Pokémon Legends: Z-A Review (Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch)

Pokémon Legends: Z-A is the kind of game that makes you ask, “How can something be this fun and this frustrating at the same time?” After the messy but ambitious Scarlet and Violet era, fans were desperate for Game Freak to redeem itself. What we got instead was something completely unexpected. The game throws out the traditional Pokémon formula almost entirely. It trades open fields for a single sprawling city and replaces slow, turn-based battles with fast, real-time battles that actually demand reflexes.

It’s bold and surprisingly fun, but also rough in some spots. After sinking around 30 hours into Legends: Z-A, we can confidently say this isn’t just another Pokémon game. Game Freak attempts to redefine what Pokémon can be. Now, let’s jump right into its review. 

A City Reborn

Set entirely within Lumiose City, Pokémon Legends: Z-A brings players back to the Kalos region. However, this time it’s from a completely new angle. Instead of journeying across towns and routes, the adventure unfolds in one massive metropolis that slowly changes as the story progresses.

At first, the idea of spending an entire Pokémon game inside a single city sounds a bit restrictive. But Lumiose quickly proves it has depth. It’s one of the most detailed worlds Game Freak has ever built. Every district hides something new. The game features quick side quests, hidden collectibles, and small clusters of wild Pokémon tucked away behind an alley or rooftop garden. Additionally, vertical exploration adds even more variety, with rooftops and underground passages creating a sense of scale rarely seen in the series.

After a split second, reality sets in. Those gorgeous buildings? You can’t go inside most of them. The bustling crowds? They don’t really move. Pokémon and people mostly stand around, frozen like mannequins on display. Of course, it’s a gorgeous illusion, but it starts to fade the longer you play.  

There’s still a charm to seeing Lumiose fully realized, but after a few hours, it starts to feel more like a movie set than a city. The café owner never leaves his spot, the shopkeepers mime invisible transactions, and every conversation unfolds through silent text boxes. Even so, those flaws don’t completely diminish the experience. When the game hits its visual highs, Lumiose remains one of Pokémon’s most iconic settings.

Reinventing the Battle System

Where Z-A truly breaks from tradition is its combat. The turn-based battles that have defined Pokémon for decades are gone, replaced by an agile, real-time system that demands timing, positioning, and quick decision-making. Players control their trainer directly, moving across the battlefield to issue commands, throw Poké Balls, or dodge incoming attacks. Pokémon act semi-autonomously but respond to player-issued combos and contextual actions. It’s fast, sometimes chaotic, but undeniably thrilling.

This shift adds a kinetic layer to battles. A single mistake, dodging late or mismanaging stamina, can turn a victory into defeat. Yet when it all clicks, the system is fluid. Watching a Lucario weave between attacks or manually rolling away from a Charizard’s Flamethrower is exciting in a way Pokémon battles have never been.

On the other hand, boss fights, called Rouge Mega Battles, push this system to its peak. These encounters feature corrupted Mega Pokémon rampaging through Lumiose’s streets. They require tactical use of both trainer agility and Pokémon teamwork. The fights are cinematic, challenging, and reminiscent of action RPGs like Monster Hunter or Kingdom Hearts.

Still, the system isn’t perfect. Targeting multiple opponents can be awkward, and camera issues occasionally disrupt visibility in tight spaces. Yet, even with these flaws, Game Freak deserves credit for finally shaking up a formula that’s long felt stagnant. For the first time in years, Pokémon battles feel unpredictable, tense, and rewarding.

Pokémon stories

Narratively, Legends: Z-A delivers more substance than many recent entries. Set during the Lumiose City Renewal Project, the game explores themes of restoration, regret, and coexistence between humans and Pokémon. The story connects directly to Pokémon X & Y, revisiting familiar characters like Lysandre and AZ, now “L” and “Az” in new, mature contexts. Their arcs deal with redemption and legacy in a way that adds depth rarely seen in the franchise.

Supporting characters are also well-realized. Citizens of Lumiose have distinct personalities, and side quests often reveal touching or humorous stories about their relationships with Pokémon. The result is a world that feels inhabited, not just populated.

Additionally, the writing, while still aimed at a broad audience, carries emotional weight. Unfortunately, the lack of voice acting continues to hinder storytelling. Beautifully animated cutscenes lose some impact when paired only with text boxes, a weakness that feels increasingly outdated in 2025.

Technical Performance

Pokémon Legends: Z-A is easily one of Game Freak’s best-looking games so far, at least on the right hardware. On the Switch 2, Lumiose City looks stunning. The lighting is dynamic, the textures are sharp, and reflections on wet streets make the world feel alive. When the sun sets and the city lights come on, the skyline glows with a kind of electric warmth that’s hard to look away from.

The art style walks a smart line between realism and that classic Pokémon charm. The city feels modern and sleek, but the Pokémon still look bright and full of charm. Mega Evolutions, in particular, look amazing; their animations are smooth, detailed, and full of energy.

Things are a little rougher on the original Switch. The visuals take a noticeable hit, textures are blurrier, pop-in happens often, and a few areas look a bit muddy. The game still runs fairly well at 30 frames per second, but it’s clear the hardware is struggling to keep up with Game Freak’s ambition.

Even with those issues, Z-A’s presentation has a charm that’s hard to deny. The mix of city lights, busy streets, and roaming Pokémon gives Lumiose a unique atmosphere that’s both futuristic and familiar. It’s stylish, full of life, and proves that great art direction can shine even when the tech isn’t perfect. 

Sound of Lumiose City

If there’s one thing Pokémon Legends: Z-A nails completely, it’s the way Lumiose City feels alive through sound. From the moment players step into its bustling streets, the city hums with energy. You can hear cars gliding by, Pokémon calling out in the distance, and the soft chatter of crowds echoing between tall buildings. Every district has its own distinct tone. The game features lively cafés downtown, the machinery of industrial zones echoing, and a calm rooftop breeze that settles over the city at night.

The soundtrack ties it all together beautifully. Composer Go Ichinose returns with a mix of jazz, electronic beats, and nostalgic Kalos melodies that breathe fresh life into every corner of Lumiose. Battles pulse with shifting rhythms that rise and fall with the action, adding a real sense of momentum. Whether you’re exploring quiet alleys or facing down a Mega Evolution, the music perfectly matches the mood. It’s rare for a Pokémon game to capture atmosphere this well. The blend of natural sounds and dynamic music makes Lumiose feel less like a setting and more like a living game world. 

The Endgame

Once the credits roll, Pokémon Legends: Z-A doesn’t just end, it shifts gears. The post-game is surprisingly full, giving players a reason to keep exploring Lumiose City long after the story wraps up. The Lumiose Renewal Project expands, unlocking new districts, tougher Rouge Mega Battles, and side stories that dive deeper into Kalos’ history. It feels like the city evolves with you, growing more alive as you do.

The new Arena Challenge mode is another pleasant surprise. It mixes online leaderboards with AI battles, offering a skill-based test that feels competitive without being overwhelming. It’s a smart use of the new real-time combat system, letting players freshly fine-tune their strategies and teams.

There’s also the Urban Pokédex, packed with over 300 Pokémon, including new regional variants. Hunting down these forms, like the Steel/Fairy Mawile or Electric/Dark Heliolisk, adds an addictive vibe of discovery.  While the game doesn’t have endless content, it offers more than enough for anyone looking to sink in time. Between post-game missions, exploration, and team building, most players can expect around 40–50 hours of solid, meaningful play, and that’s before chasing perfection in the Arena.

Verdict

Pokémon Legends: Z-A might not be the perfect Pokémon game, but it’s the boldest one in years. It’s clear that Game Freak set out to shake things up, and for the most part, they’ve succeeded. Almost every part of the formula has been reimagined, from how battles flow to how the story unfolds and how the world feels around you. Sure, that ambition leads to a few bumps along the way, but it also gives us one of the most intriguing Pokémon experiences to date.

By focusing on a single, vibrant city rather than a sprawling region, Z-A trades wide-open exploration for a city-centric experience. Additionally, the new real-time combat system adds tension and excitement, making every fight feel amazingly immersive. Of course, it’s not without flaws. The lack of voice acting and some visual rough spots hold it back, but the heart behind it shines through. Ultimately, Legends: Z-A feels like Pokémon is finally taking a step into something new and daring.