Game Freak gave us our first real look at Pokemon Legends: Z-A for this year’s Pokemon Day. The trailer shone a spotlight on many of the anticipated title’s key systems, as well as a sizable look at Lumioise City, the largest settlement in Pokemon X & Y, and the sole setting for Z-A.
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While much of what we saw was presented in an understandably shallow manner – the game isn’t due until “Late 2025”, after all – we’ve still caught plenty of meaningful connections between Pokemon Legends: Z-A and 2013’s Kalos-bound Nintendo 3DS duo. Here’s everything we’ve caught, and why it’s all rather exciting to behold.
Lumiose And Megas… Obviously
Suffice it to say, Pokemon Legends: Z-A, which takes place entirely in Lumiose City, the capital of Kalos, carries forward Pokemon X and Y’s largest hub in exponentially expanded fashion.
But in Legends: Z-A, the city is notably more high-tech, to the point that suspicion is rising from “quite possibly” based on the 2024 reveal to “incredibly likely” with the new one that the game is set further in the timeline than X and Y.
In conjunction with all of this, Mega Evolutions are back. Mega Evolutions are Pokemon X and Y’s big addition to the franchise, and they were carried forth in Pokemon Omega Ruby and AlphaSapphire, the third-gen remakes that also shared the sixth-generation limelight.
We’ve not gotten any Megas since, and right now, we lack confirmation that there will be any new ones introduced in Pokemon Legends: Z-A – though we don’t think it’s a huge leap to predict that, yes, we’ll get some fresh stuff here.
AZ And His Floette
We’re still within the realm of “this is pretty clear to anyone who has played X and Y”, but it’s nonetheless a big deal! AZ, whose harrowing personal tale forms a central framework of Pokemon X and Y’s narrative, has returned for an encore in Pokemon Legends: Z-A.
In the Gen 6 mainline titles, AZ loses his beloved Floette in a war, a special partner Pokemon, and creates a device that uses the lifeforce of other Pokemon in order to resurrect it. Justifiably, this upsets Floette upon its rebirth; seeing the pair reunite at the end of X and Y is heartwarming.
AZ now runs Hotel Z in Lumiose City, and if first appearances of his return are any indication, he may serve as the protagonist’s mentor and leader in Pokemon Legends: Z-A. Again, while it’s not been confirmed that Z-A takes place after X and Y, evidence is mounting, as Floette is with him.
Trainer Archetypes Galore
This is when we get into the weeds some more. Multiple Trainer classes from Pokemon X and Y have been spotted in Pokemon Legends: Z-A’s trailer, as well as from official artwork on the game’s website. It’s worth noting that not all of these are unique to Kalos! These include:
- Workers
- Artists
- Ace Trainers
- Schoolgirls
There’s also a Hex Maniac in the game’s key art, which has sent off a spiral of hopes that the unresolved little mystery in X and Y involving a girl who says you’re “not the one” might be resolved. It’s hard to take a quick glance at a Trainer archetype as gospel, but hey, that’d be neat.
More Trainer Battles?
While we’re at it, let’s highlight the possibility that more “traditional” Trainer battles are back relative to Legends: Arceus and even Scarlet and Violet, perhaps including the return of “Trainers’ Eyes” style encounters, which occur automatically once a Trainer locks eyes with the player character.
The brief bits of Wild Zones that we’ve seen include some spots with NPCs who feel positioned very deliberately in order to facilitate this mechanic. This is by no means a surefire deal, but if you ask this article’s humble author, I rather hope it’s the case.
Oh Look, Looker’s Back? Or Maybe Emma?
Looker is a recurring character who first appeared in Pokemon Platinum. He’s a member of the International Police, and for a good long while, Game Freak really loved to bring him back. Here are his appearances in the main series:
|
Game |
Purpose |
Notes |
|---|---|---|
|
Pokemon Platinum |
Thwarting Team Galactic. |
|
|
Pokemon Black & White |
Arresting Team Plasma’s Seven Sages. |
|
|
Pokemon X & Y |
Detaining Xerosic, a ranking member of Team Flare. |
Looker’s story occurs as a post-game episode which introduces Emma, a young girl who he decides to protect. |
|
Pokemon Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire |
Cameos at the Battle Resort. |
Oddly, he’s an amnesiac, and serves no real purpose. |
|
Pokemon Sun & Moon |
Investigating the Ultra Beasts alongside his boss, Anabel. |
As with X & Y, Looker’s arc occurs in the post-game. |
|
Pokemon UltraSun & UltraMoon |
Cameos on Route 9 and Poni Grove. |
He appears alongside Anabel, but contrary to Sun & Moon, he isn’t given much of a role in USUM. |
As you can see, Looker hasn’t shown up in the past two mainline generations. However, his Kalos office is almost certainly in the Pokemon Legends: Z-A trailer.
Importantly, Looker departs Kalos at the conclusion of his post-game episode in X & Y. He leaves Emma, a new character whose story is told in that episode, in charge of his office building. There’s even a picture of Emma’s Espurr on the wall in Z-A.
It’s hardly a major jump, then, to guess that Emma, at least, may be back in Pokemon Legends: Z-A. Looker, then, could also make a long-awaited comeback.
Hisuian Zoroark? A Stretch, But…
Well, this one’s wild, but fans have noticed the rival’s hair has an eerie resemblance to… Hisuian Zoroark, a powerful regional spin on the disguise-loving Pokemon from Pokemon Legends: Arceus.
It’s entirely conceivable that this is nothing more than a stylish nod. After all, people in the Pokemon universe don’t shy away from pure Poke-vibes in their wardrobes. But you never know.
If your rival, whose appearance shifts between a more masculine or a more feminine variant per your own protagonist appearance choice, truly is Hisuian Zoroark, then credit where credit’s due – that’s a rather amazing twist.
And we wouldn’t put it past Legends; Arceus already proved that Game Freak isn’t afraid of some terrific twists here and there.
We’ll be sure to update this article if and when more connections emerge.