Summary
With the announcement ofPokemon Legends: Z-A, the excitement and expectations surrounding the second entry in thePokemon Legendsseries are at a maximum. Since the current bar for these experimentalPokemongames was set byLegends: Arceus,some of the best features from the forgotten land of Hisui certainly need to travel to the Kalos region.
Even with so few entries in thisPokemonmain-stay, aLegendsgame’s general style is popular among fans of the main series. The new story revealed inLegends: Arceus,along with several new characters and new ways to approach the classic system of battling and catching Pokemon, are some of the only things that can be safely assumed to return in the next game. While there are so many options from the firstLegendsgame, these arethe five best additions that need to carry over.
5Skipping Time
Making Use Of A Bedroom Or Dorm
A missed feature inScarlet and Violet,the ability to jump to specific times of day inLegends: Arceuswas a fantastic use of having a non-synchronous in-game day cycle. Since the player in the Sinnoh of Old hada room to decorateand call their own, the inclusion of a bed beyond decoration or a healing location was perfect if one was hoping to catch all available Pokemon.
While the bed has the additional power of letting the player fight (Pokemon) God in an endless battle, the true power of skipping and picking specific times is extremely valuable when trying to find certainPokemon to catch or fight.Instead of passively waiting or trying to find something else to be busy with, the simple act of sleeping cuts out a great deal of tedious waiting.
4Simplified Stat-Boosting System
Big Bonuses For Catching Pokemon
For many players, the seemingly complex stat, EV, and IV systems found throughout practically everyPokemongame are too much of a turn-off to invest in properly training one’s team, which can lead to some playersgoing against tough bosseswhile underpowered. With the simplified stat and ability format of Hisui and the extra benefit of the grit items, having truly powerful Pokemon is easier than ever.
Beyond configuring natures using nature mints, the lack of abilities inLegends: Arceusand EVs can be improved by simply using amounts of grit items, which can be obtained easily when releasing Pokemon. With this, having the strongest version of a given Pokemon is a breeze. There is no need for bottle caps, breeding, or ability capsules and patches because making a Pokemon stronger is as straightforward as making a number go up.
3Catching Pokemon Outside Of Battles
Convenience For Catching ‘Em All
Easily the best quality of life change introduced was the ability to catch Pokemon freely and without any time sink or tedium. Catching 20 or more Pokemon takes maybe a minute or two instead of a minute per Pokemon, and with shiny Pokemon especially, avoiding any risk of fainting is well appreciated.
With the added bonus of smoke bombs and berries, catching wild Pokemon goes from a chore to a thrill, with the hunt for elusive Pokemon actually feeling like a hunt instead of a repetitive back-and-forth. The speed of catching Pokemon was sorely missed inScarlet and Violet,especially since the outbreak concept was added, yet the expedited capture was not. Ideally, having both an option to catch Pokemon outside of battle would makeshiny hunting slightly less painful.
2Capturing Alpha Pokemon
A Gigantic Addition
One of the more notable and obvious elements ofLegends: Arceus,thevarious alpha Pokemonfound throughout the Hisui region added a new coolness factor to finding a favorite or new favorite Pokemon. These gigantic, terrifying, and powerful monsters roaming all corners of a given map added a perfect sense of exploration and danger to this somehow familiar yet new world.
While the assumed setting of semi-modern Lumiose City inLegends: Z-Awouldn’t quite fit with the current concept of alphas, an alpha-like substitute would be just as welcome. Whether that means random mega evolutions found in every alley of Lumiose City or Pokemon affected by the power of the ultimate weapon, these titanic Pokemon would be a delight to find inLegends: Z-Ain some shape or form.
1Shiny Notification
For The Sake Of Anticipation And Accessibility
Perhaps the greatest loss in the transition fromLegends: ArceustoScarlet and Violetwas the absence of a shiny noise and an overworld sparkle indicator. This simple alert was a beloved part ofLegends: Arceusfor many players, and the loss of such has been felt immensely.
The lack of any indication for shiny Pokemon in the Paldea region may be to balance out the extreme number of Pokemon the player sees, operating as a way to makeshinies still slightly hard to find,but in practice, it just makes it way less exciting. For colorblind players, the lack of such an indicator can make finding these elusive Pokemon impossible. The jingle of the shiny sound is burned in many players’ minds, automatically sending them into a frenzy to try and find the rare creature the noise is coming from. The simple joy of the overworld shiny indicator is a sorely missed addition, and many fans would love to see it return inLegends: Z-A.
