Nintendo has revealed that Pokémon Legends ZA will feature a new battle system and this has made it the main topic of conversation among all the gamers. The official Pokémon account of the company tweeted, “Cardio comes naturally to Trainers and their Pokémon!” In a way, he was foreshadowing the return of the time battle system. Still, the players are… well, they have feelings about it!
What do you think is wrong with the new combat? To put it simply, your trainer is under direct real-time control and has to literally move away from enemy attacks. Standing and waiting for a turn is not an option anymore. You are dodging, which means that the Pokémon formula has now a new layer of action. It is a mechanic that seems like one that can be borrowed from an action RPG and has ignited the idea of this being the future of the series.
However, there are not very many people who are in a party mood. The reactions to the tweet form a battlefield of their own with some pretty nice discussions going on. One of the points that was contested the most was the complete absence of voice acting. User yeziaphael directly asked “@NintendoAmerica 💔Why no voice acting 🙄” and it is a fact that they are not alone. In 2025, a flagship $70 game would have players expecting to have the whole story told by actors. It has become quite a standard feature in big games and its absence here is like a sore thumb.
After that, the discussions about graphics began. Oh my, the graphics! It is the place where people lose their temper quickly. User NoWokeAgenda23 made a very bold statement, “@NintendoAmerica you can’t convince me that this is a 2025 game, you need to get your shit together cause most pocket monster games are way better than pokemon.” Ouch! That’s a pretty rough comment but it does reflect the general opinion that visual quality is not up to modern standards of a release.
A very long discussion took place between users Bucs4Lif6 and SkyloftSword about this very topic. Bucs4Lif6 said that Pokémon Let’s Go Pikachu and Eevee had better graphics and he was right: “It genuinely felt like they created a new world, ZA feels like a continuation of what’s been happening graphics-wise.” They even pointed at Donkey Kong Banana Mania as a game that was more deserving of a $70 price tag. SkyloftSword replied a bit saying that they are still having a lot of fun with the game but even they confessed “I obviously would prefer it if the graphics were better.”
The price of the game is another and perhaps the biggest argument people have. With the game launching at $70, players are scrutinizing every single detail to determine if it’s worth that premium. Some people believe that the combination of what they see as outdated graphics and no voice acting has led to a question about the value. Bucs4Lif6 put it quite plainly: “Doesn’t sound like it’s worth $70 dollars man…” However, to be fair, TommySkywalker11 did come in to support PlayStation‘s pricing by saying, “They’re still the most affordable in the industry, the price of everything has gone up.”
Some gamers even allow themselves to think about what could have been. Bucs4Lif6 proposed the game should have had ‘Pokémon Token style-like combat but with BOTW-like voice acting & dialogue,’ thus picturing such a highly ambitious action-oriented system where you directly control the Pokémon with a stamina bar for dodging. That would be huge shift but it definitely indicates where some players’ expectations are at.
And then there is still the discussion about Switch 2. With rumors about Xbox‘s next console being spread, some people are asking if Pokémon Legends ZA is a victim of the current system’s limitations. Bucs4Lif6 expressed his thought “If Switch 1 held back the graphics then should have only released on Switch 2..” while LOSTLEAD8R was simply asking “@NintendoAmerica Nintendo switch 2 achievements please.” The timing of this new release is certainly intriguing considering a new console is probably around the corner.
As much as there has been negativity, there is still a segment of the community that is very curious. The very idea of real-time dodging during battles is certainly a new concept and could possibly make the fights much more intense and skillful. Also, the “Rogue Megas” that were mentioned by SkyloftSword, are a hint of some tough but rewarding post-game content for hardcore players. Besides, let’s be frank—it is a new Pokémon game. There will always be that thrill associated with exploring a new region and acquiring new monsters.
The gamers’ response to Pokémon Legends ZA is pretty much what one would anticipate every time a well-loved franchise experiments with a new path. The conservatives who yearn for the original formula are on one side, the radical whose demands go beyond the present one are standing on the other side, meanwhile the rest are in the middle discussing graphical issues, pricing and features.
Finally, the main question will be how this new dodging mechanic feels when the players get to experience it. Will it breathe more life and excitement into the battles, or will it turn out to be an awkward add-on? Only time can tell but there is one thing for sure; Pokémon fans are always ready to share their opinions. The discussion around this game is already very energetic and it is bound to be even more active as the release date gets closer.
