The titular Z-A Royale set to be introduced inPokemon Legends: Z-Aappears to be the game’s substitute forPokemon’s traditional gyms, potentially replacing another core mechanic seen throughout the mainline series. Even after the recent shift to an open-world design, as seen withPokemon ScarletandViolet, virtually allPokemongames have featured an obedience mechanic tied to collecting gym badges that keeps player progression in check. However, games that break the mold and don’t feature gyms, likePokemon Legends: Arceusand its upcoming sequel,Pokemon Legends: Z-A, still need an alternative for managing this in-game obedience.
ForLegends: Arceus, the game substituted gym badges for star rankings that increased the further players progressed through its story, though crucially, the system was tied to the forebears ofPokemon DiamondandPearl’s Team Galactic. Given thatLegends: Z-Atakes place in Lumiose Cityduring the present day, the reveal of its Z-A Royale might be its planned replacement for gyms and stars. But while the Z-A Royale may be an obvious stand-in for Pokemon obedience inLegends: Z-A, how the game implements its letter-based system across twenty-six ranks could be more complicated than just eight gym badges.
The Z-A Royale Could Be The Answer To Obedience In Pokemon Legends: Z-A
As far back as the first-everPokemongames withPokemon Red,Blue, andYellow, Pokemon obedience has been a vital mechanic to prevent players from progressing too quickly, where higher-level mons are more likely to ignore trainer commands without enough gym badges. With examples of obedience even featured in thePokemonanime and Ash’s rebellious Charizard, this mechanic ensures that players don’t rely on high-level critters they’ve either trained or traded to sweep through the game. Even asPokemontransitioned away from linear game design, open-worldPokemongames have continued using obedience to help manage player progression.
Pokemon Legends: Z-A Needs an Alternative to Gym Badges, Stamps, And Stars
Beyond exceptions likeLegends: Arceusand its starred ranks or Gen 7’sPokemon SunandMoonand itsUltracounterparts that used island challenge stamps, virtually all mainlinePokemongames have traditionally required players to collect badges from eight regional gyms. Given thatLegends: Z-Ais another semi-open world gameset within Lumiose City alone, an alternative to badges, stamps, and stars is needed to manage Pokemon obedience and, by extension, player progression. Therefore, the reveal of its Z-A Royale could be one of the game’s most important features, as its alphabetized ranking system could connect to more than justLegends: Z-A’s subtitle.
Following recent gameplay trailers, the Z-A Royale appears to be one of the game’s central narratives alongside Quasartico Inc.’s urban redevelopment of Lumiose City, with the suggestion thatLegends: Z-A’s players will be granted a wishonce they reach its highest rank. As an alternative toLegends: Arceus' Galaxy Expedition Team ranks and traditional gym badges, the progression between letters inLegends: Z-Acould tie into Pokemon obedience, where higher ranks mean higher-level mons will obey the player. However, as both the Z-A Royale’s name and trailers have indicated, players will progress from rank “Z” to “A,” suggesting there are twenty-six possible ranks altogether.
Pokemon Legends: Z-A’s Lettered Ranks Might Complicate Obedience
Ultimately, there is a significant difference betweenPokemon’s typical eight badges andLegends: Z-A’s potential twenty-six lettered ranks, especially as each letter will need to scale the hundred levels a Pokemon can have. One likely approach could be to parallel badges or stars, where obedience is split between level-based groups, with every five or so ranks in the Z-A Royale increasing Pokemon obedience. Yet while this might single out individual ranks with unique ties to obedience, it may be the only optionLegends: Z-Ahas for its obedience mechanic; otherwise, Pokemon levels would need to be broken down even further between twenty-six ranks from “Z” to “A.”
