Pokémon Legends: Z-A unveils an exciting new trailer and is set for a fall release.

      A Detailed Look at Pokémon Legends: Z-A!

      Pokémon Legends: Z-A is scheduled for release in “late 2025,” although the Japanese trailer hints at a fall launch, and Nintendo has confirmed a simultaneous worldwide release. Today's Pokémon Presents offered another glimpse of this upcoming game, providing much more information than we had before, including details about the new starters, battle mechanics, rivals, and additional features.

      The full game will take place in Lumiose City, contrasting with the more open-world setting of the original Pokémon: Legends. The trailers suggest a vast area to explore, but it will be intriguing to see how gameplay adapts to a relatively confined space.

      Upon entering Lumiose City, players will choose from three starters: Tepig, Chikorita, or Totodile. This selection combines starters from both Gen 2 and Gen 5, though it seems unfortunate that Cyndaquil was not included. The trailer showcases a diverse array of Pokémon from nearly all generations.

      Perhaps the most significant update is the alteration to the battle system. Unlike previous installments, Legends: Z-A will not feature turn-based battles. Instead, combat will occur in a more real-time format where players guide their Pokémon through the arena to evade attacks. Pokémon will maintain four moves, each assigned to a different face button. Timing and positioning will play a crucial role, making battles appear more engaging for players. However, the prospect of being hit by a poorly-timed Hyper Beam dodge isn’t very appealing.

      We were also given a glimpse into the game's narrative. Lumiose City is undergoing an "urban redevelopment plan" aimed at making it habitable for both humans and Pokémon, overseen by a megacorporation known as Quasartico Inc., which will likely serve the role of the Team Rocket equivalent.

      Initial trailers indicated that the game would be launched on Nintendo Switch “systems,” but this presentation concluded with only the standard Switch logo. With the existence of the Nintendo Switch 2 confirmed, which has a Direct presentation scheduled, it’s curious that Legends: Z-A hasn't been explicitly announced for both consoles. Nevertheless, Nintendo has assured backward compatibility for the Switch 2, so this may not be an issue.

      Patrick Hearn covers smart home technologies such as Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, smart bulbs, and more.

      Everything We Know About Pokémon Legends: Arceus

      Every new generation of main-series Pokémon games introduces something novel -- a variety of regional Pokémon to add to your team, fresh characters in gyms and the Elite Four, and sometimes innovative gameplay mechanics as seen in Pokémon Sword and Shield’s Wild Areas and Dynamaxing. However, based on what we have seen so far, Pokémon Legends: Arceus is set to break from the traditional Pokémon game format, offering players a uniquely different Pokémon training experience.

      Set to release in early 2022, Pokémon Legends: Arceus is being promoted as a "new approach for the Pokémon video game series." Players will revisit the Sinnoh region from the Pokémon Diamond and Pokémon Pearl games, but set long before those events. Taking inspiration from Nintendo's immensely popular Zelda: Breath of the Wild, the game aims to provide an open-world adventure with greater exploratory opportunities than previous Pokémon games.

      Nintendo has shared a significant amount of information about Pokémon Legends: Arceus, which will launch on January 28. A 13-minute video released on YouTube covers nearly every aspect of the game, from previously revealed noble Pokémon to how players will capture Pokémon themselves.

      Pokémon Legends: Arceus is a new adventure that fans will not want to miss. The title has been recognized as a “new approach for the Pokémon video game series” and will feature fresh gameplay, new Pokémon, and lore not seen in previous Nintendo titles. The game is said to have a Breath of the Wild art style and offers a world with more exploration than any other main Pokémon series entry (although it is not fully open world), resembling a Pokémon version of Monster Hunter based on recent trailers.

      Pokémon Legends: Arceus is launching on January 28 for Nintendo Switch. Be sure to play this on launch day by pre-ordering as soon as possible. Additionally, various in-game bonuses and real-life rewards may accompany pre-orders at certain retailers.