WithPokemon Legends: Z-Aadopting a more modern approach thanPokemon Legends: Arceus’ feudal setting, the upcoming sequel will have the advantage of building its cast of characters from across the series. Thanks to the historical backdrop ofLegends: Arceus, players quickly recognized that many of the people they encountered throughout the game were likely ancestors of many familiar and fan-favoritePokemoncharacters. But since it appears thatPokemon Legends: Z-Awill either be set in the series’ present day or near future, its characters may not be as distantly removed from their forebears as inLegends: Arceus.
While it seems probable thatLegends: Z-Awill introduce original characters within thePokemonseries just asLegends: Arceusdid, its full cast could include several returning faces. But unlikeLegends: Arceuswhich relied on its time travel twist to feature classic characters like Gen 5’s Ingo,Legends: Z-Awill have simpler options to do the same, ranging from increasing a character’s age to introducing their children or even grandchildren. The direct links these characters could offer might giveLegends: Z-Aan edge overLegends: Arceusby following up on lingering stories, questions, and mysteries from pastPokemongames.
Pokemon Legends: Z-A’s Cast Could One-Up Pokemon Legends: Arceus' Ancestors
As one ofLegends: Arceus' more creative and ingenious features, its cast of familiar ancestral characters paved the way for some of the game’s best moments, such as the reveal and confrontation with Volo that reimagined Gen 4’s infamous Pokemon Champion challenge against Cynthia. But now that players are aware of this potential twist,Legends: Z-Awould have struggled to achieve the same effect had it also been set inPokemon’s history. With the added complication of potentially including its predecessor’s use of time travel, a shift from the past to one of the options below could helpLegends: Z-Aimprove onLegends: Arceusin new ways.
What if Pokemon Legends: Z-A Takes Place During the Present?
ShouldLegends: Z-Abe set sometime afterPokemon XandYfollowing Lumiose City’s urban redevelopment, this might be its greatest advantage overLegends: Arceusas it would allow virtually anyPokemoncharacter to return. Beyond the manyXandYcharacters like Professor Sycamore or AZ on a longwish list of returning features forLegends: Z-A, this could include various otherPokemoncharacters, ranging from series staples to those more obscure. For instance, while someone like Professor Oak would be an obvious choice,Legends: Z-Aand its inclusion of Zygarde’s multiple forms could see Professor Rowan return thanks to his specialty in form changes.
What if Pokemon Legends: Z-A Takes Place in the Near or Distant Future?
While it hasn’t been confirmed whenLegends: Z-Atakes place, this hasn’t stopped fans from speculating based on the trailer’s unusual artistic style of futuristic neon and digital geometry. With the only specific detail being thatLegends: Z-Awill take place in a redeveloped Lumiose City, this seems to hint at a time gap between it and otherPokemongames. If true, then unlikeLegends: Arceus' ancestors,Legends: Z-Acould go in the opposite direction with a cast of familiar but older characters, such as Lumiose City’s gym leader Clemont, or the descendants ofPokemoncouples likeXandY’s own Yuu and Ami.
The advantageLegends: Z-Agains from this is the ability to build on the existing stories of previousPokemoncharacters, which is somethingLegends: Arceuswasn’t in a position to do. For example, an older, more experienced Clemont would be perfect fora theorized futuristicLegends: Z-Asince he was an inventive child prodigy and played a key role inPokemon’s X andYanime. But with a bigger time gap,Legends: Z-Acould feature the children or grandchildren ofPokemoncharacters, again doing whatLegends: Arceuscouldn’t by creating new stories about the future lives and families of these familiar names and faces.
Pokemon Legends Z-A
The sequel to Pokemon Legends: Arceus, Pokemon Legends: Z-A takes Pokemon trainers back to the Kalos region’s Lumiose City.
