Video: Pokémon Legends: Z-A - Nintendo Switch 2 Edition Full Gameplay Demo

Z-A... They could have called it "Pokemon Labyrinth"...
Less and less a fan of this city setting the more I see.

This looks even worse than I could have imagined.

For shame, GAMEFREAK.

Your competitors in the indie scene are running laps around you and flourishing; your company is just floundering from all the greed and sheer lack of innovation and creativity.

This reminds me of PS3 games, emulated with RPCS3. But as long as it is fun… Definitely not my cup of tea.

The new combat is really cool but the fact that it’s set in the N64 type map is criminal. A super shame since the first Legends was my favorite Pokémon in a long time.

The city looks so lifeless.. buildings look like paper. Man o man.. i had High hopes for this, but after seeing more, not so.

Now i am def booting up Pallworld again lol.

Thank you for the video. Okay, somehow after watching this, I really am convinced after all, that I should play this. It looked fun, polished and even the vibes were pleasant. It was nice to get a glimpse at the map.

It’s criminal how little they put into the presentation of their games. And yet, this is going to sell like 10 million units or more over its life.

The people who say this looks like an N64 map have never actually played an N64 game have they? Same with the people who say this looks like a Gamecube game.

This looks really fun, the battle system seems just like how you’d want it to be from the anime - ACTIVE. The Xenoblade based attack system is an inspired idea.

It also seems silky smooth and arcade like on the Switch 2, no bug-outs and glitches and feels polished, good job GF.

Downers? Still no talking, yet lips flap. Those green areas are the wild zones? That cannot really be it. There HAS to be times when you are required to venture outside of the city surely?? And obviously yes, it runs as smooth as butter, but when you are in locations as flat and obtuse as this…

I dunno. It doesn’t “look” terrible to me (the N64 / GameCube comparisons are just exaggerated Misnomers, Arceus was where they really struggled) this, just feels a little bland and flat. But that is a city, maybe the whole point of this redevelopment is you improve it?

In any case, Z-A seems to offer a fun arcade-style Pokemon game, so I’m still interested.

I don't care what anyone says: watching Mega Lucario run alongside its trainer in the heat of battle looks so flipping cool and I'm not even a big Pokemon fan.

That and the Xenoblade-like battle system is a big plus. This may be the very first Pokemon game I play.

@Sonicka You're bound to one city. The Wild Zones are where you catch wild pokemon, and they're not going to let you leave Lumiose.

Im sure when the game actually releases, the city is gonna be full of life, no reason to think other vice since its coming to Switch 2, the Switch 1 version is most likely going to be less lively ofcourse.

They need to release demos like this to the public. A video isn’t worth much.

@Max_the_German Welp. At least they leveled up from PS2 graphics now.

I remember when people used to praise PS3 graphics.

@Olmectron It doesn't really look like a PS2 game either. Look at Final Fantasy XI. Z-A looks nothing like that.

@VoidofLight Well to compare it to a PS2 game made by square it looks a lot worse than kh 2 or ff12.

@Sonicka At the minimum there's going to be either some changes to the map, or there's some other places to peek at (underground?) since we have up to Wild Area 15.

Leaning more toward changes in the map though.

This literally looks like a GameCube game. Look at the rigid animations, characters behaving like robots, and the gameplay has zero innovation beside the the moves jumping on a dial and the trainer can run during fight where the opponent ther Pokemon can attack the player, and don’t even mention the mega evolutions that look like being designed by a 5 year old! Both Absol and Dragonite just grow extra wings?!!!!! Beside the second has wings growing from his head? Did they master the art of butchering the designs and making the main pokemon as uncool as possible? This should be a 15,- usd game packaged among the indie thrash on the e-shop that should be listed at the bottom because each trailer makes me more and more uninterested! Gamefreak should be all fired! Their skills are locked 20 years in the past! Look at what Xenoblade achieved just between X2 and X3, then look at gamefreak from Black 2 to ZA?!!!! This is so embarrassing to even look at! Its like they hire elementary school kids to make the games! Poor Mr IWATA would cry from shame seeing their work! GAME FREAK should walk the road of Shame like Cersei in Game of Thrones!!!

Those cutscenes are so dull, half of the interactions happen off screen and people just teleport everywhere. This bothered me a lot in Arceus.

Definitely doesn't look like a N64, PS2 or GameCube game, I think some people need to go to specsavers 😂.

@UltimateOtaku91 but what are people whose entire personalities are based on complaining on the internet about things they didn't even think of themselves supposed to do?

@UltimateOtaku91 These people are just going to say whatever they can to bash these games. There are many actual points of criticism a person can make, but they always return to "This game looks like an N64 game!" or "This game looks like a gamecube game!!!"

@Fazermint Actually play games would be a start.

@VoidofLight Yeah and it always gets doubled down on when it comes to Pokémon games, I think visually it's fine for a Pokémon game and performance wise it's solid. Only thing missing for me personally is voice acting and some animated cutscenes would be nice.

I just hope we can jump on a subway and go explore beyond the city, perhaps different regions. The city looks quite boring compared to areas in Arceus.

It must be tough being a Pokemon fan & getting games of such quality. And then having to convince yourself that yeah this good, it definitely doesn't look like a HD PS2 game, definitely not.
I think the original Shenmue had more going on in it's city!

@VoidofLight maybe you should stop defending and learn to listen because you respond without considering the validity of these comments. Those are not attacks but real impressions. I have been gaming since the NES and when people compare those to ps2/GC-look at games from that era that are far deeper, have actually amazing stories and gameplay. Take FFX for example or Kingdom Hearts, or MGS3, or Metroid Prime- these games felt so next gen that they are fun even today. Looking at Pokemon today, those games have been repeating the same formula for 20 years longer than they should with Zero Game innovation. If you have been playing games for only a few years, then this might feel ok for you. I am judging this as a long term fan and this franchise deserves far FAR better! I would rather play all those ps2 games than the newest game from a beloved franchise from my childhood- isn’t that really sad?!

@JR150 Never been into Pokemon and always looked the same to me. ZA actually has my intrest as the combat looks a blast to play. Just going to wait to see a bit more of the game and really contemplating getting on release.

@Znake It’s funny how every single time I say anything about people’s “criticism,” they always say “WELL YOU NEED TO LISTEN!”

Yeah, nah. I’m not listening to bad faith drivel. Especially when there’s actual criticism and nuanced discussions that one can actually have. I’m tired of putting up with this endless toxicity that has been going on since Sword and Shield.

@VoidofLight because the games look absolutely pony 😂😂

Game freak haven’t innovated since sword and shield (other than the illusion of an open world)
Their worlds feel empty.
The games struggle massively with performance issues and lack of optimisation.
I was really looking forward what gamefreak was going to put out on the new hardware considering the big power upgrade but the environments just feel flat and a lack of atmosphere/life.
How can you feel immersed in an empty world? Especially when other companies can achieve this on switch 1 (totk/botw etc)
Maybe it will be better on the full release but this is almost as bad as the fifa fiasco on switch just a repackaged product with a different number on it.
Shame on gamefreak

I don't understand the problem everyone has with the LOOK of this game. It's the FEEL of it that worries me a lot. Staying confined to the city sounds like a terrible choice. Navigating through streets and narrow alleys the entire game? Lumiose city was confusing enough in X&Y; I dread how often I'll need to look at the map just to reach one location.
The number one question on my mind is: Just how "open" is this world?/How open will it become over time? Not enough freedom and gameplay becomes stale, but too much freedom and it becomes Tears of the Kingdom, where exploration practically doesn't exist if your only concern is getting from point A to B. I know we saw those warp pads that take you to the rooftops, but we still have no idea how much it will impact the game.
Oh, but I will say the new battle system does look very interesting, I'll give it that.

This looks rough. The running animation is particularly eye grabbing, with how the player character seemingly moonwalks everywhere.

The combat looks pretty damn dull and lackluster for being the core gameplay feature. I gave Arceus a pass as the first real time attempt, but they should have resources to provide more polished experiences.

Game freak needs to hire a new animation director. Cause those are some awfully lifeless characters.

Also the people saying this looks like a PS2 game are not correct. I would say it gives off some of the vibes with its animation quality. But it’s far beyond what the PS2 could ever hope to do, even at 240p resolution.

Cause THIS is the one they are going to put the effort into.

@VoidofLight No, you are absolutely NOT tired of it, or you wouldn't be out here trying to be the savior Gamefreak never needed.

@LikelySatan Okay.

@UltimateOtaku91 Wait, so Pokemon is or is not exceptional here? We shouldn't "double down" on the series looking like trash, but also "this looks good for a Pokemon game?" Are you ai?

If it at least runs well that will be impressive for a modern
game freak game.

@OrtadragoonX FFXII on the PS2 looks leagues better than this game.

Having opinions based on a video of a demo I didn’t even play makes no sense, at least for me. If given the opportunity I’ll play the demo or I’ll buy the game, try it and then eventually make up my mind if I like it or not. I saw a tremendous amount of online hatred about Scarlet, but finished up playing it, spending many hours and tbh quite enjoyed it. It wasn’t a perfect game by any stretch, but still enjoyable.

@Znake I’ve been gaming since the NES. While rhis game isn’t a graphical revelation, it’s look is certainly not on the level of a Gamcube game (a console I owned) or a PS2 game (a console I briefly owned, but did play a lot of).

Be disappointed and done with Pokémon all you like. I’m certainly not gonna try and change your mind. But the exaggeration and hyperbole over its graphics is ridiculous.

GameFreak needs to hire Atlus to make a Pokemon game that plays like the freaking anime series with full voice acting and cutscenes and a better graphical style. I'm thinking like DragonBall Fighters style look but not 2D. This is the biggest media franchise in the world with 28+ years of experience as a studio. Let's gooo guys!

@darkfenrir maps changes would make sense considering it’s a city undergoing redevelopment (well, as far as the original trailer made out anyway).

I’ll just miss exploring outside the city, Arceus “areas” were still far too confined for my personal tastes (Sc/Vi was where it was at for me) but I enjoy a variety of locales ultimately. This… is one city, a large city TBF… but still one.

It will be interesting to see how it turns out. I mean, the fact that they are transforming it into a place like Ryme City where Pokemon and Humans can co-exist (yet you can capture Pokemon within the city and battle them at night) is hilarious to me.

@Sonicka very understandable feelings! I personally don't mind one whole city as long as it's fun to explore and that's not something I can say until I played it

Hopefully you'll enjoy it if you do get it!

@topsekret

It has a much better art style. But when you combine all aspects of its rendering it couldn’t be done on a PS2. Especially at the resolution the game is running at.

But FF XII has a strong art style that takes a dump on this Game Freak effort.

@OrtadragoonX Obviously PS2 couldn't handle the raw output resolution nor the high poly character models. But the environmental detail feels way below a high-quality PS2 game like FF XII. For god's sake, the buildings in Z-A are just cubes with tiling textures!

Look at it the other way: the HD remaster of the PS2 game FF XII looks way better than this.

Game Freak is totally incompetent when it comes to designing a 3D world.

@topsekret

Yeah they suck at it for sure. Indie devs build much more convincing 3D environments.