Pokémon Legends: Arceus, A Legendary

Rejuvenation for Fans to Indulge in

By: Thomas Noochan | 24 April 2022

Image of protagonist kneeling near her Pokémon in the wild

For the first time in 26 years, Pokémon has dropped the fundamental building blocks of
the classic main series games with the release of Pokémon Legends: Arceus in early
2022. But it doesn’t stop there. Another game is announced to come in late 2022:
Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. Two Pokémon games in one year is completely unheard of.
We need to step back and take stock of what Game Freak has done in Legends: Arceus
to see what the franchise’s future has in store.

The evolution in the series is truly remarkable with its transition from 2D black and white
graphics to colored 3D models. The franchise’s success is clear through the multitude of
spinoff games over the past years. Through Legends: Arceus, however, Game Freak has
redefined Pokémon, incorporating realism into its story, graphics, and most notably,
gameplay.

Legends: Arceus is often compared to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild for their
similar game styles. Zelda is the icon for open-world games on the Nintendo Switch as
its unmatched graphics shows promise in future game development. Although released
five years apart, Game Freak follows Zelda’s footsteps but makes it uniquely Pokémon.

The franchise’s popularity is best seen through their merch, anime, and games. Legends:
Arceus is no exception. The game has rapidly gained traction ever since it was first
publicized. On Nintendo’s twitter page, they announced that they’ve sold 6.5 million
copies in just the first week of release. It appears that fans are excited for the changes
that Pokémon is making as it sets expectations for upcoming games.
Story of Distrust, Adventure, and Betrayal
An issue that many previous games suffer from is overdoing a happy, fantastical world
where everyone is kind to each other. But in the real world, that’s not necessarily true.
The storywriters for Legends: Arceus, however, incorporates realistic elements into an
exciting adventure. This game doesn’t paint an idealized society. Instead, the game uses
familiar emotions to keep players reeled in.

For example, there is intense distrust between the player, the town, and major plot
characters. But all of this feels humanizing. The player no longer starts out as the model
citizen that everyone likes. There’s also more variety in personalities, where some
characters are funny while others are deliberately rude. This makes them more interesting
to interact with unlike in prior games with bland NPCs.

When disaster strikes, the player is wrongly blamed and quickly alienated. The fact that
the player is banished from their home village makes the game come to life. The player
has never been the antagonist in Pokémon’s history. But this game breaks traditional
Pokémon rules, and the player’s goal of redemption makes the game addicting.

Betrayal is a very real human emotion that Game Freak has never experimented with in
their games. Pokémon is catered to a wide audience, including children. Trusting friends
is an important attribute that Pokémon is probably trying to convey. But this game throws
it (mostly) out the window.

The player is faced with opposition from characters who were introduced as friendly.
These battles not only make the story interesting, but also more memorable. For instance,
fans will never forget the final trainer battle which was fueled by pure betrayal. By allowing
characters to exhibit human flaws, the plot becomes unpredictable but thrilling.

Graphics… Well, It Could Have Been Worse

Close up image of textures in grass and trees

Admittedly, the graphics initially looked impressive in the trailer. In battle, Pokémon
moves are more vibrant and dynamic. The game also does a decent job at depicting a
variety of terrains and climates. New biomes, like toxic swamps and icy tundras, are
exciting to see. But truthfully, they do get dull.

Since the backstory of the game is based around time travel, the art theme is supposed
to mimic ancient times. So naturally, the game can visually seem mundane. But the effort
should not go unnoticed. The textures for the grass and small flowers in the ground and
the intricate details in the leaves are just some small examples that enhance the game.

Dangerous Terrain, Exciting Adventure

The biggest selling point of the game is arguably its gameplay. The player is no longer
constrained to the storyline. They’re able to freely to explore the vast Hisui Region
containing exciting mysteries to be discovered. Most Pokémon spawn in the overworld,
like generation 8’s Sword and Shield or the generation 1 remakes Lets Go Pikachu/Eevee.
However, this game adds a whole new depth to Pokémon interaction.

Instead of simply battling, players can hide in the grass to throw food and Poké balls or
perform a sneak attack from behind. Pokémon even have personalities. If spotted, some
will cry or run away. There’s even adorable sitting and sleeping animations as well. Some
will become aggressive and attack the player, adding hazards to watch out for.

Compared to past generations, this game is far from easy. In addition to Pokémon attacks,
players can easily die from falling or drowning. These realistic elements add to the
enjoyment, keeping players on their toes. If caught unaware, it’ll be too late for players to
realize that a level 85, 9-feet-tall alpha Garchomp is slashing at their back.

Unlockable ride Pokémon with unique mechanics

Also, Game Freak brings ride Pokémon back with improved movement mechanics. The
player can even use their abilities in succession, making for unique gameplay. Imagine
leaping across mountains on Wyrdeer’s back and calling Braviary in mid-air to soar
through the skies. Traversing the terrain alongside these Pokémon make exploring feel
much more enjoyable.

Legends: Arceus Spearheads Pokémon’s Future

Reviews on Legends: Arceus have primarily been positive. Many, like Rebekah Valentine,
an author for IGN, praise the game for its increased difficulty and unique gameplay. When
it comes to flaws, however, many critics comment on the same element: poor graphics.
Megan Gingerich, writer for Game Rant, attempts to defend the game and argue that
Pokémon doesn’t need to prioritize its graphics. Graphics was never Pokémon’s selling
point. Fans find reasons to love the game, whether it be to befriend Pokémon or the
nostalgia that comes with it.

The game has its flaws, but many are excited for the direction that Pokémon is headed.
As Jason Hidalgo, a journalist for the Reno Gazette Journal, candidly explains, it’s
refreshing to see the franchise take risks and try new things. Prior to these newly released
games, Pokémon has been falling off. However, by adapting and making significant
changes, Game Freak has rejuvenated the series and the franchise all together.

Pokémon Legends: Arceus, available on the Nintendo Switch, is a must-buy, even for
casual players. The new gameplay and storyline elements are extremely fun and sets
expectations for what is to come in Pokémon: Scarlet and Violet later in 2022.

Rating:

4 out of 5 (Great!)
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