Pokémon Legenden: Z-A

Es ist kein Spiel, das jedem gefallen wird – aber eines, das wichtig für die Weiterentwicklung der Serie ist. Und für viele Fans dürfte es genau das sein, was sie sich seit Jahren wünschen: ein Pokémon-Abenteuer, das tatsächlich neue Wege geht. Für mich und meine Familie ist es aber genau das richtige, um wieder in ein Pokémon Feeling zu gelangen.

Spielerisch hat Pokémon-Legenden: Z-A ein paar gute Ansätze, etwa im Hinblick auf das Fangen und die Kämpfe in Echtzeit, während die Stadt einschränkend wirkt. Technisch hängt man weiter hinterher, aber immerhin läuft es auf der Switch 2 vernünftig.

Pokemon Legends: Z-A is a fitting end to the Switch 1-era Pokemon games. Like Legends: Arceus and Scarlet and Violet, it takes some surprising risks, but it looks rough doing so. Game Freak's decision to overhaul the battle mechanics for the first time since Pokemon's inception is admirable, and it ultimately paid off. But after five 3D Pokemon games, it's frustrating how far behind Pokemon is when it comes to its presentation. It feels like the last piece missing to really bring Pokemon into the future.

Lumiose City could do with work, but Pokémon Legends: Z-A is a much more tightly focused - and delightfully goofy - return to better form. At least by modern Pokémon's standards.

The spiritual successor to Legends Arceus, it’s learned from the mistakes of the distant past and beautifully shows what city life is like in the Pokémon universe. I can see myself playing this for another hundred hours as I finish my Pokédex, shiny hunt and generally have a great time. This is easily the best Pokémon game on the market.

If you enjoyed the base game like I did, the best bits of Pokémon Legends: Z-A are still present in Mega Dimension. The combat is still engaging, the characters you live and work with are still endearing, and the new Pokédex is fun to complete. This DLC, much like Z–A itself, feels like it will be a Marmite one.