Pokémon Legends: Z-A

At a steep $69.99, Pokémon Legends: Z-A feels underwhelming for what you get. The environment is lush and the concept of urban redevelopment is refreshing, but the execution lacks polish. If you’re a die-hard Pokémon fan, it might be worth it, but casual players may feel shortchanged.

Gameplay flows between adventure segments and Pokémon battles, but it often feels like you’re retreading old ground. The art style impresses with its vibrant colors and improved textures, but technical hiccups mar the experience. Performance drops in crowded areas are a significant issue, making exploration annoying at times. Compared to Pokémon X and Y, this feels like a casual rehash rather than a groundbreaking sequel. The character models don’t show much improvement, and the new mechanics don’t quite elevate the gameplay. If you enjoyed previous Pokémon games for their nostalgia, there's some fun to be had, but expect the familiar to outweigh the new.

You navigate through Lumiose City, completing quests that involve both Pokémon battles and urban development tasks. The City Harmony Events let you interact with Pokémon in meaningful ways, but these often lead to the same predictable outcomes. Dungeon-style areas are back, but they lack the depth and challenge found in older entries. Expect to spend a lot of time in shops and cafés, interacting with NPCs and picking up side quests.