'Pokemon Legends: Z-A' Could Be Even Better With One Small But Influential Change

"Fifteen years ago, I'd have been in disbelief if you'd told me we'd have not one, but three Zelda games with full voice acting. I also wouldn't believe you if you'd said that Pokémon, of all franchises, still hadn't implemented voice acting, given that the series includes thousands of anime episodes and a live-action film. Pokémon adding voice acting has been a hotly contested topic for years, and after playing Pokémon Legends: Z-A, I'm more confident than ever in saying, yes, Pokémon really needs it."

"Pokémon Legends: Z-A has a lengthy and lavish opening cutscene introducing you to its world and story, and while it's great to see Pokémon in this much visual detail, it becomes awkward when the expressive characters only gesture wildly alongside subtitles. It's a jarring start to the game that feels cheap and dated, even if the charmingly written characters quickly overcome the bad vibes."

"The core problem is that the cutscene direction acts like voice acting will be present, and there's an easy way to fix this: have selective, well-placed moments that are voiced. Many RPG franchises, like Final Fantasy or Trails, have lavish cutscenes that highlight major story moments. Pokémon could do the same thing at just a handful of key story beats, as well as the introduction of gym leaders and major villains."

Pokémon Legends: Z-A opens with a lavish, lengthy cutscene that showcases Pokémon in high visual detail but lacks voice acting, making expressive character gestures feel awkward alongside subtitles. Several recent Pokémon games include similar cutscenes that presume voice acting and create jarring moments. Selective voice acting for key story beats, gym leader introductions, and major villains would strengthen emotional impact while preserving the silent protagonist. Other RPG franchises use voiced cutscenes sparingly to highlight major moments. Detective Pikachu demonstrates that Pokémon voice acting can work and add charm without requiring full-game voiceover.

Read at Inverse