Pokemon Legends: ZA - Why Zygarde makes me want to go back to Scarlet and Violet

Spoilers for Pokemon Legends: ZA first.

When Game Freak first announced Pokemon Legends: ZAperhaps the biggest question on my mind was how Zygarde would fit into this. There was never any doubt that it would be important to the game; it would be confusing for Game Freak to revert to the Gen 6 setting and alphabetical naming conventions without noting the Legendary, which are known to have never received their Pokemon Z Soon though Pokemon Legends: ZA marketing focused heavily on the return of Mega Evolution, rather than Zygarde. Now that I have the game in my hands and know what role Zygarde plays, I'm actually thinking a lot Pokemon Scarlet and Violet instead.

As with many others, Pokemon Scarlet and Violet have a complicated place in my heart The graphics leave a lot to be desired and I was very disappointed Pokemon in the open world, only to make the Paldea region feel like a wasteland with almost nothing to do except the bare minimum of the franchise. However, I would commend Terastalization for making players think differently about type matchups, and (more importantly to me) I was pleasantly surprised by the writing. Scarlett and Violet made the bold decision to pair players with the legendary mascots Koraidon and Miraidon right from the start, and the true friendship created by that decision is what Zygarde lacks.

Pokemon Legends: ZA confirms that legendaries Scarlet and Violet are setting a new standard for me

Exploring the world on Koraidon's back - Pokemon Scarlet and Violet

Pokemon games spend a lot of time talking about the power of friendship with your Pokemon, but when it comes down to it, Scarlett and Violet they understood how to show rather than tell like few others Pokemon they make games. One of the first things you'll do in the game is gain Koraidon/Miraidon's trust by showing them a favor, which they'll quickly return. From then on, you'll spend the entire game sharing adventures with this Pokémon as a loyal steed, raising Koraidon/Miraidon to its full potential while helping Arven nurse his Mabosstiff back to health. Pokemon Scarlet and VioletLegendary mascots almost never leave your side and constantly show their affection, and this made me feel like I had a true friendship with this Pokémon unlike any other.

That camaraderie is what I miss terribly Pokemon Legends: ZA. In this game, Zygarde plays a much more traditional role as a Legendary Pokemon. He is aloof and mysterious, only appearing or being referenced when the story touches on the main mystery of Rogue Mega Evolution. Sure, this intrigue makes every Zygarde scene exciting, but it's a very functional role rather than an emotional one. While Scarlet/purple put us on our feet FOR I feel more like a disciple or student of his mascot, not a friend.

None of this is surprising, given the long precedent set by legendary Pokémon, including in Pokemon Legends: Arceus, but Pokemon they don't have to treat their legendary mascots the same way every time, especially after Scarlet/purple proved that there is another way. I even hoped so at the beginning FOR would follow Scarlet/purplesteps. The very early appearance of Zygarde Cells made me think that Zygarde would join my team after the first few story periods, but instead I was left hanging like so many times before. As I sit with that disappointment, I can only wish I could play Pokemon Gen 9 for the first time all over again.

Pokemon Legends: ZA didn't learn from Scarlet and Violet, but Gen 10 can

I haven't lost faith in it Scarlett and Violetdesign will prevail. Another era Pokemon probably not far off, especially based on the recent massive Pokemon Gen 10 leaks. These suggest that the next major games will feature something called “Seed Pokémon”, a rare mon that the player will acquire early and evolve into unique forms through procedural generation. That would be a promising start, but I'll temper my expectations until we get a better sense of Gen 10's writing; the early intro is only as valuable as the friendship the story creates. Knowing what Game Freak is capable of, there is a clear chance that the alleged Pokemon wind and Wave take after Scarlet/purple more than FOR.