Is this Pokémon different this time? The latest installment in the "Pokémon" series, Pokémon LEGENDS: Z-A, is scheduled for release on Thursday, October 16, 2025. Saiga NAK was invited to an advance hands-on event and was given the special opportunity to play a small portion of this highly anticipated title that completely overturns the conventions of the traditional series. We will review it immediately!
(Note: This article is translated from Japanese game review.)
The Story's Stage is (A Future?) Lumiose City
The setting of "Pokémon LEGENDS: Z-A" is Lumiose City.
The city is expected to be the same as the one in the Nintendo 3DS game "Pokémon X and Y," released in 2013, but it features more plant life and near-future facilities.
The timeline appears to be set in a period later than that of "Pokémon X and Y."
Its Appearance Changes Greatly Between Day and Night
Lumiose City, which aims to be a city where people and Pokémon coexist, has two faces: day and night.
Wild Pokémon inhabit the Wild Zone that appears in the city during the day, where you can battle them or catch them with a Poké Ball.
There is no traditional concept of combat starting (a so-called encounter) with wild Pokémon walking in the Wild Zone.
When the player attacks them, throws a Poké Ball, or is spotted by a Pokémon, the Pokémon enters a combat state and chases the player.
When not in a combat state, players can crouch or hide behind objects or in tall grass to slip past the Pokémon's gaze.
At night, the Z-A Royale is held daily.
Explore the Battle Zone, defeat other participants, clear missions to accumulate points, and challenge the Rank-Up Battle!
The rank starts at Z, and you aim for the highest rank, A.
Trainers with Pokémon are walking in the Battle Zone, and you can gain a battle advantage by approaching them from behind and landing the first attack.
Conversely, if you unexpectedly run into an opponent around a corner, they may get the first move.
Since opposing Trainers are also wandering around the city, maneuvering while considering the order of battles may be the key to victory.
Furthermore, it is possible to pick up bonus cards on the roadside.
You can get a special bonus for actions that align with the challenge.
Fresh Real-Time Combat
The biggest feature of "Pokémon LEGENDS: Z-A" is undoubtedly its combat system.
The "Pokémon" series has traditionally been based on command-based combat such as "Fight," "Bag," and "Run," but this title is the first to adopt real-time combat.
The player's Pokémon follows the player and unleashes moves according to their instructions.
Each move has a cooldown.
In the conventional "Pokémon" series, every turn is important, so wasted actions are not allowed. However, in this game, time management is crucial.
It may be more advantageous to unleash a move even if the matchup is bad, rather than spending that time unable to use other moves.
On the other hand, Pokémon that are not currently executing a move generally follow the trainer, allowing you to focus on evading the opponent's moves.
Since the time from giving an instruction until the move actually activates differs depending on the type of move, mastering the combat will require extremely advanced techniques.
By collecting points in Z-A Royale, you can challenge a Rank-Up Battle.
This is a serious showdown with formidable Trainers.
Rintaro is a Trainer who uses various types of Pokémon.
Maneuvering while considering the type matchup against the opponent's Pokémon will grant a significant battle advantage.
A distinctive feature is that he skillfully uses "Protect," reacting and countering immediately after you unleash a move.
This means that you can adopt the same playstyle.
The higher the rank, the more sophisticated strategy and tactics seem to be required.
The Rank-Up Battle is positioned like the traditional Gym battles.
Bring out your Pokémon while considering type matchups, avoid the opponent's attacks, and build up a one-sided advantageous situation.
Also, during the play session, there were instances where both Pokémon were knocked out due to a mutual knockout from a standard move.
The combat experience was just like the "Pokémon" TV anime.
This time it was a match against the computer, but communication battles with other players are also likely to be highly intense.
The Rogue Mega Victreebel Battle: A Full-Force Fight
As the story progresses, you may also confront a Rogue Mega-Evolved Pokémon.
Unlike normal Mega Evolution, which occurs through the bond with a Trainer, Rogue Mega Evolution is caused by an anomaly.
Together with members of the Team MZ, we battled Mega Victreebel, a newly discovered Mega-Evolved Pokémon that became a hot topic due to its shocking visual appearance.
The Rogue Mega Victreebel's attack, which scatters poison over a wide area, is troublesome.
Not only Pokémon but the Trainer must also maneuver to avoid stepping into the poisoned area.
To counter a Rogue Mega Evolution, you must Mega Evolve as well!
The gauge at the bottom right of the screen fills up by attacking the opponent or collecting chunks of Mega Energy scattered on the field.
Once the gauge is full, preparations are complete.
Mega Evolve the Pokémon holding a Mega Stone to deliver an enhanced move!
The gauge gradually decreases, and the Mega Evolution ends when it is completely gone.
You can use enhanced moves many times until the gauge runs out, and you can also extend the duration by collecting chunks of Mega Energy.
You observe the movements of the Rogue Mega Victreebel, avoid the poisoned areas, and collect chunks of Mega Energy...
The high-tempo combat, which was not present in previous series titles, is exhilarating, but it seems like it will be dizzying until you get used to it.
There is also a system called Plus Moves, which uses a portion of the gauge to strengthen moves.
Although the degree of enhancement could not be confirmed, this system can also strengthen the moves of Pokémon that do not Mega Evolve, making skillful gauge management the key to gaining a battle advantage.
By making full use of Mega Evolution, we succeeded in calming the Rogue Mega Victreebel!
We also obtained the Mega Stone for Victreebel.
By having Victreebel hold it, Mega Evolution becomes possible.
Goods Also Revealed in Advance!
At the hands-on event, goods scheduled for simultaneous release with "Pokémon LEGENDS: Z-A" at the Pokémon Center were also unveiled!
- Selectable Flabébé (Eternal Flower) Hand Towel: ¥660 (tax included)
- Selectable Pokémon of Lumiose City Hand Towel: ¥660 (tax included)
- Selectable Zygarde (10% Forme) Hand Towel: ¥660 (tax included)
- Prism Tower & Chikorita, Cyndaquil, Totodile Metal Keychain: ¥1,320 (tax included)
- Flabébé (Eternal Flower) Plush: ¥2,970 (tax included)
- Pokémon of Lumiose City Mug: ¥1,760 (tax included)
- Life-size Chikorita Plush: ¥7,700 (tax included)
- Life-size Cyndaquil Plush: ¥7,700 (tax included)
- Life-size Totodile Plush: ¥8,800 (tax included)
- Pokémon LEGENDS: Z-A Lumiose City Map A2 Poster & Postcard 6-Sheet Set: ¥1,980 (tax included)
- Pokémon LEGENDS: Z-A Protagonist's Lined Soft Hat Black: ¥4,400 (tax included)
- Pokémon LEGENDS: Z-A Protagonist's Lined Soft Hat White: ¥4,400 (tax included)
- Pokémon LEGENDS: Z-A Multi Pouch: ¥2,750 (tax included)
- Pokémon LEGENDS: Z-A Protagonist's Mega Ring Style Bangle: ¥3,960 (tax included)
- Acrylic Keychain Collection Mega-Evolved Pokémon & Mega Stones: ¥715 (tax included)
Fujii Also Tries on Apparel
- Pokémon LEGENDS: Z-A Protagonist's Lined Soft Hat Black: ¥4,400 (tax included)
- Pokémon LEGENDS: Z-A Protagonist's Blouson M/L: ¥13,200 each (tax included)
Saiga NAKIt suits him quite well.
- Pokémon LEGENDS: Z-A Sweatshirt Free: ¥7,700 (tax included)
Related products have already been made public, and pre-orders are starting sequentially.
Please see the Pokémon Center Online for details.
"Pokémon LEGENDS: Z-A" Releases on Thursday, October 16, 2025!
Saiga NAKAn ambitious work set in Lumiose City, it challenges new initiatives such as the series' first real-time combat, Z-A Royale, Rank-Up Battles, and Rogue Mega Evolution.
The software for Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2, "Pokémon LEGENDS: Z-A," is scheduled to be released on Thursday, October 16, 2025!
| Title Overview | |
|---|---|
| Name | "Pokémon LEGENDS: Z-A" "Pokémon LEGENDS: Z-A Nintendo Switch 2 Edition" |
| Genre | Action RPG |
| Compatible Platforms | Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2 |
| Number of Players | 1 (Vs. Battles, Trading, etc., supports 2–4 players) |
| Communication Features | Local Communication Supported, Internet Communication Supported |
| Supported Languages | Japanese, English, European Spanish, Latin American Spanish, French, German, Italian, Korean, Chinese (Simplified), Chinese (Traditional) |
| CERO | A |
| Release Date | Scheduled for Thursday, October 16, 2025 |
| Price | [Packaged Version] "Pokémon LEGENDS: Z-A": ¥7,128 (tax included) "Pokémon LEGENDS: Z-A Nintendo Switch 2 Edition": ¥8,128 (tax included) [Download Version] "Pokémon LEGENDS: Z-A": ¥7,100 (tax included) "Pokémon LEGENDS: Z-A Nintendo Switch 2 Edition": ¥8,100 (tax included) |
| Publisher | The Pokémon Company |
| Distributor | Nintendo Co., Ltd. |
| Developer | Game Freak Inc. |
