Pokémon Legends: Z-A has sparked heated discussions across the community, and for good reason. As Nintendo Life’s recent conversation between Felix and Alex revealed, this latest entry into the Pokémon franchise walks a fine line between innovation and frustration. While it brings some refreshing ideas to the series, its execution often leaves players conflicted—torn between appreciating its ambition and lamenting its lack of polish.

First Impressions: Smooth Performance, Uninspired Design

One of the biggest improvements players will immediately notice is performance. Compared to Scarlet and Violet on the original Switch, Pokémon Legends: Z-A runs far more smoothly on the Switch 2, hitting a stable 60 frames per second. This alone delivers a welcome sense of responsiveness and modernity. However, Alex notes that while the game performs well, it still looks like a product designed for the older hardware—textures are flat, lighting feels dull, and the world design lacks the dynamism one might expect from a next-gen Pokémon title.

The new city setting, while initially exciting, starts to feel repetitive as players realize much of the environment looks and feels the same. As Felix aptly compared, “It’s like running around the same muddy peasants all the time.” The limited scope of the city—without the variety of sprawling open zones seen in Pokémon Legends: Arceus—makes exploration feel restrictive rather than liberating.

Combat: Tactical and Engaging, but Not Perfect

If there’s one area where Pokémon Legends: Z-A shines, it’s in its reworked combat system. The semi-real-time, action-oriented battles add a much-needed sense of urgency and strategy. Alex describes it as “Xenoblade-esque,” with cooldowns, positioning, and reactive tactics all playing key roles. This format helps battles feel more dynamic, and even casual players will notice the heightened tempo.

However, the system’s pacing and learning curve can vary. Early fights are easy and repetitive, relying on button mashing, but difficulty ramps up quickly as the game progresses—especially if you skip grinding. The ranking system, which allows players to jump multiple tiers at once, can disrupt balance and progression. Nonetheless, the combat remains one of the title’s strongest aspects, offering a fresh spin that keeps seasoned trainers engaged.

Story and Structure: Too Restrictive for Its Own Good

Pokémon games have always walked a fine line between guided storytelling and open exploration, but Z-A leans too heavily on the former. The tutorial phase drags on, holding players’ hands for far too long before granting any real freedom. The entire adventure being confined to a single city—however large—limits the sense of discovery that defines the franchise.

For players who crave deeper customization or personal connection to their team, this is where community options like buy custom pokemon or even buy custom pokemon online can come into play. These let collectors and competitive players explore builds and appearances beyond the limits of the in-game experience, though purists may prefer earning everything through gameplay.

Technical and Audio Shortcomings

Technically, the game runs well but lacks refinement. Pop-ins are noticeable, and despite smoother performance on the Switch 2, the visuals rarely impress. More striking, however, is the complete absence of voice acting. While minor character grunts and environmental sounds exist, major scenes remain text-only—a choice that feels outdated in 2025.

Alex points out that even smaller indie titles manage full or partial voice acting, making Pokémon’s silence feel more like a budget decision than a creative one. Considering Pokémon’s global dominance and consistent sales success, many players share the sentiment that Game Freak—or possibly The Pokémon Company—is cutting corners simply because it can.

The Community Divide and Constructive Criticism

The backlash surrounding Pokémon Legends: Z-A highlights a deeper issue within the fanbase: the struggle between genuine critique and online outrage. As Felix and Alex emphasize, not every criticism should be dismissed as “hate,” nor should every defense be seen as blind loyalty. Constructive feedback—especially around pacing, voice acting, and world design—is what ultimately helps developers improve.

Unfortunately, the noise of social media often drowns out nuanced discussion. And since Pokémon games continue to sell in massive numbers regardless of criticism, there’s little commercial incentive for drastic change. Until sales decline, Game Freak may continue to deliver technically safe, moderately innovative entries rather than groundbreaking experiences.

Pokémon Legends: Z-A is a mixed bag—a technically competent yet artistically restrained entry that hints at greatness but never fully achieves it. Its smooth combat and strong music direction show what the franchise could be if given the right creative freedom and resources. However, repetitive design, missing voice work, and cautious innovation hold it back from being truly legendary.