As the first in the series, Pokémon Legend: Z-A has shifted combat mode from turn-based to real-time combat, and it sounds like players may need some time to get used to.On the eve of the Pokémon World Championship in Anaheim, California in 2025, developer Game Freak showed the gameplay for the first time to content creators and critics, a move that clearly shows that they are not afraid to change some traditional patterns that have lasted for decades.
The trial session is short and divided into two parts: a 10-minute standard trainer battle and a 10-minute super Absolu battle similar to a group battle.Unlike 2022's "Arceus", "Pokemon Legend: Z-A" allows you to move in real time during battles, freely directing Pokemon to use moves or dodges.VGC notes that players can even sneak up to enemy trainers for combat advantage, while The Verge compares this super evolutionary showdown to "the boss battle in the classic 3D Zelda game."In these battles, the player trainer character himself will also be damaged.
According to IGN's preview, Pokémon Legend: Z-A has also made significant changes to other cornerstone elements of the series, such as the cancellation of the PP (move point) system and relies on the skill cooling mechanism.This allows you to use any move unlimited times, but only if the corresponding energy slot is full before you can use it again."Z-A gives me less a pure action game than a MMORPG, with casting time, cooldown time and backstage calculations."
Like all others, CNET tried the game in Switch 2's dock mode and noticed "no performance stuttering."Nevertheless, Michael Leri of Gamesradar was disappointed with the game's urban stage: "The bare streets and roofs lacked character, and although it seemed like a bustling city, the city of Miare is surprisingly quiet. The limitations of character animation are also quite obvious." "I can't help but wonder if the game's shortcomings in these aspects are because the Z-A is still tied to the old original Switch console and cannot fully utilize its more powerful successor model (referring to the Switch 2).
Although Pokémon: Z-A may still be visually limited by the series history, the city map is said to be full of dense points of interest.Combined with the redesigned move mechanism to adapt to real-time combat, and the gameplay of collecting energy balls in battle to trigger your Pokémon's super evolution, it feels like this new work that has been released after at least three years (and the only new work this year) is trying some bold innovation risks.
