Z-A’s Updated Night Mechanics Are in Need of One Key Feature

A recent Nintendo Direct presentation, held ahead of the expected April 2 showcase for the next-gen Switch, unveiled a new trailer for Pokemon Legends: Z-A. This sneak peek highlighted returning Pokemon and brand-new features, but one standout revelation was about a unique nighttime event in Lumiose City. Initially hinted at in a previous trailer when a Rotom Phone unexpectedly lit up, it’s now confirmed that Pokemon Legends: Z-A will host nighttime tournaments featuring trainer battles, adding an exciting twist to the familiar day-and-night cycle.

This development creatively builds upon older Pokemon games’ day-and-night dynamics and significantly expands the experience seen in Pokemon Legends: Arceus, where trainer battles were scarce. In Z-A, these encounters become part of a grand in-game tournament, challenging players to ascend from Rank Z to A, mimicking a battle royale-like experience. This fresh approach promises to revitalize the battle mechanics but could achieve even more with one crucial addition.

Pokemon Legends: Z-A’s Mega Evolutions promise to captivate players by offering more engaging battles, especially with the goal of reaching the top rank in the nighttime tournament. Since battles are a core element of the game, integrating an online component alongside the battle royale could enhance the experience. Imagine players entering Lumiose City under the moonlit sky, being randomly placed across the map, and engaging other trainers, all controlled by real players rather than AI opponents.

This proposition not only introduces a legitimate PvP tournament to the game but also transforms Lumiose City into an epic battleground for these royale-style encounters. An online ranking, similar to the in-game structure from Z to A, could reward players with items or currency, offering high stakes and significant incentives. Although PvP is a familiar aspect of Pokemon games, its typical formats involve static double battles with turn-based mechanics. Pokemon Legends: Z-A breaks away from this, hinting at a richer, more dynamic battle experience unprecedented in the franchise.

Consider, for instance, the ability for Pokemon to dodge attacks, a feature introducing unprecedented dynamism to battles in Legends: Z-A. This evolution of combat mechanics opens doors to new opportunities, such as modifying PvP encounters to mirror Elden Ring Nightreign’s battle royale style. In this mode, the Lumiose City arena could gradually shrink, leaving players scrambling for position until only one remains, ultimately amassing rank-up points and rewards.

Incorporating multiplayer functionality in Pokemon Legends: Z-A could effectively achieve dual objectives: allowing players to explore the enhanced battle system in PvP settings while pioneering a battle royale format within the Pokemon universe. While PLZA brushes on a similar concept in its trainer battles, a player vs. player setting would elevate it to a new game level entirely. Although there’s no confirmation yet about Z-A’s online capabilities, the partial online integration in PLA sparks hope that a comprehensive PvP battle royale mode might be in the cards for fans eagerly anticipating more from this beloved series.