Pokemon Legends: Z-A Has One Feature That Reminds Me So Much of Red & Blue

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Like many people who grew up with Pokemon, my first experiences with the games were playing Pokemon Blue and Pokemon Crystal. I’ve been a fan ever since, but nothing compares to the feeling of playing on a Game Boy during a long car ride. I always look forward to the new things each Pokemon game brings, but secretly, I’m hoping to recapture that childhood excitement of getting completely lost in the game for hours. Even though Pokemon Legends: Z-A is quite different from the traditional Pokemon games, it surprisingly reminded me of my time with Pokemon Blue.

Unlike previous Pokémon games where the goal was to catch them all, Legends: Z-A feels different. While there are Pokémon in the Wild Zones, the game doesn’t have a large Pokedex, and you won’t be challenging gym leaders or exploring a vast region. It’s a departure even from recent titles like Scarlet & Violet. However, once I got to Lysandre Labs, the game reminded me of classic Pokémon adventures, specifically with its enjoyable, compact team hideout dungeon. It felt like a throwback to older titles in the best way.

The Team Rocket Hideout Was the Bane of My Childhood Existence, But I Kind of Miss It

I have strong memories of being stuck while playing older video games. As someone who doesn’t naturally understand spatial relationships, I particularly remember struggling with the Team Rocket Hideout and Silph Co. in the original Pokemon Blue. These areas were like mini-mazes filled with tricky arrow panels and teleport tiles that required careful thought to get through. One mistake meant starting over or accidentally bumping into an enemy trainer. I was terrible at it, and often got really frustrated! But surprisingly, I actually miss those challenging puzzles in newer Pokemon games.

Recent Pokémon games haven’t focused as much on battling a clearly defined evil team like Team Rocket or Team Flare. Because of this, newer games like Pokémon Sword and Shield and Pokémon Scarlet and Violet don’t have the complex, winding dungeons we used to see. However, Pokémon Legends: Z-A, with its futuristic city and technology, already felt a lot like exploring a secret Team Rocket base—I just needed the classic warp panels and spinning arrow traps to complete the experience.

I was surprised to discover a hidden lab beneath the city in Pokemon Legends: Z-A, especially since Team Flare Nouveou isn’t revealed until later in the game. I definitely didn’t expect to explore one! Finding out I needed a key to access Lysandre Labs felt like a throwback to the early Pokemon games. While it wasn’t as complex as some of the older labs – it lacked the tricky arrow panels I remember – it still had a wonderful nostalgic feel that I really enjoyed.

Pokemon Legends: Z-A Makes the Dungeon Crawl Too Easy, But It Is Still Nostalgic

The latest update to Legends: Z-A removes the annoying arrow panels from the Lysandre Labs, which makes navigating easier but also takes away some of the level’s unique character. You also won’t encounter Team Flare grunts to battle, as the team has officially broken up and the new group, Team Flare Nouveu, appears to only have two members. This means the maze is less crowded with enemies, though you’ll still need to watch out for surprise encounters with wild Pokémon.

Returning to Lysandre Labs, I braced myself for getting completely lost, especially when I realized the warp pads were still there despite the directional arrows being removed. However, the maze turned out to be surprisingly simple – much easier than the ones in previous Pokémon games. I managed to find the Elevator Key and return to the entrance with very few wrong turns, and thankfully avoided accidentally bumping into any Team Flare members for a battle.

I enjoyed the fun of the challenge, but I didn’t miss the stress it caused. Exploring the old Pokemon Team Hideout felt wonderfully nostalgic, even though the experience was brief. I hope future games, starting with Generation 10, bring back similar elements alongside their strong stories and interesting characters. I’d even like to see the arrow puzzles and tricky navigation return, perhaps even more complex than before. Here’s hoping we can get lost in a team hideout again while trying to save the world in future Pokemon adventures.

What are your thoughts on revisiting Lysandre Labs in Pokémon Legends: Z-A? Share your opinions in the comments and join the discussion on the ComicBook Forum!

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2025-10-21 18:17