Pokemon Legends: Z-A Has One Big Thing in Common With Scarlet & Violet, and It Has Me Excited for Gen 10

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I’ve been a Pokémon fan since childhood, but I quickly tired of the same old storyline. I was happy to see newer games started experimenting with more engaging narratives. However, recent installments haven’t always succeeded, with stories and characters that sometimes feel underdeveloped. Despite its issues, *Scarlet & Violet* actually featured some of the most compelling characters the series has ever seen, and I’m glad *Pokémon Legends: Z-A* is continuing that positive trend.

Unlike most Pokémon games with their clear paths, *Scarlet & Violet* tried a new approach to storytelling. This had some success, but also created issues. The game let you tackle objectives in almost any order, which meant the different storylines felt disconnected for a long time. While the individual stories for each character were interesting, they didn’t quite blend together well. *Pokémon Legends: Z-A* improved this significantly, and it makes me excited to see what the next generation of Pokémon games will offer.

I Still Think About Pokemon Scarlet & Violet‘s Side Characters

I’ll admit, I tend to defend *Scarlet & Violet*. I started playing the game later in its life, so I didn’t experience many of the technical issues others did. That allowed me to really appreciate what the game did well, particularly its memorable supporting characters. While Nimona’s dedication to fighting feels like something we’ve seen before, Penny and Arven are both well-developed characters with compelling reasons for their actions. The game managed to juggle three different storylines surprisingly well, and those stories have stayed with me long after I finished playing.

Arven and Penny are well-developed characters with compelling backstories and clear motivations. Completing their individual questlines reveals these stories, each with a rewarding conclusion. Penny perfectly captures the enthusiasm of an Eevee fan, while Arven is a passionate foodie dedicated to helping a friend. Their storylines are emotionally resonant and offer a welcome break from constant battles. These character arcs are a major strength of *Scarlet & Violet*, and a key reason why I enjoy the game despite its imperfections.

While the game has enjoyable moments, especially when the characters interact, the main story feels incomplete. Even with the extra story content and epilogue, it doesn’t feel like a satisfying conclusion. Many questions remain unanswered by the end of *Scarlet & Violet*, and the motivations of characters like Briar are unclear. The game excels at creating interesting side characters and stories, but it never quite builds to a strong, definitive ending.

Pokemon Legends: Z-A Has a Good Story and Solid Side Characters, So Let’s Keep It Up

I was honestly a little surprised when I started playing *Pokemon Legends: Z-A* and realized the story was more guided than before. After really enjoying how open *Scarlet & Violet* were, a long tutorial telling me exactly what to do felt a bit strange at first. But it turned out the story was really worth it! The game does a great job of letting you explore Lumiose City while still having a strong, well-crafted narrative. What I really appreciated was that the developers didn’t forget about the side characters while building up to the main story – they felt well-developed and interesting too.

Legends: Z-A features both returning and brand-new characters, creating a diverse group. We rejoin the core members of Team MZ, including a compelling and enigmatic rival. Each character has their own motivations for joining the team, and we experience battles from their perspectives. The game also introduces intriguing opponents in the Battle Royale, with each new challenge revealing a unique character. To defeat them, we unlock additional story segments that allow us to learn more about individuals like Canari and Corbeau.

I really enjoyed the characters in this game. While some of them fit familiar tropes, they still felt like real people with their own personalities, not just simple roles like ‘Pokemon Trainer.’ The way the game brought these side characters back for a fulfilling ending was the most satisfying conclusion to a Pokemon game I’ve ever seen, and it makes me excited to see what stories the next generation of Pokemon will tell.

If The Pokémon Company can apply the lessons learned from *Scarlet & Violet* and *Legends: Z-A* to the next generation of games, the future looks bright. The next main series Pokémon game will probably focus more on traditional catching and battling, but I’m hoping it also includes the memorable characters and engaging story we’ve seen in the latest games. After playing *Legends: Z-A*, I’m more excited about the future of Pokémon than I have been in a long time.

Which supporting character from *Pokemon Legends: Z-A* do you like the most? Share your thoughts and discuss it with other fans in the ComicBook Forum!

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2025-10-20 16:10