Pokémon Legends: Z-A (Nintendo Switch 2) Review

Pokémon Legends: Z-A is here, bringing with it the second exciting entry into the Legends spinoff series of games, one that gives off the bright glow of a Mega Evolution, surpassing even the might of Legends Arceus.

I’ll be the first to admit it, I’m a bit of a Pokémon Pessimist. After finding myself underwhelmed with the efforts of the last couple of games, particularly those that saw release on the original Nintendo Switch hardware, I thought my admiration for the beloved series was over. Despite it all, I did enjoy my time with Scarlet, once it saw a performance boost on Nintendo Switch 2, but, even then, if I had to pick, I found myself enjoying Pokémon Legends: Arceus the most out of any modern Pokémon release, thanks to its fresh and nonconventional break from the routine of the mainline series.

With the release of Pokémon Legends: Z-A as a cross-gen game on both the original Switch and Nintendo Switch 2, it was kind of a given that, at least, from a performative standpoint, the latest entry into the franchise would sing on new hardware. I’m happy to report that Pokémon Legends: Z-A is a sight to behold on Nintendo Switch 2, only really held back by constraints put in place by the original Switch.

Everything from the large number of unique NPC characters to the plethora of unique animations for its impressive roster of Pokémon present in the game, Pokémon Legends: Z-A is the most realized the series has been to date, with flashes of brilliance that transport players into what feels like the anime or manga.

Sadly, for everything Legends: Z-A does right, the game still has an uncanny feeling of not hitting its full potential. Of course, some of this is attributed to the fact that it’s a cross-generational release. Still, even then, for a multimedia juggernaut as big as Pokémon, it’s hard not to look at it and feel as though the game is cutting corners, especially compared to other big games available on both the original Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 hardware.

Specifically, the lack of voice acting feels incredibly jarring in a game that finally feels like what a console Pokémon experience should be like. Pivotal moments and cutscenes suffer the most, which often feature fantastic animation and dynamic camera angles, that just feel hollow due to the stubborn refusal of any voiced dialogue.

Additionally, despite a fairly robust and expansive map, Pokémon Legends: Z-A can feel repetitive after 30+ hours confined mostly to Lumiose City. Thankfully, the game does a good job of making your time in the Paris-inspired city fun and varied, with distinct biomes and wild Pokémon sections that crop up as players get through the game. The plot sees players climbing the ranks of the titular ZA battle Royale, while putting a stop to the rampant increase of rogue Mega evolutions that have started cropping up in the still-burgeoning city.

In other words, gameplay in Legends: Z-A will have players spending their time exploring and catching critters inside the wild areas or designated sections within the city that feature wild Pokémon during the day, while participating in trainer battles at night.

“The move to a real-time battle system is also incredibly fun and refreshing, making it easily the best element of Pokémon Legends: Z-A.”

Simply playing the game will gradually turn day to night, which is when sections of the city become the battlegrounds for trainers participating in the battle royale. Sitting on a bench also allows players to quickly change the time of day, making it possible to focus on climbing the ranks, which involves challenging trainers, which earns the player points towards a ticket, which is then used to challenge a leader, similar to the tried and tested gym system found in the mainline games.

Starting from rank Z, some of the early game grind to climb up towards A is fast, with story sequences even allowing the player to skip ahead a few letters, while later levels can take some time to accrue enough points to challenge the leader. Thankfully, the game throws optional tickets into the mix, which add borderline roguelike challenges that grant the player a boost in points towards having enough to challenge the ranking leader. These bonus challenges include stuff like KOing an unsuspecting trainer’s Pokémon, using a super effective move, or even afflicting a specific status effect on the enemy.

“I’m happy to report that Pokémon Legends: Z-A is a sight to behold on Nintendo Switch 2.”

The move to a real-time battle system is also incredibly fun and refreshing, making it easily the best element of Pokémon Legends: Z-A. There is a rudimentary but functional sneaking mechanic, which allows players to surprise-attack both wild Pokémon and trainers alike. When combined with the real-time battle system, it makes for a fast and frenetic gameplay loop, cutting away the monotony of the static turn-based battles, while still feeling true to the legacy of the mainline franchise.

If I had to compare the battle system to another JRPG juggernaut, Legends: Z-A almost feels akin to a lite version of the real-time battles found in Final Fantasy VII Remake/Rebirth. Moves are tied to a cooldown, while movement and dodging are tied to the player’s inputs. Battles in the game are truly the highlight, even though some moves had to be cut due to the transition to a real-time system.

Of course, Pokémon Legends: Z-A is a spinoff title, so not adhering to the strict meta of the legacy games is not too surprising, and truth be told, I prefer the dynamic feel of Z-A over the legacy games. Thanks to the recent announcement of Pokémon Champions, there will always be a place for serious competitive players, which I hope encourages the company to continue experimenting and perfecting the real-time system present in Z-A.

“Ultimately, Pokémon Legends: Z-A is a step forward in the right direction, even if it still, at times, can feel like baby steps for a series as big as Pokémon.”

Finally, Mega Evolutions also make a triumphant return, which mostly sticks the landing, particularly when it comes to some of the new forms available for legacy mons. My biggest disappointment, however, when it comes to Mega Evolutions, is instead tied to the Alpha boss battles that break up the battle royale and Pokémon catching sequences.

Most encounters with the boss Alphas revolve around finding said Pokémon in a random part of the map, often on roofs or other unnecessarily convoluted routes that aren’t particularly fun or interesting. Made worse by transporting the player into a static feeling boss arena, devoid of the high energy of the actual Mega-Evolved Pokémon.

At the very least, Pokémon Legends: Z-A does offer some cool interior areas, such as inside buildings, which do feel fully realized and are a considerable step up from the almost cardboard-feeling world of Scarlet and Violet, although I do wish the game had a few more interior locations, just to help break up the visual fatigue of Lumiose City proper.

The boss battles against Mega-Evolved Alphas also feel much better mechanically than they did in Legends: Arceus. This is mainly attributed to the higher frame rate, which allows for more fluid and responsive gameplay, making it actually feel fun and less of a chore or gimmick.

Ultimately, Pokémon Legends: Z-A is a step in the right direction, even if it still, at times, can feel like baby steps for a series as big as Pokémon. Regardless of any reviews, however, if you’re a fan of the franchise and especially for those who have Nintendo Switch 2 systems, you’re not going to be disappointed with your time with Pokémon Legends: Z-A.

Pokémon Legends: Z-A releases on Nintendo Switch 2 for $99.99 CAD/$69.99 USD and Nintendo Switch for $84.99 CAD/$59.99 USD on October 16th, 2025.

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