Pokemon Legends ZA proves that Pokemon Gen 10 is in dire need of voice acting

Pokemon Legends ZA is the latest in the long-running Pocket Monsters-collecting series that brings its own twist to a familiar formula. Chief among those key changes is the addition of a more active battle system, where players can move around the area, reposition their Pokémon, and make selections to move on the fly. It's a change that, for some, is seen as controversial, while others believe it's a refreshing change of pace.

But while the combat system has been a little divisive, one element has garnered a ton of excitement from fans. The Lack of voice acting Pokemon Legends ZA has been A major point of contention for the new gameAnd hopefully the recent criticisms will encourage developer Game Freak to consider modernizing their approach going forward.

The lack of voice acting in Pokemon Legends ZA is a huge disappointment for fans

Almost immediately, the Lack of voice acting Pokemon Legends ZA sticks. As the PSA comes up on the big screen in Lumiose City, players read the text and imagine the sounds echoing through the Paris-inspired city streets. While players are getting improved graphics on the Nintendo Switch 2 and experiencing a solid frame rate – two areas that fans were hoping to see an uplift with this game – the areas where ZA is lacking are even more evident.

How to get Galarika Mala and Cuff in Pokemon Legends ZA (1).

The game also has unique moments, such as watching soft play and reading songs. Or talking to a Pokemon trainer, other than “telling” them when the focus is on their Pokemon, they actually make a sound.

The lack of voice acting in games usually comes down to budget concerns. Indie games don't include voice acting because their funding is limited and would be better served applying elsewhere. RPGs and visual novel-esque games fare better without voice acting because the player is immersed in the dialogue like a good book.

For me, personally, the lack of voice acting is also apparent during the experience Pokemon Legends ZA In a family environment. Playing games with my son means either reading out loud and making sure we're experiencing the dialogue at the same pace, handing him the controller and waiting to move on to the next lesson, or making an educated guess as to when he's read.

Legendary Yoga Master in Pokemon Legends za (2).

It's not a dealbreaker, and there are plenty of Nintendo Switch games we've experienced this way, but there's a lot of dialogue in Pokemon Legends ZA, especially early on. Dalton Cooper also noted this in his post Pokemon Legends ZA; It has a lot of tutorializing advance, which can make it Hard to build momentum at first.

Pokemon Legends ZA Definitely a great game, but the voice acting could have made the experience even better.

I imagine I'm not alone in my desire Pokemon Legends ZA It was the voice acting for that particular reason, but it's also one of a dozen reasons why others are disappointed. As mentioned, many games, including some of the stellar Nintendo Switch 2 releases, have minimal/no voice acting, and that's not to say. Pokemon Legends ZA Not a great game. I think this is the one Fantastic development of the formulaAnd the combat system breathes a lot of new life into the series. It's just one area that sticks out like a sore thumb.

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Next year marks the 30th anniversary of the Pokemon series, and expect Game Freak, The Pokemon Company, and Nintendo as a whole to have big things planned for the brand. It might not be released next year, but hopefully Pokemon Gen 10 will be revealed at least in 2026. And if that pair of titles is the next big leap for the franchise, voice acting is practically essential. There have been rumors about new innovations and gameplay mechanics coming to Pokemon Gen 10, but now, after playing Pokemon Legends ZAThe need for voice acting is even greater.


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systems

Super grayscale 8 bit logo


issued

October 16, 2025

ESRB

Everyone 10+ / Fantasy violence, in-game purchases


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