It may be hard to believe, but the Pokemon franchise is celebrating its 25th anniversary. As a part of the celebration, Game Freak announced a slew of new games and upcoming projects. Pokemon fans have a lot to look forward to, including remakes of Pokemon Diamond and Pearl, New Pokemon Snap, and Pokemon Legends: Arceus.
The last one mentioned is perhaps the most exciting project of all, but we know little about the project. The following list details all the important facts to get you excited for the game, while pondering five major questions we have. Hopefully we’ll learn a lot more before the game comes out.
10 What We Know: Open-World Game
This is the most exciting thing about Pokemon Legends: Arceus. It is the first fully fledged open-world Pokemon game. While the wild areas of Pokemon Sword and Shield were a step in the right direction, this game want to step into the same league of Breath of the Wild, Ghost of Tsushima, and Immortals: Fenyx Rising. While we know little about how the open-world design will operate, the prospects are exciting.
9 Burning Question: It’s Gonna Look Better Than That, Right?
The first look at the game came in the form of a trailer. While these are warned not to be fully representative of the final product, we hope this is especially true in Pokemon Legends’ case. The graphics are okay for the Nintendo Switch, but looking at it in motion reveals a lot of cracks in the armor. The frame rate is choppy and the Pokemons’ animations are extremely janky.
8 What We Know: 2022 Release Date
Do not expect to see Pokemon Legends: Arceus in stores or on the Switch online store anytime soon. Game Freak has already stated the game will come in 2022. Knowing the gaming industry, we cannot even be sure this date will be true. Nintendo is usually good with release dates once a window is announced, but the ongoing pandemic might throw a wrench in the plan. As much as we want to play it, we want Game Freak to take all the time they need.
7 Burning Question: Will It Be For The Rumored Switch Pro?
The lackluster look of the trailer has people wondering if perhaps this game will be one of the premier titles for an upgraded Nintendo Switch console.
If the rumored console is anything like the New 3DS from 2015, which only had a couple of games that didn’t run on the original 3DS, then the game will likely still work for the older models, only running worse. While tech is not everything when it comes to a game’s quality, a bad frame rate definitely hampers enjoyment.
6 What We Know: It Is A Prequel Set In The Sinnoh Region
The game is confirmed to take place in the far past, and many parts of the aesthetic showcase this jump. The way the player character dresses is different than in the mainline games, the Pokeballs are wooden, and the small glimpse of the town showcases a quainter village. The setting, the Sinnoh region, will already be familiar to fans as the place where Pokemon Diamond and Pearl are set. It is fitting for these games to receive remakes.
5 Burning Question: How Much Like Breath Of The Wild Will It Be?
The trailer shows several shots calling back to Breath of the Wild, one of the most celebrated video games of the past ten years and Nintendo’s greatest open-world achievement. Fans have wanted a Pokemon game in this style since the Zelda game’s 2017 release. We wonder just how much like Breath of the Wild Pokemon Legends will be. Will players be scaling mountains with the help of Pokemon, or gliding off of cliffs hanging onto Mega Pidgeot’s feet?
4 What We Know: The Three Starter Pokemon
Unlike mainline entries, the first three Pokemon to choose from are all starters from different Pokemon games. Rowlet is from Sun and Moon, Cyndaquil is from Gold and Silver, and Oshawott is from Black and White.
While fans may have wanted a whole new set for this title, it will be equally as exciting to see old favorites rendered in 3D and explore new gameplay possibilities with them.
3 Burning Question: How Big Is It?
While we are happy to be receiving an open-world Pokemon game, we still have no idea how big it will be. Should fans expect a game on the scale of Breath of the Wild? Will it be more like an Elder Scrolls game with side quests and a log to organize all of your tasks? Whatever the plan is, we hope it avoids the mistakes many open-world games make by releasing with a ton of bugs.
2 What We Know: Turn-Based Battles
Despite the open-world design, the game will still feature turn-based battles similar to the mainline entries. It does make us wonder how maneuvers like the dodge roll will play into the mechanics. It is at least nice to know it still resembles a Pokemon game. With the characters out in the field, we wonder if sneaking up on Pokemon will have an effect on the way battles start.
1 Burning Question: Will It Have Multiplayer?
Multiplayer has always been a big part of the Pokemon games, whether it be straight up battling or trading. Considering the different nature of this title, will multiplayer functionality of some sort come into play? It would be sweet to run through this world with a buddy or two. Knowing Nintendo’s online infrastructure, it probably would not be the smoothest gameplay experience, but it would be a welcome addition none the less.
