Summary
- Pokemon Legends: Z-A lacks concrete details, leaving fans speculating about the time period and mascot Legendary.
- Game Freak breaks tradition with Z-A by not directly referencing the expected Legendary for the game.
- The title "Z-A" could hint at multiple important Legendaries or the introduction of entirely new ones.
With very few concrete details revealed about Pokemon Legends: Z-A, it's hard to compare the game to its predecessor, Pokemon Legends: Arceus, without following a few assumptions about the series. While it's been confirmed that Pokemon Legends: Z-A will take place entirely within the Kalos Region's Lumiose City, things like the time period the game is set in or the mascot Legendary it will feature have been left up to fan speculation. This lack of information leaves the game missing key parts of its identity when compared to Pokemon Legends: Arceus, potentially setting the game up to subvert fan expectations.
Although the Pokemon Legends series is a new venture for the franchise, Game Freak has a history of following certain trends with its mainline Pokemon entries that fans have come to expect with each title. One major recurring design element is the use of specific Legendary Pokemon as mascots for different games, and with Pokemon Legends: Arceus, the mascot Legendary of Arceus was front and center in the game's title. However, Pokemon Legends: Z-A surprisingly doesn't directly reference the Legendary most fans are expecting the game to feature, meaning the game could end up deviating from the precedent set by its predecessor.
Why Pokemon Legends Z-A Could Be a Big Deal for Mythical Pokemon
Pokemon Legends Z-A has the unique opportunity to put the spotlight on the mythical Pokemon of Kalos: Diancie, Hoopa, and Volcanion.
Pokemon Legends: Z-A's Legendary May Not Be as Obvious as it Seems
While not directly spelled out in the game's title, most players are expecting Pokemon Legends: Z-A to focus on the Legendary Zygarde. Although Zygarde was originally introduced in Pokemon X and Y, the Legendary never received the attention it deserved due to there never being a third Pokemon Z version in that generation, and Zygarde's story was subsequently shoe-horned into the Gen 7 games as an afterthought. Now that the franchise is returning to Kalos with Pokemon Legends: Z-A, it's natural to assume this means Zygarde will get its chance in the spotlight, but this might not be the case since the game isn't titled Pokemon Legends: Zygarde.
Pokemon Legends: Arceus doesn't hide the Legendary mascot at the heart of the game's plot, boldly promoting Arceus' inclusion in the game via its title. However, things are a lot less cut and dry when it comes to Pokemon Legends: Z-A as the game doesn't draw attention to any specific Legendary in its title. This design choice could suggest a number of different directions Pokemon Legends: Z-A might take, and with the game being set entirely within Lumiose City, Pokemon Legends: Z-A has the potential to upend what fans thought they knew about the series.
What Pokemon Legends: Z-A's Title Could Mean for its Legendary Mascot
The fact that Pokemon Legends: Z-A hasn't revealed its Legendary mascot could mean the game is planning to go in one of a few different directions. The most likely direction based on the "Z-A" in its title is for the game to feature multiple Legendaries that are equally important to the game's story. This title may be meant to connect two Legendaries like Zygarde, represented by the "Z," to Arceus, represented by the "A," as a way to link Pokemon Legends: Z-A with Pokemon Legends: Arceus and further establish this Pokemon Legends series' identity.
Another possible route this game could take is the introduction of one or more brand-new Legendaries that will be the focal point of Pokemon Legends: Z-A's story. If this is the case, it would make sense for Game Freak to keep the title of the game ambiguous so as not to spoil any potential new additions while fueling fan speculation. If the game does go this route, Zygarde could still play a large role in the game, similar to the roles Dialga and Palkia played in Pokemon Legends: Arceus, but the overarching mascot Legendary of this game might be a new one entirely.
Pokemon Legends Z-A
- Released
- 2025
- ESRB
- e
- Developer(s)
- Game Freak
