Pokemon Legends: Z-Ais set to take the series further into the future, butit could contain a problem with its trading system,which we have seen before. Trading has been a huge part of Pokémon since the Game Boy Color days ofPokémonRedandPokémonBlue. One of the core concepts of the series was that the only way to complete your Pokédex was by trading with a friend who had the other version to get exclusive Pokémon or ones that only evolve through trading. This is no longer the case.
Pokémon Legends: Z-Awill be the first Switch 2title in the series, and it’s no surprise that it offers some new possibilities. From the mainline series to many of its spin-off titles, such asPokémon GO, the franchise has always continued to develop in a number of ways, including overhauls to trading. What was once a must in Pokémon is now a choice, and while this shift might be a good thing for some players, it takes away from one of the core Pokémon mechanics that made the games great nearly 30 years ago.
Pokémon Legends: Z-A May Make Trading Too Easy
Items Have Made It Easier To Complete Pokédex
While the series has tried various trading methods in different generations,Pokémon Legends: Arceusintroduced a new idea. The game kept the traditional trading method through either local wireless internet or online play, but italso included in-game trading items for certain Pokémon.In Generation 2, trading was updated to require certain items to be used on Pokémon that would evolve through trading. However,Pokémon Legends: Arceusmade this even easier.
Despite the updated possible trading items, players could still evolve those Pokémon by simply trading with another player if they wished.
For Pokémon that would previously only evolve through trading, it introduced items, similar to evolution stones, which, if given to a certain Pokémon, would cause it to automatically evolve. This has provided trainers with an alternative method to obtain every Pokémon, even if you don’t have somebody to trade with.
This feature has not been in place for the other mainline games that have been released on the Switch since. However, withPokémon Legends: Z-Aacting as a follow-up toPokémon Legends: Arceus, it is expected that it will once again be included in the new title whenit launches in November this year.
The early popularity ofPokémonGOshowcased the great community feel that the series still had, as big groups of people met up to try and catch rare Pokémon or complete raids together. Thiscommunity aspect of people meeting up to trade and battle was an important part of the mainline series as well,but as thePokémonLegendstitles look set to continue to move away from this, it does take something away from the games.
Pokémon That Evolve Through Trading Are Increasingly Easy To Get
Pokémon Now Easy To Tick Off
Back in the day of the early generations, obtaining all the Pokémon that evolved through trading was a difficult task, but a rewarding one. The four that were only available this way in Gen 1 were some of the strongest in the gen: Golem, Machamp, Gengar, and Alakazam, which made it feel like a real reward for trading. However,Legends: Arceusmakes the process much easier.
InPokémonLegends:Arceus, 15 different Pokémon could be evolved by using an item rather than trading them.
The items that you need to evolve the specific Pokémon changed for each one, but a large number used the aptly named Linking Cord. This and the otherevolution items were available to buy from Jubilife Villages,which could be found very early in the game, further making it easier for trainers to get their hands on these traditionally tough-to-find Pokémon.
Those who previously would have struggled to complete their Pokédex may be very happy with the changes that have been made, but it does take away one of the most satisfying elements of the older games. However, plenty of stand-out features have alreadybeen confirmed forPokémon Legends: Z-A.
Easier Isn’t Always More Fun, But Z-A Could Fix This
Numerous Ways This Could Be Combated
While it makes it easier to catch every Pokémon using items to evolve Pokémon, as opposed to trading them, it doesn’t necessarily make the game more fun. You could argue it leaves it up to players, with both options now being available, but with the items there, most players will opt for the easier path. It hasn’t been confirmed ifPokémon Legends: Z-Awill follow this method, but there are plenty of different alternatives to make this element of the game more fun.
One is to keep the items in the game, but make them harder to obtain, increasing the satisfaction once you then have the chance to evolve.The items could be locked by only being available at a late stage of the game,or be given a very high price to buy. This would still allow players to get these rare Pokémon early on, but only if they trade, awarding those who still use the traditional method to obtain them.
We don’t yet know how many Pokémon will be available to collect through trading or otherwise inPokémonLegends: Z-A,but it is expected to be more than the 242 that were available inPokémonLegends:Arceus.
Evolved Pokémon through trades could also provide benefits. Increased stats for those Pokémon or additional items earned for trades could provide further incentives to try and give an advantage to players who use it. We haven’t had official confirmation ifPokémon Legends: Z-Awill include items that let you skip out on the trading process to complete your Pokédex, but it does take something away from a huge aspect of the series if they return.
