| Creator | Game Freak | Released | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medium | Video game [NS1] | Misc. | Played via emulator |
via moby games:
"Pokémon Legends: Z-A is an action RPG based on the popular Pokémon franchise. It is a sequel to Pokémon X and Y (2013) and the second entry in the Pokémon Legends sub-series after Pokémon Legends: Arceus (2022). It takes place entirely within Lumiose City in the Kalos region during a massive urban redevelopment project.
"Players begin their journey by choosing one of three starters—Chikorita, Totodile, or Tepig—before exploring Lumiose's interconnected districts and Wild Zones. Battles are now real-time, emphasizing positioning, dodging, and timing over traditional turn-based commands. Combat energy gathered from attacks fuels Mega Evolution, a temporary transformation whose duration extends as you maintain offensive momentum.
"At night, players can participate in Z-A Royale, a free-roaming trainer battle system where both players and NPCs can initiate surprise encounters. Progression revolves around rank promotion battles, advancing from Rank Z to Rank A, by completing bonus card side quests and defeating high-ranking trainers."
[☆ Posted: Oct. 31, 2025.]
so. modern pokemon games, huh?
the fandom has always been divided (oh boy, genwunners), but the games nowadays… it's a stream of negativity and huge hype, right? i suppose i count as a lifelong fan as i was among the generation who played the first games as a kid. i loved the anime and wrote mental fanfic about it before i even knew what fanfic was. (the first fic i ever wrote was actually final fantasy x lol.) i kept up with the new releases until about sun and moon.
moon was the last mainline pokemon game i played near release. i liked it! lillie is cute, and NEBBY GET IN THE BAG, and mimikyu is inspired. i picked up sword a good while after its release and had to fight to finish it. (it's deeply frustrating in how much i like some ideas, and then the execution is…not very good.) i skipped scarlet and violet for a few reasons: dislike of open worlds, WHAT DO YOU MEAN I HAVE TO WEAR AN UGLY UNIFORM THE ENTIRE GAME, the blander/less stylized look of the character models, and general disinterest. it turned out to be a decent choice considering the launch state of those games. i wasn't too compelled to check out legends arceus either. recently, i emulated a bit out of curiosity, and while i appreciated it, i felt no inclination to continue playing.
i wasn't expecting much from legends z-a. x and y? disappointing in hindsight. i have no attachment to kalos as a region. the scummy dlc slapped on didn't improve it in my eyes. but the real-time battling was intriguing enough that i figured what the hell, might as well see if it emulates okay.
and it does! one crash-prone part near the start, some graphical glitches, and occasional stuttering, but it ran more than fine for me to play it.
i thought i would play it for a few hours like legends arceus, but um…whoops? i beat the main story at around the forty hour mark.
the real-time battling is really fun, and the game keeps a good pace once you're past the tutorials. the map size works well, too! i keep seeing complaints that it is too small, but nah, it just needs a bit more density, variety in aesthetic, and interior locations. the side missions are breezy and often silly little tasks. (shout out to the rust syndicate member who has a favorite holovator and would fight to defend his favorite holovator. he is so valid.) shifting between rogue mega evolutions, the z-a royale, and story sections leading up to promotion matches between exploration and catching and battling kept me firmly engaged. real-time battling works so well in part because it keeps the momentum going and catching can be a quick diversion. i catch very few pokemon in turn-based pokemon pre-scarlet/violet/legends arceus partly due to how much involved it can feel. not a problem in either legends game, but especially not in legends z-a.
but, the thing that kept me playing past a few hours, enjoying the novelty? the characters. i love these guys. absolutely one of my favorite casts in pokemon. they're all a little fucking weird and flawed and feel more dynamic unlike the cardboard that masqueraded as your rivals in x and y. ivor (karate himbo who needs his sister to hold his phone because he breaks every single one) and gwynn (karate himbo's sister who wants to simp canari, a streamer, in peace) are probably my favorites. also jacinthe, who is legitimately batshit insane and stalks the player. i care about kalos now! i'm invested in az and his little flower friend and the fallout of team flare over the last five years!
it was really nice to truly enjoy a pokemon game again like this. modern pokemon games are a hot mess rife with issues, but i had a good time here. it has a lot of personality that could have truly bloomed if given maybe another year in the oven, but it's still damned fun and charming as is.
(also, just for fun: the game pushed me to mega evolve, so i stubbornly decided to never use the mechanic unless forced until i was given access to the glorious long-legged mega starmie. so i went through nearly every rogue mega fight without using megas lmao. it felt good when i joined that starmie cult in a side mission.)
n/a.
Do I like it? shockingly, yes!
Do I rec it? i don't feel i can in good faith recommend you spend money on it, but if you're curious and also able to emulate, it does very well on ryubing (a fork of ryujinx). much as i liked it, it is still a modern pokemon game, and subjectivity ensues.