NERDAGES
Pokémon Legends Z-A: A Return to Kanto Spirit with Questionable Design Choices
Eric Poole Updated: 10/16/2025 | Posted: 10/16/2025
(Credit: Nintendo | Store Page)
Platform: Nintendo Switch 2
Time Played: ~2 hours
Contains mild early-game spoilers
Catching Up After a Long Break
I’ve been with Pokémon since the very beginning. I was in elementary school when Red and Blue dropped, and Yellow was probably the first game I ever truly binged. After that, my Pokémon habits cooled down. I dabbled here and there — Let’s Go Pikachu (if that counts) and Sword — but nothing really pulled me back in fully.
That changed with Pokémon Z-A.
I’ve been genuinely excited to jump back in, hoping this new entry would feel like both a homecoming and a step forward for the series.
A Familiar Start That Feels a Little Too Familiar
The game opens with text-only dialogue — classic Pokémon — but at this point, it’s starting to feel a little too old-fashioned. There’s no voice acting, and while nostalgia covers a lot of sins, I can’t help but think a full cinematic intro would have hit harder on a new console. Dialogue options are also pretty meaningless so far, serving more as window dressing than player choice.
Performance-wise, Z-A looks perfectly acceptable on the Switch 2 docked to a 4K TV. Nothing groundbreaking visually, but no technical hiccups either. It’s clean, stable, and comfortably “Pokémon.”
Starter Choices and Early Encounters
I’ll be honest — the starter options didn’t thrill me. I ended up going with Totodile mostly out of nostalgia.
That said, seeing my first Weedle in the wild genuinely got me grinning. There’s something magical about spotting a member of the original 151, and I’ve already decided I’m running a full Gen 1 lineup if possible. Call it ancient gamer energy, but that’s the team I want to rebuild.
New Mechanics and Old Feelings
Combat-wise, I came in curious about what new systems Z-A might introduce. The first trainer battle was pretty underwhelming, but catching Pokémon in the wild feels much better now. There’s a nice new rhythm to encounters — switching between battle-ready and exploration modes is smooth and satisfying.
I especially like the swapping mechanics when capturing. It gives fights a little more tactical flavor, even if they’re still easy early on.
A Setting That’s Still Growing on Me
I’m not sold on the setting yet. The pseudo-France aesthetic feels fine but doesn’t excite me. Personally, I prefer the neo-Tokyo cyber vibe from recent Digimon titles, but that’s just taste. Z-A is going for something more refined and classical, and I can respect that.
There are some new touches I do appreciate, though. Wild Pokémon can now damage you directly as the trainer, which instantly brought back memories of the early Pokémon anime where Ash would get roasted or poisoned right alongside Pikachu. It’s chaotic and kind of perfect.
The Miss and the Hit
Not every new idea lands. The sneaking and first strike mechanic — where you can ambush another trainer and get a cheap opening hit — feels completely wrong for Pokémon. It’s basically a Team Rocket move, and I wish they’d left it on the cutting room floor.
But just as I was settling into a rhythm, about an hour and a half in, the game finally shows its hand and reveals why it’s called Pokémon Z-A. I won’t spoil it, but the premise clicks in a clever way. The Battle Zone nights concept in particular grabbed me. It’s one of those twists that instantly reframes what you thought you were playing, and I’m here for it.
Final Thoughts (So Far)
Pokémon Z-A hasn’t completely rekindled the old magic yet, but it’s close. The mix of nostalgia and subtle innovation works better than I expected. The world design and mechanics still need to win me over, but the charm is undeniably there.
If nothing else, it’s the perfect reason to dust off the Switch 2 and sink a few more hours into a familiar but evolving world.
Verdict so far: A strong re-entry point for lapsed fans like me — a little rough around the edges, but there’s real potential under the surface. I’ll definitely be back tomorrow to see where this goes.