Pokémon Legends: Z-A brings real-time battles and Mega Evolutions – coming late 2025

thesixthaxis.com:

The Pokémon Day stream gave us a first gameplay trailer for the upcoming Pokémon Legends: Z-A, including some huge changes for Pokémon battles and returning fan-favourite features. They’ve also re-confirmed that the game will launch this year for Nintendo Switch with a Late 2025 release window.

The “extended” look at the game amounted to a three and a half minute narrated walkthrough of the game’s setting and key features.

it’s set in Lumiose City from the Kalos region of Pokémon X&Y with Prism Tower at its heart while the urban landscape undergoes a redevelopment plan to make it better for Pokémon and people to share. Once you reach the city at the start of the game, you’ll be able to choose from Chikorita, Tepig, and Totodile as the three starters – pour one out for Cyndaquil fans, as Tepig replaces him in the Gen 2 line-up.

Naturally there’s a new frenemy to be your rival, either Urbain or Taunie, depending on the appearance you choose for yourself in the game. The hotel you stay at is run by AZ and his partner Pokémon Floette, returning from Pokémon X&Y. At the head of the redevelopment plan is Quasartico Inc. and their CEO Jett and her subordinate Vinnie.

Throughout the city are wild zones for Pokémon to thrive, locked off by numbered green gates. Here you’ll use the same style of catching mechanics as in Pokémon Legends Arceus, just throwing Poké Balls at creatures, and using your Pokémon’s abilities to weaken tougher targets.

Pokémon battles have been given an overhaul so that both the player and Pokémon can move around in the battle arenas, dodging incoming attacks and then triggering moves in real time – this is a huge change up from the turn-based battles that have been the series staple. The fan-favourite Mega Evolution system returns from X&Y with Pokémon unlocking a new level of power when triggered.

There’s no sign that the gameplay here was captured on anything but a base Nintendo Switch. The trailer only mentions the Switch and uses only the first