zone’s leader.

Just moments after entering the combat area, a trainer attacked me unexpectedly, causing me as much surprise as my own Pokemon. My Chikorita began to take blow after blow before our instructor explained how to counter-attack. Eventually, I managed to target the enemy grunt’s Pokemon and the battle was on. I retaliated with a barrage of attacks and even switched Pokemon for a strategic advantage, ensuring a victory that was quite comfortable in the end.

In traditional Pokemon games, players choose actions for their characters to perform, which are carried out according to a priority system. However, in Legends: Z-A, both combatants can attack rapidly. Each move has a cooldown period with a brief global cooldown. For button-pressing enthusiasts like me, it offers a delightfully new experience. As we delve into higher levels of combat, the fast pace seems to offer more opportunities for strategic expression. The days are gone when you could just use the move that counters your opponent the most. Now, the order in which moves are used becomes significant, and trainers seeking an edge will probably adjust their Pokemon’s moveset for each major fight, making sure that its secondary and tertiary moves are useful in the specific matchup.

In my initial encounter, I found myself caught off guard and ambushed. But during the next opportunity, I managed to catch a trainer unawares and launch a surprise attack on them. Unlike past games, this particular trainer’s Pokemon was out in plain sight, allowing players to pick the best starting Pokémon. I swiftly defeated the second and third trainers, earning me a pass to challenge the lead trainer for a chance to advance in rank. However, rather than facing another trainer battle, it was now time for a change of strategies and the stakes were raised.

Rogue Mega Evolution Demo

For many Pokémon enthusiasts like me, Mega Evolutions are a cherished game mechanic. However, in games such as Pokémon X and Y, I seldom encountered or utilized these enhanced forms of Pokémon due to their lengthy animation sequences and minimal impact on tough battles that were already easy to win. The Legends: Z-A series appears to have addressed this issue, particularly with the innovative Rogue Mega Evolution system showcased in its second demo, which streamlines the Mega Evolution process for a more engaging gaming experience.

Arceus,” particularly taming the Noble Pokémon. However, my human character was often overshadowed by my team of six Pokémon. But in Rogue Mega Evolution, it seems like both you and your Pokémon will take center stage, making for a more engaging experience together.

Following an intense chase where I kept track of Zygarde in its 10% Forme, it transported me to a rooftop. There, I encountered an Absol that seemed to be suffering. Suddenly, an enigmatic old man named AZ appeared, accompanied by a Lucario. He handed me a Mega Ring and encouraged me to team up with Lucario to challenge Absol. Absol underwent Rogue Mega Evolution, metamorphosing into Mega Absol, preparing to attack not only Lucario but also my character.

Within a blazing ring, the moment arrived for me to demonstrate my freshly acquired combat techniques. I focused on the Rogue Mega Absol and initiated my offensive, rapidly executing one maneuver after another, always keeping an eye out for Absol’s long-range assaults and jumps aimed at me. Gradually, energy orbs known as Mega Power would fall for me to gather, filling up my Mega Ring. Once I had accumulated enough power, usually within about 30 seconds of attacking, it was the instant for Lucario’s Mega Evolution.

In the battle, the powerful Lucario boosted our firepower significantly. But unlike before, it doesn’t transform back into its normal self immediately. Instead, there’s a temporary phase where it stays in its enhanced form. You can extend this phase by gathering more Mega Power, although it eventually seems unavoidable. Interestingly, another chance to undergo the Mega Evolution arises, differing from past limitations.

In the beginning of a battle with Rogue Mega Evolution, it lasted several minutes and could have ended unfavorably for me if not for a well-timed Potion. However, I eventually managed to knock out Absol, earning myself an Absolite – the stone necessary for Absol’s Mega Evolution. The game had hinted at previous instances of Rogue Mega Evolution, and then Absol appeared with the intention of being caught. As the ninth main mission in the game, I was greeted with a completion screen once it was over.

As an ardent admirer of Pokémon throughout my life, the excitement for trying out the demo was bound to happen; yet, it exceeded my anticipations. While it might seem hasty to base a judgment on just two short demos, one thing is undeniably clear: this game is unlike any other Pokémon game I’ve encountered before.

The game titled ‘Pokémon Legends: Z-A’ is scheduled for a worldwide release on October 16, accessible on both Nintendo Switch and the anticipated Switch 2. You can purchase physical or digital copies, priced at $60 USD and $70 USD respectively for the Nintendo Switch and Switch 2.

Meanwhile, the Pokémon World Championships have commenced today in Anaheim, California. For those interested, head over to the Play Pokémon YouTube channel to watch all the action unfold, and don’t forget to tune in for Sunday’s closing ceremony, which promises several intriguing revelations regarding the Pokémon franchise.

Read More

2025-08-15 15:56