Pokémon Gen 10 Must Ditch Legends Z-A’s Worst Feature

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The popularity of Pokémon seems to be declining, as recent games haven’t satisfied many fans. While some, including myself to a degree, try to defend titles like Pokémon Scarlet & Violet and Legends: Z-A, it’s hard to ignore that the series has generally gone downhill in quality and what it offers players. Aside from the music, there isn’t much to praise in Game Freak’s latest releases.

It feels like Game Freak and The Pokémon Company have lost sight of what made earlier Pokémon games so beloved. Instead of building on that success, they’re making choices that go against what makes Pokémon special. This is especially noticeable in Legends: Z-A, where the environments are surprisingly bland and uninspired – a flaw that significantly detracts from the overall experience. We can’t continue to watch the series decline. Game Freak needs to address Legends: Z-A’s biggest problem now and get Pokémon back on track.

Pokémon Legends: Z-A’s Environments Were Uninspired

It’s difficult to pinpoint one specific reason for the recent decline in quality of modern Pokémon games, as many issues contribute to it. However, I believe the biggest problem is the uninspired design of the game regions. Since the series moved to 3D graphics, the level of detail and variety in these regions has noticeably decreased.

While Pokémon Legends: Arceus had a beautiful, watercolor-like art style, its open areas felt empty and lacked detail. Pokémon Scarlet and Violet continue this trend, with lots of fields, rocks, and ice, but each area feels very similar and uninspired. Compared to older games like Black and White with its lively cities, or Ruby and Sapphire’s vibrant rainforests and hot springs, the newer environments just don’t stand out.

However, the latest game, Legends: Z-A, is arguably the most underwhelming. It’s the first in the series to confine players to a single city, and it missed a chance to really showcase a Pokémon-infested urban landscape. The developers could have created exciting environments – like parks and skyscrapers overtaken by wild Pokémon, or streets transformed by ice-type Pokémon – but the game doesn’t fully explore that potential.

It would have been fascinating to see how a city completely taken over by Pokémon could be reimagined, but Legends: Z-A didn’t deliver on that potential. Instead, its version of Lumiose City feels bland and unoriginal, lacking personality beyond a few Pokémon perched on streetlights or trees. The game’s important locations are remarkably similar, with little variety or visual appeal, making exploration feel like a chore. Ironically, the developers at Game Freak have demonstrated they can create the kind of immersive world Z-A needed – their recent nonPokémon* game features beautiful cityscapes reclaimed by nature.

Pokémon Gen 10 Needs To Have A More Varied World

The next generation of Pokémon games needs a fresh take on region design. Instead of relying on the same few predictable environments, or simply recreating real-world locations, the new region should be unique, stylized, and diverse. While Pokémon is somewhat realistic, it’s still a fantastical world filled with extraordinary creatures, so the landscapes should feel imaginative and even otherworldly.

I’m not suggesting the game needs landscapes as elaborate as those in Xenoblade Chronicles, though those are certainly impressive. What I’m hoping for is a willingness to mix up the environments dramatically – think lush jungles right next to volcanic islands, sharp mountains, and colorful forests. The region should feel dynamic and shaped by the Pokémon that live there, a big change from the gentle, rolling hills we’ve seen a lot lately.

If the rumors about the new Pokémon generation (Gen 10) are true, the game could feature many different islands to explore. Game Freak, the developers, should make sure each island feels unique – think vibrant tropical landscapes, desolate fire-scorched lands, eerie ghostly areas, and islands perpetually frozen in time. This would make exploring feel fresh and exciting, instead of repetitive and dull. There’s huge potential for creative island designs to create a truly memorable experience.

Pokémon’s Visual Identity Needs To Change

With the upcoming redesign of the game regions, Game Freak should also consider updating the overall look of Pokémon. While it’s important to maintain some connection to the anime’s style, the next main Pokémon game will likely be on the Nintendo Switch 2, making it a great opportunity to refresh the graphics – similar to when the series first moved to 3D.

As a long-time Pokémon fan, I’m really hoping the next games give the environments a much-needed makeover. Honestly, things have felt a little…flat lately. The textures are basic, the worlds aren’t very interesting, and even the animations feel slow. It’s a shame because the Pokémon designs themselves are always fantastic and full of personality! I’d love to see the environments finally match that level of creativity and adventure. The games used to feel so magical and full of wonder when I was a kid, and bringing back that feeling would mean a serious boost in detail and a more whimsical style for the world around us.

While Pokémon Legends: Arceus tried something different visually, it didn’t quite reach its full potential. The next generation of Pokémon games needs to take a bold step forward with a truly unique and captivating art style that will both impress existing fans and attract new players. If Game Freak can bring the same level of detail and artistry seen in Beast of Reincarnation’s environments to the next Pokémon games, the results could be stunning.

Does Pokémon need a modern look? Share your thoughts in the comments or discuss it on the ComicBook Forum!

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2026-02-03 23:12