Pokemon Legends Arceus Being A Sequel Feels Like A Cop Out

thegamer.com:

Legends Arceus has begun leaking online ahead of its release later this month, which feels like a rite of passage for every Pokemon game in existence. The series is so beloved that somewhere, somehow, a copy will fall into the hands of fans who are willing to mine the game for everything it’s worth before the Nintendo lawyers come knocking. We saw it with Sword & Shield, with Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl, and now with Legends Arceus. All's right with the world, but should we be worried?

I don’t think so. I’ve had a passing glimpse at the leaked material and while there are some surprises to be found amidst the datamine, Legends Arceus remains the confident evolution of the series many of us have been hoping for. However, there’s one small piece of narrative framing that rubs me the wrong way, partly because it undermines the archaic setting that the game is going for, twisting it into a fish out of water story that is far less compelling.

Related: Who Needs The Metaverse When We've Got VRChat?

Pokemon: Legends Arceus leaks are discussed below

The datamine unveils that the protagonist for Legends Arceus comes from the future, and appears to be the same character we controlled in Diamond & Pearl. Now 15 years old, we will step into their shoes once again as they find themselves stranded in this strange new world. Or old, I suppose would be the more accurate descriptor. I don’t want to spoil myself too much, so I haven't seen how the full narrative plays out, but the idea of hurling a familiar character into the past instead of playing as a new face who grew up in this world and has never encountered Pokemon before feels like a real missed opportunity.

I suppose the characters in these games are a self-insert for the