Pokemon Legends: ZA - Why Zygarde makes me want to go back to Scarlet and Violet

to spoil for Pokemon Legends: ZA in front

When Game Freak was first announced Pokemon Legends: ZAPerhaps the biggest question on my mind was how Zygarde would fit. There was no doubt that this would be important to the game; It would be surprising for Game Freak to return to Gen 6's setting and alphabetical naming conventions without spotlighting a legendary that famously never received it. Pokemon Z. Still, early Pokemon Legends: ZA Marketing focused more on the return of Mega Evolution instead of focusing on Zygarde. Now that I've got the game in my hands and know the part Zygarde plays, I'm actually thinking a lot Pokemon Scarlet and purple instead

As they do for many others, Pokemon Scarlet and purple Hold a complicated place in my heart. The graphics leave a lot to be desired, and I was very disappointed Pokemon Going open-world, the Paldia region feels like a wasteland with almost nothing to do except the franchise's bare minimum. However, I appreciate Terrastalization for getting players to think differently about type matchups, and (more importantly for me), I was pleasantly surprised by the writing. Scarlett and purple Made the bold decision to team players with legendary mascots Coraidoon and Miraoedon right off the bat, and the true friendship that decision created is the lack of Zyguard.

Pokemon Legends: ZA confirms that Scarlet and Violet's Legends set a new standard for me

Exploring the overworld behind Koraidon - Pokemon Scarlet and Violet

Pokemon The games spend a lot of time talking about the power of friendship with your Pokemon, but when it comes to the theme, Scarlett and purple Like others, he understood how to show rather than tell Pokemon does the game One of the first things you do in the game is earn the Koraidon/Miraidon's trust through an act of kindness, which pays off quickly. From then on, you spend the game sharing the game with that Pokemon as a reliable steed, and nurturing Corydon/Miridon's full potential while helping Arven nurse his Mabostiff back to health. Pokemon Scarlet and purpleThe legendary mascots almost never leave your side and constantly show their affection, and it made me feel like I had a real friendship with that Pokemon like no other.

That's the camaraderie I'm definitely missing Pokemon Legends: ZA. In this game, Zygarde plays a more traditional role as a Legendary Pokemon. It is isolated and mysterious, only making an appearance or getting a reference when the story touches on the core mystery of Rogue Mega Evolution. Sure, that plot makes every Zygarde scene exciting, but it's more of a functional role than an emotional one. While Scarlet/Purple put us on equal footing, ZA It makes me feel like a disciple or student of its mascot rather than a friend.

None of this is surprising, given the long precedent set by the legendary Pokémon it contains Pokemon Legends: Arceus, but Pokemon Its legendary mascots don't have to be handled the same way every time, especially later Scarlet/Purple It turns out there is another way. At first I had some hope ZA will follow Scarlet/Purplesteps of The initial appearance of Zygarde Cells made me think Zygarde would join my team after the first few story beats, but instead I'm left hanging like so many times before. Sitting with that disappointment, I've given up wishing I could play Pokemon Gen 9 first time again.

Pokemon Legends: ZA Can't Learn From Scarlet And Purple, But Gen 10 Can

I have not lost that faith Scarlett and purpleThe design will prevail. of another era Pokemon Probably not too far off, especially given the recent large base Pokemon Gen 10 leaks. This suggests that the next mainline games will have something called “Seed Pokemon”, a rare 'mon that the player initializes and evolves into unique forms with the help of procedural generation. That would be a promising start, but I'll temper my expectations until I get a better grasp of Gen 10's writing. The initial introduction is as valuable as the friendship the story establishes. Knowing what Game Freak is capable of, there is supposedly a chance Pokemon wind and the wave Take it later Scarlet/Purple more than ZA.