Summary
ThePokemonfranchise has experienced a considerable amount of growth over the last few years.Pokemon SwordandShieldgave fans their first taste of open-world gameplay in a mainline title, showing what new entries are capable of on the Nintendo Switch.ScarletandVioletsignificantly expanded on this proof of concept, allowing near unrestricted exploration like the franchise has never seen. Perhapsthe most experimental effort fromPokemon, however, has beenPokemon Legends Arceus, and The Pokemon Company looks to continue its ambition with the recently revealedPokemon Legends Z-A.
Announced at the latest Pokemon Presents,Pokemon Legends Z-Alooks to build on the unique foundation laid byLegends Arceus. Instead of taking players to another ancient land, this new installment will center entirely on Kalos' Lumiose City fromPokemon XandY. Some wary fans have expressed concerns about this approach, as just one city may not feel like enough for the type of experienceLegends Arceusoffered. Fortunately,The Legends of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdommay have the perfect solution to ensurePokemon Legends Z-A’s setting doesn’t feel cramped or underwhelming.
The Depths Was One Of Tears of the Kingdom’s Biggest Surprises
Tears of the Kingdomwas one of the Switch’s most anticipated games for years, and for good reason.Breath of the Wildrevolutionized the open world genre, andTotKappeared to be a meaningful expansion of everythingBotWaccomplished. As it would turn out,TotKwas keeping an exciting secret between all of its trailers, and that secret was the Depths. This underground area allows players toexplore the caverns of Hyrule, expanding the map beyond the floating islands fans already knew to expect. It’s proven to be a major highlight forTotK, andLegends Z-Awould be wise to take notes.
Pokemon Legends Z-A Could Bring Players Under Lumiose City
One of the primary concerns withLegends Z-A’s Lumiose City settingis the fact that it may not feel as grand asLegends Arceus' Hisui region. Now thatTotK’s Depths has shown how a game’s map can be expanded downward and not outward, the same concept could be applied toLegends Z-A. While all of its story details aren’t currently known,Legends Z-A’s reveal trailer hinted at some kind of urban redevelopment plan for Lumiose City. This will likely have implications for the map players know fromXandY, but it could also open up opportunities to search Lumiose’s underbelly and encounter any hidden Pokemon.
Why an Underground in Lumiose Would Make Sense
An underground area would also be especially fitting for Lumiose City, as it’s based on the city of Paris. Paris' catacombs are an essential part of its history and culture, and though Pokemon is known for having some dark moments,Legends Z-Acould provide a less morbid analogue.Pokemon ScarletandVioletleaned heavily into its Spanish inspirations, and just about every game afterXandYhas made its regional inspiration a strong focus. To stay in line with that trend,Legends Z-Acould showcase two sides of Lumiose City, with its lush city above and the haunting underground below.
Pokemon Legends Must Keep Experimenting
Pokemon Legends Arceuswas thePokemongame many fans had been waiting years for, so any sequel would have big shoes to fill. The base concept ofLegends Z-Aseems promising so far, and many are just excited aboutgoing back to Kalos, but there are ways for the map to be more than just a slightly altered Lumiose City. It will likely be some time before fans understand the full scope ofLegends Z-A’s map, but for now there is still a lot of potential despite its restriction to one metropolis.
Pokemon Legends Z-A
The sequel to Pokemon Legends: Arceus, Pokemon Legends: Z-A takes Pokemon trainers back to the Kalos region’s Lumiose City.
