Mary was at first uncertain regarding the latest Pokémon game, but her time at gamescom 2025 altered her viewpoint. Like countless enthusiasts, she grew up with Pokémon, beginning with the Blue Edition, and has relished most of the series. However, she wasn’t particularly keen on Pokémon Legends: Arceus due to its concept and harbored doubts about the new edition, especially considering the transition from turn-based to real-time battles.
During her 45-minute demo at gamescom, Mary found herself unexpectedly delighted. The new Pokémon Legends edition, Z-A, presents a unique narrative approach, concentrating on battling trainers to advance ranks instead of defeating gym leaders. The real-time battles, particularly against Mega Evolution Pokémon, introduce a fresh level of strategy and thrill. Players must be cautious about their positioning and timing, as both trainers and Pokémon can be directly attacked, necessitating dodging and multitasking.
Mega Evolution battles now involve gathering Mega Energy to temporarily evolve Pokémon, infusing a dynamic aspect into the gameplay. Technically, the demo operated seamlessly on the developers’ Switch 2, with no performance drawbacks, although the graphics weren’t exceptionally detailed.
Mary’s encounter with the overhauled battle system left her feeling hopeful about the game, despite some worries regarding repetitive Pokémon catching. The new system promotes varied strategies and presents a fresh challenge for veterans. Overall, Mary feels more optimistic about the game’s launch on October 16, valuing the engaging battles over graphical intricacies.