As a gamer who’s been through the Pokemon generations since the good old Gameboy days, I can’t help but feel a mix of excitement and apprehension about the upcoming “Pokemon Legends: Z-A“. The Switch era has been quite the rollercoaster for us Pokemon fans, with its highs (like Arceus and New Snap) and lows (Sword and Shield performance issues, Scarlet and Violet’s rushed feel).
It’s no secret that the Nintendo Switch era is quickly coming to a close. Since releasing in 2017, the system has been a huge success for Nintendo, as well as The Pokemon Company. Over the last seven years, the system has played host to critically and commercially successful Pokemon games, including Pokemon Legends: Arceus and New Pokemon Snap. However, there have been plenty of controversies that have surrounded the games, from the National Dex discussions that surrounded Pokemon Sword and Shield, to the performance issues of Pokemon Scarlet and Violet. It’s looking like Pokemon Legends: Z-A will be the last Pokemon game on Switch, and it could be an opportunity to close things out on a strong note.
Currently, there isn’t a lot of information available about the upcoming game titled “Pokemon Legends: Z-A”. We do know that it takes place in the Kalos region, as seen in Pokemon X and Y, and appears to be linked to Lumiose City. However, other than these points, we don’t have much more information. It has been confirmed that Mega Evolution will play a role in the game. As of now, the release date for the game is somewhat ambiguous, with a tentative 2025 launch; some fans initially believed it would be released in January, but this coincides with the release of Donkey Kong Country Returns HD. Therefore, we can expect to see it no sooner than February. The only other Nintendo-published game currently scheduled for 2025 is Metroid Prime 4.
When the release of Pokemon Legends: Z-A occurs, it presents an opportunity for The Pokemon Company to alter the storyline of the Switch era. While Pokemon games on Switch haven’t been entirely negative, there are aspects that Pokemon Scarlet and Violet excelled in. Unfortunately, some players have a negative perspective towards this generation of Pokemon. The developers of the franchise understand that fans felt Scarlet and Violet were released too hastily. In a 2023 group interview, Pokemon Company COO Takato Utsunomiya responded to ComicBook’s question about the franchise’s release schedule, mentioning that there were ongoing discussions about ensuring high-quality products. The lack of a new Pokemon game on Switch in 2024 (possibly not until late 2025) may indicate that these improvements are already underway.
If The Pokemon Company aims to create games of a superior quality compared to what was seen in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, Pokemon Legends: Z-A presents an excellent chance for this improvement. There are numerous high-quality Nintendo Switch titles that have maximized the system’s capabilities without encountering performance issues similar to those in Scarlet and Violet; games like Xenoblade Chronicles 3 and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom serve as examples. If Pokemon Legends: Z-A delivers an experience comparable to Pokemon Legends: Arceus while introducing something innovative and unique, it could leave fans with a truly memorable impression of the Nintendo Switch.
It appears that the Nintendo Switch 2 may be coming soon, but it’s likely we’ll have to wait a while longer for a main Pokemon game on this platform. Although there might be a spin-off game in the meantime, it’s worth remembering that the Nintendo Switch didn’t receive its first Pokemon game until a year after launch. Instead of a Pokemon game during its first holiday season, we got Pokemon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon on the 3DS. It’s possible that history could repeat itself, with Pokemon Legends: Z-A not arriving until after the new console has been released. If this happens, it will be crucial for the game to offer a satisfying experience, rather than another mediocre one. Here’s hoping the secrecy around the game means that Game Freak is working diligently on something extraordinary.
Read More
- CTXC PREDICTION. CTXC cryptocurrency
- CTK PREDICTION. CTK cryptocurrency
- OKB PREDICTION. OKB cryptocurrency
- DGB PREDICTION. DGB cryptocurrency
- TNSR PREDICTION. TNSR cryptocurrency
- EUR JPY PREDICTION
- IMX PREDICTION. IMX cryptocurrency
- CRV PREDICTION. CRV cryptocurrency
- TRU PREDICTION. TRU cryptocurrency
- Bitcoin profit-taking remains ‘below historical peaks’ amid $90K high
2024-09-22 00:40