Switch Pokemon Legends Z-A

[The_Todd07]

It's not perfect, but damn I'm having a lot of fun. Hard not to when you find such majestic beasts as this
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If you haven't tried the online battles for the Greninja mega stone, do it.

Took me 45 minutes and it's just highly enjoyable chaos

 

[FlowersByIrene]

Really enjoying this game. I'm usually focused on the story and building my team in mainline games, but I am sucked into trying to complete the Pokedex in this one. Am building a Living Dex, and already around halfway through. The games quick-fire catching process is addictive and so easy to focus on capturing. Capturing Pokemon is obviously a key focus of the Legends Series, but I couldn't get around the whole 'crafting' mechanic from Legends Arceus. This hits the spot perfectly - can just buy pokeballs like you always can in a Pokemon game and just go spam capturing.

The Rogue Mega's and Alpha Pokemon actually make it a challenge to do that also.

Have currently taken a break from the main story line at Rank E

Spoiler

Paused at the point of taming the Rogue Mega Hawlucha etc

and am trying to fill out the Pokedex. Have 100%'d almost all the available Wild Zones (few tough Pokemon to catch, like Delibird, and the Alpha Avalugg have been giving me issues), but getting there.

Once you get to this point, training your Pokemon are relatively easy, so I've been able to build out a rotatable roster all between Level 30-50 all capable of mega evolution including: Meganium, Charizard, Heracross, Excadrill, Gengar, Alakazam, Victreebell, Gyarados, Amphaross, Pigeot, Starmie, Scoliopede etc - suspect as the game gets more difficult it will be a task of putting together teams of Megas that work together to defeat the final raid bosses, rather than having a set team of 6 you play the game through.

About 20 hours gameplay so far.

 

[kangle4]

It's not perfect, but damn I'm having a lot of fun. Hard not to when you find such majestic beasts as this
View attachment 2461328

If you haven't tried the online battles for the Greninja mega stone, do it.

Took me 45 minutes and it's just highly enjoyable chaos

I wanted to use Greninja so went online and did what was need to get the mega stone. I did it when I had under evolved Pokemon and no access to mega yet so it took me a bit more than 45 minutes but got there in the end, relatively painless.

 

[Dez!]

There are so damn many excellent JRPGs out there I just dont get why people spend their time on these ones.

Because people like different things, obviously that's going to shock you.

 

[iBeng]

You're not wrong, was more a rhetorical question. There are people who like the AFL games, so obviously the bar is on the floor.

Why does there need to be a bar in the first place? Enjoying a game is subjective.

 

[Mister Carlton]

Brick wall.

 

[Shaxx Attaxx]

On the fence with this still. So many mixed reviews.

 

[Elmer_Hauser]

On the fence with this still. So many mixed reviews.

The new real time battle system and configuration is a winner for me.

I do appreciate the fact they have tried something different and fresh tbh.

 

[eDPS]

On the fence with this still. So many mixed reviews.

I’ll finish the game but hardly been a fun experience for the most part. The game has some good but some very annoying mechanics really drag it down for me

 

[mickelboy182]

On the fence with this still. So many mixed reviews.

Seems to be if you love the IP it is an acceptable, even good experience. If you don't, there's plenty more out there.

 

[Mister Carlton]

On the fence with this still. So many mixed reviews.

7 day return period - Ebgames. I was in the same position, but I’ve enjoyed it enough to keep it.

 

[SM]

Still think Arceus felt more fun.

 

[BallaratBulldog]

I think I speak for everyone when I say im now officially done with Pokemon

 

[Mister Carlton]

I think I speak for everyone when I say im now officially done with Pokemon


View attachment 2463549

Homeless people are the ****ing worst.

 

[iBeng]

Still think Arceus felt more fun.

Arceus felt more like an adventure in a land full of danger for me. This feels more like an urban mystery adventure with more fluid battling...and ive always been a sucker for Megas

 

[Elmer_Hauser]

Did anyone else here play the Level 5 games Yo-Kai Watch series here (on 3DS)

Absolutely devastated the Yo-Kai watch series never took off here in the Western World. It's scope and ambition could have been greater than Pokemon (maybe it wasn't marketed properly)

Yo-Kai Watch 3 is definitely the greatest handheld game i played (not just on 3DS but on any system)

Reckon most of you stalwarts who are Pokemon would have loved Yo-Kai Watch tbh

 

[Art Vandelay_]

Pokemon has always been a franchise that has dialogue based interactions, pokemon company and gamefreak's way of explaining the game to its users. And for people buying this game, or Arceus, or Scarlet/Violet for their 8yo child who has never played a pokemon game before that makes sense. It is at its core a franchise aimed at younger people. Which is likely where most of us developed our attraction to Pokemon - From Gen 1 games on the OG gameboy or from Cheez TV in the morning.

But damn. When you're not a pokemon newbie the extensive hand holding tutorial becomes an exercise of constantly spamming (A) while reading maybe 1% of the cut scene dialogue. And this game is heavy on the cut scenes. Annoyingly so. Made worse by Pokemon company not having voice acting. Why bother with animated cut scenes over the OG game style of text dialogue boxes if you're not going to have voice on the cut scenes.

After Sword/Shield, Arceus and Scarlet/Violet being open world style games this being set in a single city is an interesting divergence from recent iterations, all while having the ability to roam around in Lumiose, including below and above street level. Albeit Lumiose is visually rather boring to look at. Cookie cutter buildings with 2D jpg exteriors.

Which after a 15-20 minute section of tedious Hotel Z cut scenes the ability to be able to roam free for a while ignoring the main mission is welcomed. I have enjoyed that. From completing wild zone areas to exploring side missions I am enjoying some freedom to be able to escape the story from time to time.

Having ploughed quite a few hours in recent months playing the NSO port of Ocarina of Time the battle mechanics with Rogue mega pokemon is very reminiscent of boss battles from OOT. And the day and night cycles have a whiff of Majora's mask feel to it.

Now at the pointy end of the story, currently needing to accumulate my points for the Rank A battle, what I have liked a lot is the new battle mechanic not strictly having a take turns attack style. You can land multiple hits, you can move you pokemon to avoid moves. But I do like also that there's cooldown's on moves, and moves like whirlwind, fire spin, sant tomb that are often weaker moves are now useful and something you have to be aware of being used against you.

But the battle mechanic paired with mega evolutions is at its most fun for me in ranked battles. The combo of having to pick a balanced 3 pokemon team. All in a fast paced 4 person PvP play reminiscent of Pokemon Unite battling is surprisingly enjoyable for an online add-on to the game.

 

[TY24]

I never finished Arceus before starting and finishing ZA - will definitely be going back to finish Arceus once I'm bored of shiny hunting in ZA. I wasn't sold on the new format at first but I really enjoy it now.

 

[SM]

I never finished Arceus before starting and finishing ZA - will definitely be going back to finish Arceus once I'm bored of shiny hunting in ZA. I wasn't sold on the new format at first but I really enjoy it now.

I've struggled through ZA, just not finding it as compelling as Arceus not sure why.

 

[TY24]

I've struggled through ZA, just not finding it as compelling as Arceus not sure why.

One thing I'll say about ZA is it feels quite closed off being based purely in Lumiose compared to the sprawling wild of Arceus. They've done a good job of making Lumiose feel big but I did say to a mate there's only so much you can do to hide the fact that it is just one circular city with some roof tops/sewers to break it up a bit.

I definitely noticed it feels quite small compared to Arceus and S/V

 

[SM]

One thing I'll say about ZA is it feels quite closed off being based purely in Lumiose compared to the sprawling wild of Arceus. They've done a good job of making Lumiose feel big but I did say to a mate there's only so much you can do to hide the fact that it is just one circular city with some roof tops/sewers to break it up a bit.

I definitely noticed it feels quite small compared to Arceus and S/V

I think the battle mechanic (the enforced night battles to rank up, the actual battling is OK) also feels more restrictive. I liked the different methods of catching pokemon in arceus.

 

[mighty_sainters]

Fire red and leaf green have been announced for Switch!

Dropping on the 28th February, day after Pokemon presents.

So pumped.

Hopefully Soul Silver and Heart Gold soon too.

 

[SM]

Fire red and leaf green have been announced for Switch!

Dropping on the 28th February, day after Pokemon presents.

So pumped.

Hopefully Soul Silver and Heart Gold soon too.

I've never played heart gold so I'd be keen. Switch 2 exclusive or switch 1 too?

 

[mighty_sainters]

I've never played heart gold so I'd be keen. Switch 2 exclusive or switch 1 too?

Pretty sure 1 & 2, seems like digital only.

SS and HG were elite back in the day.

 

[mickelboy182]

Pretty sure 1 & 2, seems like digital only.

SS and HG were elite back in the day.

The 'back in the day' part is why I'm not particularly excited. I don't really see what FR/LG offer that many of the following games don't.