The formula of the series is not carved in marble, and Pokémon Legends: Arceus is ready to twist it for the good of all players
The writer has a confession to make, and that is to have recovered the marketing campaign of Pokémon Legends: Arceus only recently and then be stunned seeing changes made to the formula. The franchise is known to have become dogmatic in the best cases, and stagnant in the worst, and the latest versions of Diamante Shining and Perla Shining have been penalized by the reverential respect with which ILCA has put together uninterpretive remakes. Apparently, however, Game Freak has decided that “at home it takes the air”, overthrowing many conventions that have remained untouched until now.
There is no mention of the simple setting, which refers to the past (to the Meiji period of the Hokkaidō region, to be precise, given the outfits by Ainu for the protagonists Luca and Luce) of the Pokémon world. Here we are not in the Sinnoh that has made us appreciate so much “the peace and harmony” in which humans live with creatures; no, in the rural Hisui humans treat pocket monsters as fearsome monsters, viewing them with fear and resulting contempt. However, we have seen very little of contempt, and that is why we are here: analyze how, on January 28, the franchise could change forever.
Techniques
Let’s start with the biggest novelty for the formula introduced by Pokémon Legends: Arceus. Until now, the one proposed by the series (despite the competitive depth) was a turn-based role-playing game “for beginners”: the equipment is limited to one tool to keep with you, it attacks once per turn (two with Mega Kangaskhan , okay, but you know that features come and go) and it is the speed of each participant that determines the order. Not this time. In the Hisui region, it is entirely up to the player to decide whether prioritize the strength or speed of your attacks.
In addition, by drawing heavily on other RPGs and their preemptive attacks (no one remembers the blows inflicted on enemies in the overworld of Paper Mario and Mario & Luigi?), We will actually have to hit wild Pokémon with a Poké Ball containing a member of our team (probably the starter), determining the order in which each will act. In a way not unlike World of Final Fantasy, in the battles there is a turn order indicator to the side to remind us that no, as a hypothesis that of multiple attacks per turn it is not outside the realm of possibility.
Recon – the revolution to the formula of Pokémon Legends: Arceus
As we anticipated, Pokémon Legends: Arceus also deviates from the formula from a narrative point of view, taking us back to when the peaceful coexistence between humans and creatures was (gasp!) A rarity. For this reason, we will no longer be (or “will we not yet”?) Be coaches, but members of an expedition team called Team Galaxy. We are not talking about the Sinnoh terrorist organization, but about a group led by Soruan, an ancestor of Professor Rowan. In this regard, expect a lot of fanservice in the form of declared and unofficial great-grandparents, given their features suspiciously similar to their grandchildren.
There are still familiar aspects to this new role, of course: the professor Laven, inspired by Thomas Blakiston (English researcher who in the nineteenth century documented the fauna of Hokkaidō and to whom a fish owl breed owes its name), will give us a starter among those of other regions (including, coincidentally, a Rowlet). The purpose of this donation is, of course, to compile the first Pokédex of the history of the franchise, with pen and paper. And to do so, we will have to deal with the pitfalls that are hidden in the Hisui region: there is a reason why it has changed its name “over time”.
Open Spaces – the revolution to the Pokémon Legends formula: Arceus
Although The Pokémon Company confirmed not too long ago that the game won’t be fully open-world, it will be there wide open spaces in abundance. Nonetheless, what many have called the franchise’s “Breath of the Wild moment” has every right to be considered as such. There will be areas to explore as part of the scouts sent by the (benevolent, apparently) Team Galactic. Similarly to the Wilds of Galar, we will have very large areas of exploration. And from a wildlife point of view, we can expect something very, very different from usual.
In a move not unlike the “Poké Bureaucracy” we talked about in our Shining Diamond and Shining Pearl review, this region introduces new evolutions and local forms in the midst of an ongoing generation. Some of the Pokémon, such as Wyrdeer (evolution of Stantler in the Hisui region; how is it possible that Stantler has remained without evolution for centuries, then, the games will have to explain it) or Basculegion (evolution of Basculin) will serve us to cross these new hitherto unseen lands in the entire history of the franchise.
Excursions – the revolution in the formula of Pokémon Legends: Arceus
As part of our role, in the game we will have to go on a reconnaissance to learn more about the local fauna. The Giubilo Village (now known as Jubilife City) will serve as a base camp for our operations, where we will have to talk to the inhabitants to carry out missions. Some of them, as the last extended look at the game reminded us, will require the capture of a specimen with ours Handcrafted Poké Balls in wood, stone and steel. Their steampunk design (anachronistic given the feudal setting, but on the other hand there is an “Arceusphone” …) reminds us that, among other things, we can crafting tools. Yes, craft.
Let’s talk a little about the local fauna, just to remind us of how much the game precedes the events of the main series. There is talk of a coexistence between humans and not in the same way as Monster Hunter, in the sense that being defeated can also involve an attack of wild Pokémon directed at the player, but in a literal sense (we will lose consciousness). When their eyes are bloodshot, the “pocket monsters” are no longer so adorable. We will return to base camp to lick our wounds, but it is good to know how to defend ourselves: it is no longer the conception of the franchise we were used to until today.
Regalia
Let’s conclude by talking more specifically about one of the innovations introduced in the formula by Pokémon Legends: Arceus. We’ve already mentioned that some creatures will attack us with far worse intentions than we’re used to seeing, but we’re also talking about other kinds of news. We are not merely referring to Hisui’s Zorua (introducing, for the first time, a Normal / Ghost), but to Pokémon Gifts. With their golden aura, they are considered a true form of nobility by local clans. It will be up to us to avoid their attacks, given the plague of hatred that is infecting them one after another.
Clashes with them will mostly be handled through a componente action, given the noble title of some of them that appears on screen (“Lord of the woods: Kleavor”, from the video) in an almost identical way to what is seen in the Zelda series. Between one dodged attack and the other, we will be able to kick off some phases managed as a turn-based battle. The human guardians who protect them will play a similar role as seen up to now with the Captains seen in the Alola region. There is a lot of mystery surrounding the games, and we can’t wait to take a closer look at the game with a review to find out what else lies behind this halo.
Now it’s up to you to tell us yours: what do you think of the game so far? Let us know below, and as always don’t forget to stay on TechGameWorld.com for all the most important news for gamers and more. For your purely gaming needs, you can instead find the best discounts in digital format on Instant Gaming.