Pokémon jumps to the next generation with its first full game on the Nintendo Switch 2. Following the massive success of Pokémon Legends: Arceus, we get a game in the same style with a brand new gameplay mechanic and fabulous Paris setting to explore. Being confined to a city is a new thing for the series, and only time will tell if this mechanic will work for the series that usually lets you explore different regions with new characters and incorporates the mega evolutions into it.
Thankfully, before the game’s release on October 15th, we were able to get our hands on the two-part demo at PAX to answer some (but not all!) of these burning questions.
The demo is separated into two parts, with the first allowing some city exploration and exploring the new gameplay mechanic, and the second part is using your Pokémon to fight against a mega Evolution boss and incorporating the new gameplay mechanics.
First up is the “story” demo, where you are allowed to explore the city (in a limited capacity for the game demo). It gives you a chance to encounter a few trainers around the city, explore how to collect items and be challenged to a couple of battles with trainers around. The battle mechanic is different here; the classic Pokémon turn-based action has been replaced with a more active approach.
This proved to be a bit of an adjustment and can be quite chaotic when you are trying to choose the right type without relying on the turn-based system to make decisions with more time on your hands. This did result in me needing to respawn a few times and be much more careful with just throwing attacks out there, so it definitely takes some patience.
The second demo is all about battles with a mega-evolved boss type battle. I was teamed up with a Lucario and advised that the mega evolved Absol would attack me as well as my Lucario. This definitely changes the game, needing to switch up your attack, build up enough points to use Lucario’s mega-evolve moves to take down the unrelenting Absol.
There is a dodge and roll move added to your trainer to be able to escape the Absol’s attacks. Absol and Lucario in their mega-evolved form can clash with their attacks. So it’s important to be careful as Lucario can take on large amounts of damage is Absol is dishing out a major move. Unfortunately, after two tries, my impatience got the best of me, and I accepted the pin and was on my way.
Pokémon truly looks like it will enter a new look and feel on the Nintendo Switch 2. The buttery-smooth 60 FPS, combined with the updated, detailed graphics, make the city truly sparkle. The facelift given to the previous Scarlet and Violet games brings them in line with this title, and it truly feels like the series is ready to look and feel as close to the next generation as it can.
Pokémon Legends: Z-A has definitely showcased the impressive side of the Nintendo Switch 2 system. The graphical and performance bump, combined with the new gameplay mechanics, looks set to propel the series into the future. It will take some time to get used to the new gameplay mechanics and battle systems, but overall, we consider our anticipation for this game to be high!
Pokémon Legends: Z-A launches on both the Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2 on the 16th of October, 2025.
