'Pokémon Legends: Z-A': New battles for the pocket monsters

The 'Pokemon Legends: Z-A' spin-off is freer in its gameplay than the main Pokemon games. But is that a good step for this ever-growing franchise? — Photos: Nintendo/dpa

BERLIN: The latest Pokemon game takes players to a city strongly reminiscent of Paris. At its centre stands a gigantic, illuminated tower.

Lumiose City, currently undergoing an urban renewal project, pulls you players with its many cafes, free-roaming Pokemon and battle zones that appear at night.

Lumiose City: The name says it all.

These battle zones are where the Ranked Battles take place. Here, the main character can prove themselves in battles against non-player characters and gradually climb from the lowest rank, Z, to the highest rank, A – hence the name Pokemon Legends: Z-A. It all starts off easy, but becomes increasingly difficult.

The battles are the biggest departure from the main Pokemon series – they don't take place in the usual turn-based fashion, but in real time. Players control their character, who can move freely even during battle.

Paxton is the name of one of the protagonists with whom players travel through Illumina City.

Using a console button, they target the opposing Pokemon and issue attack commands to their own. The attacks recharge after a few seconds and so the pocket monsters go on pummelling each other until one team is defeated.

This battle mechanics are easy to grasp and works surprisingly well. Players must also be careful that their own character doesn't take damage, otherwise they too can be knocked out.

The usual formula: Catch, train, and battle Pokemon

Players assemble their team for battles by catching Pokemon in so-called Wild Areas. Battles can also occur here, where wild Pokemon are rendered unconscious and can then be easily caught with a Poke Ball.

And this is Harmony, another protagonist from 'Pokemon Legends: Z-A'.

As with every new Pokemon game, there's plenty to criticise about Pokemon Legends Z-A. The game starts with an excessive amount of dialogue that explains too much and can't be skipped.

There's still no voice acting and visually, the game is far from up-to-date. Lumiose City looks lifeless and flat, more reminiscent of PlayStation 3 games than a modern title.

Of course, Pokemon also shine in Illumina City.

Nevertheless, the game has already sold millions of copies and that's probably mainly because the gameplay loop of catching, training, and battling Pokemon works so well that many negative aspects are easily overlooked.

Pokemon Legends Z-A is available for the Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 and costs around €60/US$60 (RM247). It's rated for ages 6 and up. – dpa