August 29th 2025.
As night falls in Lumiose City, certain areas become reserved for intense Pokémon battles. Recently, GameCentral was given an exclusive first look at the highly anticipated game, Pokémon Legends: Z-A. This sneak peek revealed exciting new features, including trainer battles and challenging rogue mega evolution boss fights.
Despite some technical issues, Pokémon Legends: Arceus was a refreshing change of pace for the beloved series, especially after the lackluster Pokémon Sword and Shield. Its influence can also be seen in other games, such as Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. Fans were thrilled when the announcement for Pokémon Legends: Z-A was made, as it promised to continue the innovative gameplay of its predecessor.
Not only will Z-A be Pokémon's debut on the new Nintendo Switch 2, but it will also be released on the older Switch 1 as a cross-gen game. However, the game was primarily designed for the older format, making it more of a "Switch 1.5" game. It's difficult to form a solid opinion on Z-A at this point, as the demo only offered two short gameplay slices: the Z-A Royale and rogue mega evolutions.
The Z-A Royale is a nighttime contest where trainers gather to battle and climb their way up the ranks. It's unclear how this relates to the overall story, but it adds to the excitement and intensity of the game. Unlike Pokémon Legends: Arceus, where trainer battles were mostly scripted, Z-A has revamped them to require a level of stealth similar to catching or avoiding wild Pokémon.
Do you remember in Scarlet and Violet when trainers immediately pulled you into a battle if they spotted you? That feature is back in Z-A, but this time it gives the trainer an initial advantage as their Pokémon can land an early hit on yours. However, you can also use this to your advantage by sneaking up behind trainers and catching them off guard with your own attack.
This change doesn't feel like Game Freak is going back on a welcome quality-of-life improvement, but rather integrating an old mechanic into the gameplay loop in a cohesive way. It also makes sense for the theme of a night-time battle royale, where everyone is on the hunt for opponents. Additionally, battles in Z-A are now in real-time, a first for the Pokémon series. While there is an option for online multiplayer battles, it's uncertain if it will be part of the main story.
The idea of real-time battles is exciting, especially for those who grew up watching the Pokémon anime, where turns didn't exist. In Z-A, you don't directly control your Pokémon, but rather guide them around the battlefield to avoid enemy attacks and launch counterattacks. However, during the demo, it seemed that Pokémon still needed to stay still to use attacks, which could make them vulnerable to enemy strikes.
This is most likely to keep the battles balanced, as attacks would be nearly impossible to land if Pokémon could move and attack at the same time. Interestingly, when the player chose not to attack and waited for the opponent to make a move, the opponent also waited until the player acted. This shows that both players were trying to strategize and take advantage of the cooldown periods for attacks.
In the end, GameCentral's exclusive preview of Pokémon Legends: Z-A left us with high hopes for the game. With its revamped trainer battles, real-time gameplay, and exciting new features like rogue mega evolutions, it's clear that Z-A will continue to push the boundaries and innovate within the Pokémon series. As we eagerly await its release, be sure to sign up for the GameCentral newsletter to stay updated on all things gaming, including exclusive analysis and reviews.
As the sun sets over the bustling city of Lumiose, certain areas become reserved for a special type of competition: Pokémon battles. These nighttime clashes are a popular pastime for trainers looking to test their skills and strengthen their bond with their Pokémon. Recently, our team at GameCentral had the opportunity to get an exclusive first look at the highly anticipated game, Pokémon Legends: Z-A. We were particularly interested in how it handles trainer battles and the exciting new addition of rogue mega evolution boss fights.
Despite its technical flaws, Pokémon Legends: Arceus was a breath of fresh air for the series, especially after the lackluster Pokémon Sword and Shield. Its influence can also be seen in other recent releases, such as Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. Fans were thrilled to hear that Z-A was not just a one-time experiment, and the announcement last year only fueled their excitement for the upcoming game. Set to debut on the new Nintendo Switch 2, Z-A will also be available on the original Switch as a cross-generation game. However, it was primarily designed for the older system, making it more of a "Switch 1.5" game.
As we got our hands on a demo of Z-A, it was difficult to form a solid opinion of the game. The demo only offered two short gameplay experiences: the Z-A Royale and rogue mega evolutions. In the Z-A Royale, which takes place exclusively at night, trainers from all around gather to battle for the top spot. Our goal was to reach the rank of A, though it's still unclear how this ties into the overall story of the game.
In contrast to Pokémon Legends: Arceus, where trainer battles were few and far between, Z-A brings them back with a twist. The battles now require a level of stealth similar to that of catching or avoiding wild Pokémon. Remember how Scarlet and Violet did away with the traditional mechanic of immediately engaging in battle when a trainer spotted you? Well, that mechanic is back in Z-A, but with a new twist. If a trainer catches you off guard, they have the upper hand in the battle and can land an early hit on your Pokémon. However, if you manage to surprise them from behind, you can do the same to their Pokémon.
This change is not a regression but rather a clever integration of an old mechanic into the new gameplay loop of Z-A. It also fits perfectly with the concept of a night-time battle royale, where everyone is on the lookout for opponents. Additionally, for the first time in the Pokémon series, battles are in real-time, adding to the excitement of the battle royale concept. Although the main battles are still one-on-one, there is an online multiplayer option where four players can battle it out in a free-for-all.
The real-time battle system is a dream come true for fans of the Pokémon anime, where turns don't exist. While you don't have direct control over your Pokémon's movements, they follow you on the battlefield, and you must guide them to dodge enemy attacks before launching your own. Moves also have cooldown periods, similar to those in MMO games. However, during our demo, we noticed that even when we tried to keep our Pokémon moving, they still had to stop and attack, leaving them vulnerable to enemy attacks. This is likely a balancing measure, as allowing Pokémon to attack while moving would make battles too easy.
Interestingly, when we chose to wait for our opponent to make a move before attacking, they also seemed to wait for us, clearly sharing the same strategy. Moving on from the trainer battles, we also got to experience the new rogue mega evolutions, which were challenging and added an extra layer of excitement to the game.
As we wrap up our preview of Pokémon Legends: Z-A, it's clear that the game is shaping up to be an exciting addition to the series. With its real-time battles, reintroduction of classic mechanics, and thrilling new features, Z-A promises to be a unique and enjoyable experience for Pokémon fans. Keep an eye out for our full review of the game, coming soon. And don't forget to sign up for our newsletter for more exclusive gaming analysis, reviews, and updates every Saturday morning. See you in Z-A!
[This article has been trending online recently and has been generated with AI. Your feed is customized.]
[Generative AI is experimental.]
