I have to be up front and say that this week, the long-awaited Legends: Z-A game will be released - specifically in three days' time. As such, I thought it would be a good idea to take this month's "gimme five" and discuss its eventual release and topics surrounding the game, including Mega Evolution as something touted of the game and its featured region (Kalos). For that, the first topic concerns the game together with the previous one (Legends: Arceus), considering both as a (sub-)series now established by the new and upcoming game.
That first topic in particular concerns how to regard this newly formed Pokémon game series. I had earlier characterized the previous game on its launch as a "spinoff", but considering what has been presented, that might seem "improper". Sure, the game has different mechanisms for approaching wild Pokémon, but many other things line up with the main series games, like the selection of starters (first partners) and the battle system in essence. A Legendary Pokémon is also featured much like the main series games from the second generation onwards.
Furthermore, in the earlier game, Pokémon are kept in "pastures", which are essentially boxes under another name. Meanwhile, the new game will have a form of ranked battling and other online conveniences similar to the most recent main series games of Scarlet and Violet - but this will be further allocated in different posts over this week. And then, there is the highly evident inclusion of Mega Evolution, a revival of a past main series mechanism and with many new entries included, likely alongside the old ones as well within the game.
Based on the points presented above, it can be regarded that the Legends games are most like the main series games with a number of "riffs" or changes. As such, they can then be most aptly considered as "main series alternates", not unlike a "third game" (something that has been long absent) yet also so far removed from the concept - which may be why it could have been so hard to see it all this time. This too opens up a myriad of implications that may be better reserved for later discussions alongside the links to the main series.
Although possible future installments of the Legends games - something that's definitely up for a later discussion - may further tie into the idea above yet separate from its predecessors, including the original main series games they are (or will be) based on, considering the new game series as "alternates" still very much makes sense. That "making sense" will need to be carried over if and when more games of the new series are planned, and of course for the next new game that won't be long now before it's finally released.
One year ago: Cosplay: Axis Cup and Cosplay Festival
Two years ago: Unexpected Collaborations with Pokémon
Three years ago: Pokémon Café Remix Burnout?
Four years ago: Tournament: Raid Group "Relaxed" Lunar Cup
Five years ago: The Day-Night Cycle and Pokémon Games
Six years ago: Cosplay: KAI ESports Exhibition
Seven years ago: Pokémon and Adventure Games
Eight years ago: Respect for Ikue Ootani
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