Besides a new approach to its battling system, the contrast between these trainer battles and Pokemon Legends: Z-A‘s day-night cycle seems uncharacteristic for the series, something which could be laying the groundwork for the next Pokemon Legends game. With the introduction of internal batteries to Game Boy Color cartridges, Pokemon Gold and Silver debuted an in-game day-night cycle, which has since become a core mechanic throughout the Pokemon series. However, until Pokemon Legends: Z-A‘s latest reveal, Gen 7’s Pokemon Sun and Moon and their Ultra counterparts were the only games to experiment with this feature.
As another connection between Legends: Z-A and these Gen 7 games, it could be argued that Game Freak’s Pokemon Legends games were never just alternative perspectives across the Pokemon world beyond its various generations. Having started with Pokemon Legends: Arceus and the potential overlap between its Space-Time Distortions and Gen 7’s Ultra Wormholes, the upcoming game appears to share these overlaps, first with Zygarde and the return of cell-collecting and now with Legends: Z-A‘s day-night cycle mechanics. Ultimately, as the story comes full circle, this could mean that Gen 7’s Alola will be the backdrop to the next Pokemon Legends game.
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Pokemon Legends: Z-A May Want to Resist Taking the Obvious Approach to Zygarde
To avoid a sense of repeating content, Game Freak should consider approaching Zygarde differently in the upcoming Pokemon Legends: Z-A.
Pokemon Legends: Z-A’s Day-Night Cycle Seems Reminiscent of Pokemon Sun and Moon
Since its introduction in Gold and Silver, Pokemon‘s day-night cycle mechanic has been integral to its games, with certain Pokemon only appearing in the wild or in-game events only being available at set times. However, Sun and Moon attempted to explore this mechanic by alternating their day-night cycles as a form of version exclusivity, with Moon and Ultra Moon being offset by twelve hours. While this didn’t impact gameplay beyond certain cutscenes and in-game sequences occurring during the day or night, respectively, Game Freak could likely have pushed the envelope further if given a second chance.
For instance, the reveal of Legends: Z-A‘s new battling system could be an example of what Game Freak might have been working towards, as trainer battles were not typically locked to the time of day before now. Moreover, it seems Sun and Moon and their Ultra counterparts have been significantly influential for Legends: Z-A, such as with the return of Mega Evolutions since their last appearance in Gen 7, to the potential cell-collecting gimmick behind Zygarde. Though some connections could be brushed off as a coincidence, the consistent ties between Gen 7 and the Pokemon Legends games are becoming difficult to ignore.
Pokemon Legends: Arceus Already Had Possible Ties to Gen 7
The overlap between Pokemon Legends and Gen 7 didn’t start with Legends: Z-A, however, as theories surrounding Legends: Arceus‘ Space-Time Distortions had speculated that they had potential ties to Ultra Wormholes. Despite Legends: Arceus‘ story eventually stating that these distortions were caused by Giratina, the player character and Ingo falling through the distortions still seems uncannily similar to “Fallers” who have traveled through Ultra Wormholes. Additionally, having played a prominent role in the Gen 5 and Gen 7 games with ties to Ultra Beasts and Fallers, it was during Pokemon X and Y that Looker’s story started to evolve.
The Next Pokemon Legends Game Could Come Full Circle With Gen 7
With multiple connections between Gen 7, Legends: Arceus, and now Legends: Z-A, Game Freak may have been cultivating a narrative that it had left behind in Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon as it moved onto newer generations. Between the historical backdrop of feudal Sinnoh in Legends: Arceus and Legends: Z-A‘s near-future with the introduction of Quasartico Inc., a company named after a star much like the sun and moon, Game Freak could intend for its third Pokemon Legends game to conclude this trilogy. Until Legends: Z-A is released with more connections revealed, only time will tell if an Alolan Pokemon Legends game comes next.
