Pokemon Legends Z-A Review Round-Up: An Inventive But Flawed Sequel

"It's been three years since the last Pokémon games, Scarlet and Violet. For the average player that might be a refreshing break, but for the hardcore fans that's practically a lifetime. Does Pokémon Legends: Z-A deliver after all that waiting, or is it more of a stop-gap entry that feels overshadowed by how long overdue it is? According to early reviews it's just good enough to reward fans' patience, even if it's not the mold-shattering standout in the Pokémon series some have been hoping for."

"Pokémon Legends: Z-A is currently hovering around 81 on Metacritic with 40 reviews currently published. That's a few points below 2022's Pokémon Legends: Arceus but a healthy bump up from the performance-issue-riddled Scarlet and Violet. Most reviewers of the newest entry said it runs well on Switch 2 with no real graphical hitches and a solid 60fps performance throughout the game, though VGC reported that it still feels like the sequel is being held back by being developed on last-gen hardware as well."

"In terms of gameplay, Z-A trades Arceus' watercolor-esque wilderness for an urban labyrinth of streets, skyscrapers, and small public parks. Some reviewers found it visually boring, even if there are plenty of activities to keep the city of Lumiose feeling lively and entertaining. Nintendo Life was not impressed with the setting, calling the new urban playground "lifeless" and restrictive-feeling. What most early reviews seem to agree on is that Z-A's Mega Evolutions, overhauled raids, and real-time hybrid combat subverts the standard flow of a Pokémon game"

Pokémon Legends: Z-A delivers a solid installment that rewards patience without reinventing the series. The Metacritic score hovers around 81 based on 40 published reviews, placing it below Pokémon Legends: Arceus but above Scarlet and Violet. The game runs well on Switch 2, offering stable 60fps performance and minimal graphical hitches, though lingering limitations from last-generation development are noted. The world shifts from open wilderness to an urban labyrinth of streets, skyscrapers, and parks, provoking mixed reactions to the setting. Mega Evolutions, revamped raids, and real-time hybrid combat refresh battles and stand out as the game's strongest elements.

Read at Kotaku