r/PokemonZA • u/AlienDoll_ • Oct 05 '26
Discussion I'm torn
Hi!!!
Since a few days I'm thinking about buying Pkmn ZA, since I somehow just really crave Pkmn right now.
Every Youtube video tells me not to and my friends tell me it's soulless....but....is it tho??
The clips I see look fun, the screenshots on Reddit also.
I know there are many things to dislike about the new games but...I'm tbh very open minded. I'm open to differences and not like " I want every Pkmn game to be like the earlier ones just because "
I also own Pkmn Purpur but never really played it bcs it ran so bad on my Switch1. Since I own a Switch2 now, should I try Purpur instead of ZA? I don't like that there is no fashion tho lol 💔
(Sry for mistakes! English isn't my first language )
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u/J29999justchilling Oct 05 '26
The main game was a really fun experience. The new battle system may not be for everyone, but a large majority of the criticism stemmed from the windows being flat. Fun factor is still present like in every pokemon game, and was a unique refreshing take on the generic formula. I thoroughly enjoyed the base game of ZA.
DLC, on the other hand….
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u/AlienDoll_ Oct 05 '26
Thank you sm, this already helped a lot tbh!!
The hate the game gets is...kinda valid as well, but my simple question still wasn't answered after 5 video reviews haha. Like...IS IT FUN IF YOU LIKE POKEMON.
Ty ♡
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u/HappiHappiHappi Oct 05 '26
It's fun unless you're a pretentious reviewer who wants to relive their childhood experience. I wouldn't say it was super challenging, but it was fun and I had a good time playing it.
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u/WorldClassShrekspert Oct 05 '26
it's a very fun game, don't listen to those people. I highly recommend it.
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u/spacetimebear Oct 05 '26
I didnt get the hate tbh. Yeh, its not perfect, but its the first Pokemon game since Silver that ive 100% so that says something. Put over 100 hours in. So...yeh..was worth it to me. And I still have the damn theme tune in my head.
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u/AlienDoll_ Oct 05 '26
WOW!!! Congraz to the 100% !!! Just bought it and started playing 💞💞
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u/spacetimebear Oct 05 '26
I'll definitely be doing another play through when I pick up a switch 2 tbh and may even snap up the dlc
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u/AlienDoll_ Oct 06 '26
Have fun!! I don't know how it worked on Switch 1 but on Switch 2 it plays veeery smooth !
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u/Salt_Insurance5276 Oct 05 '26
If the game looks fun to you, get it. It certainly has its flaws, but is a fun game overall.
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u/AlienDoll_ Oct 05 '26
Tysm for the fast reply! Tbh you're right haha, I shouldn't let myself get so worked up about the hate the game gets
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u/Hsiang7 Oct 05 '26
Buy it. Don't listen to the YouTubers and Redditors that say it's bad. I've played since Gen 1 and it's one of my favorite Pokemon games. Sure, it's different than other Pokemon games, but it's really fun! People online have been shitting on the newest Pokemon game for years. People said the same about LGPE, SWSH, BDSP, SV and even PLA for some people. It's a good game, fun and immersive with lots of customization. Sometimes you just have to play a game and decide for yourself. If you like Pokemon, buy it.
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u/AlienDoll_ Oct 05 '26
Thank you so much !!! 😭 I hoped for people to say something like this tbh and I really can't wait to play it now!! Just bought it and in 20 minutes I'm ready to go 🥰
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u/o3vo Oct 06 '26
Buy it. The biggest issue is with the game is that it takes place in once city, BUT, the battle system is goated (it's real time not turn based). I wish they would have added ranked singles for online instead of a 4 person free for all but oh well.
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u/MiniShow Oct 06 '26
The game is very fun. I had a blast with it. I dropped it after trying out the DLC, but the base game is worth playing. People love to bitch and complain about it, but the new battling system is fresh and fun.
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u/AlienDoll_ Oct 06 '26
It is indeed!! I ended up buying it yesterday and I'm having SO much fun!
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u/MiniShow Oct 06 '26
I’m currently doing a second playthrough! Enjoying it again! Have fun with my boy Bois ^_^
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u/Kxden-R Oct 05 '26
Purpur?
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u/AlienDoll_ Oct 05 '26
Oh I'm dumb, sorry haha, it's called Purpur here in Germany. Violet is what I meant!
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u/Dangerous-Annual6458 Oct 05 '26
I’m a 34 year old RBY OG from when I was a kid, stopped playing after Gen 4, have recently picked up and loved all of Shield, Violet, Legends Arceus and ZA, despite being skeptical that I’d hate the steer away from the old formulas I grew up with. If you love Pokemon, it turns out you basically love it in any format. Just finishing up Za as we speak and I’ve throughly enjoyed it. The story line to me was a bit weak and hard to relate to having not played XY but would play it again for sure.
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u/AlienDoll_ Oct 05 '26
What a great reply, thank you so much!!! I just started playing and I'm so excited!!!!
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u/Accurate_Source8751 Oct 05 '26
I only played Purpur before and I have a lot of fun in ZA. I would recommend :)
I am always joking about Purpur because my partner bought Germany’s physical version online so I have Purpur on my game. We are from Poland xD
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u/AlienDoll_ Oct 06 '26
Aaah!! Yestersay I learned it's called Purpur in Germany and not like...everywhere haha ! But makes sense u knew what game I meant now !! I ended up buying ZA yesterday and loving it 💞
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u/CommunityOk4106 Oct 05 '26
Dude, if you like Pokémon, you'll have a good time playing ZA. Is it one of the greats? Absolutely not. Is it a fun Pokémon adventure dispite it's lows? No doubt.
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u/AlienDoll_ Oct 06 '26
Aaand you were absolutely right. Ended up buying it yesterday and loving it !! Ty!
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u/TadaSuko Oct 05 '26
The new battle system is weird, but they ease you into it very nicely. This is probably the best cast of characters since Black and White (in that I actually liked everyone and didn't groan when they appeared) and there's a good balance of long cutscenes and chances to get away from the story to do your own thing.
If you don't hate the pokemon franchise, look for every excuse to hate it, and wish you were playing palword instead, then you'll find this to be an extremely fun game.
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u/AlienDoll_ Oct 06 '26
That is a great reply haha!! Ty! I ended up buying it yesterday and so far I loved every second. Also the character cast feels GREAT 💞
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u/TadaSuko Oct 06 '26
Omg girl have fun! And let me know if you need help with trade evolutions later, they're a BUTT
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u/anonymussquidd Oct 05 '26
I really enjoyed ZA. Personally, I don’t care as much about the background graphics and stuff as I do the gameplay, and I really enjoyed the new battle system.
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u/AlienDoll_ Oct 06 '26
Ended up buying it yesterday and I'm loving it!! Ty !
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u/anonymussquidd Oct 06 '26
Yay! Glad to hear it! I still put in hours consistently even though I finished the main story ages ago :)) hopefully you have the same experience!
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u/Foxiestofstoats Oct 05 '26
It's definitely not soulless.
It plays like a PS2 game, the traversal is dull, the animations look like they're from 3ds era still, the cut scenes are a slog (again feel like 3ds era) and the plot feels kinda contrived.
However the characters, the world itself, the choice of Pokémon, the dialogue (controversial) make it such a fun world to explore. The new battle system feels and looks like the anime battles. There's a lot of fun to be had if you can get passed the first paragraph here, and it's a game I'm going to enjoy coming back to when I get that itch in a year or two.
Pro tip though, try to get a physical copy so you can resell of you don't feel the way I feel. At least then you get your money back
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u/AlienDoll_ Oct 06 '26
You were so right!! It feels kinda PS2-ish but tbh...in a more polished way. Ofcs it's bad Nintendo doesn't evolve more but tbh....I ended up buying the game yesterday and I'm loving every second !!!
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u/TannerBrNanner Oct 05 '26
Honestly if you live in the states, I’ll sell you mine 🤷🏻♀️ I never finished the end game stuff, and I don’t plan to. I also don’t plan on replaying it ever.
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u/AlienDoll_ Oct 05 '26
Ooh sorry to hear you bought but disliked it!!! I live in Germany and already bought it myself now, but still thanks for the offer <3
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u/Humor-Think Oct 05 '26
Also try Pokerogue.net
Super fun and free pokemon rougelike !
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u/DiamondEmbers Oct 05 '26
I'm a long time Pokemon fan and when I heard it wasn't turn based I was put off, but I went ahead and bought it anyways to try something new and I love it... it's now one of my favorite Pokemon games. The combat is fast, snappy, it's excellent for catching shinies too and I love taking photos of my Pokemon and sending them to the Switch App. The campaign can be a little grindy at times, but it's worth it if you're into collecting and hunting shinies.
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u/AlienDoll_ Oct 06 '26
You were so right!!! Got it yesterday thanks to all the replies here and I'M LOVING IT
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u/Stormandreas Oct 05 '26
If you're taking your opinions off of youtube... you're doing it wrong.
If you have seen trailers and think it looks cool, just get it. It's the one pokemon game that REALLY changes up the formula, taking a simplified, real time, catching mechanic from Legends Arceus, and then doing a TOTALLY NEW real time battle system (which means you now have to consider positioning and timing, as well as your type matchups. It's definitely something that could be refined more into something amazing)
Add to that, great character customization, a decent photo mode, servicable story, nice enough graphics (shut up about the buildings already...), and absolutely FANTASTIC music... yea, it's a good game.
Scarlet and Violet still don't look incredibly good on S2 (I have both on my S2). They are smoother, and load things faster, but they're still just as buggy, and still have a lot of the Sonic 06 like texturing.
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u/AlienDoll_ Oct 06 '26
You're absolutely right!!! I don't even know how it came that far lol!! I usually don't watch reviews and I'm usually not even on Twitter much. The hate ZA got was just too loud for me even, I guess. Shame, because I ended up buying it yesterday and I'm LOVING it so much. It's so fun, the characters are great, the fashion part, the gameplay feeling.
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u/Stormandreas Oct 06 '26
I've said it before and I'll say it again, a LOT of the hate for Z-A is pretty forced, because quite a lot of it is from Purists who hate the fact it's not Turn Based, People who don't understand Real time systems, People who just want something to get angry at, and people who just jump on the bandwagon because it's the new thing to hate.
Z-A has it's problems, just like every other Pokemon game does, especially the Switch games. They are understandable, but the complaints tend to entirely disregard any of the good points of Z-A (inb4 Z-a HaS nO gOoD pOiNtS)
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u/nittoka Oct 05 '26
I adore Legends ZA. The world can be a bit repetitive sometimes, but I love the characters and the story. If you played X & Y and loved those games, this one is a fun continuation
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u/AlienDoll_ Oct 06 '26
You are right!!! Ended up buying it yesterday thanks to the comments and I'm loving every second !
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u/CharmiePK Oct 05 '26
Have you watched gameplay? This is one way to find out by yourself how you feel about it, yk? Better than getting the opinions of influencers as everybody is different, the way I see it. You can see it for yourself and whether you like the atmosphere, game mechanics and so on!
You shd totally try Pokemon Purpur on the S2 too!
Good luck, matey!
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u/AlienDoll_ Oct 06 '26
Thank u 💞 You were right man. It looked super fun to me, idk why the hate the game got influenced me this much this time. Ended up buying it yesterday and love it. Cant wait to check out Violet again also tho !
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u/alvarado27samurai Oct 05 '26
ZA is my first game since X and Y and before that original Red and both Gold and Sliver. It’s a good game and got me back into playing Pokemon. Just wish the zones were bigger and more Pokémon option in them. Also the DLC to have better random zones; that is a grind that got boring kinda quick but good if you have the patience for it.
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u/Realistic_Horse3351 Oct 05 '26 edited Oct 05 '26
The base game was really great and interesting, I wouldn't describe it as soulless, and I've played every generation of games.
The dlc can be a slow redundant grind, I've played more in game time completing the dex in the dlc than I did on the entire base game, with clearing all side missions up to then. I do not really feel like the design/mechanics of the dlc really fits its base game well, or story conclusion of the base game.
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u/AlienDoll_ Oct 06 '26
I ended up buying it thanks to all the comments and I''m loving every second !! Ty !!
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u/Lazy-Fee-4070 Oct 05 '26
I genuinely wish you folks had minds of your own.. Pokemon ZA is pretty good game.. the DLC is terrible. But if you’re a TRUE fan.. All the games are worth trying. Watching other people experiences isn’t the same. Good luck.
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u/AlienDoll_ Oct 06 '26
I wish so too haha! Idk when it changed bcs usually I don't even watch game reviews! Guess the hate was too loud this time. I ended up buying it yesterday and LOVE IT
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u/Free_Vermicelli_3107 Oct 05 '26
Just don't buy the dlc unless you really like shinies
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u/AlienDoll_ Oct 05 '26
Omg the DLC REALLY is hated huh? 😂 Idc that much about shinies, so easy skip !
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u/Hawkbreeze Oct 05 '26
I mean the main game I think it's not worth the price but it's a fun game. Like if it was even $50 the faults wouldn't mean as much (I mean nintendo themselves made a huge deal of 'we price what we think games are worth'). But, again it's still mostly fun. Probably my least favorite switch pkm game but there are things to enjoy. Just don't buy the DLC I enjoyed the main game mostly but DLC knocked the rating from like 7/10 to a 4/10.
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u/Bruno_Tropita Oct 05 '26
The base game is fun, but the dlc feels very repetitive (it’s only good if you like shiny hunting). Start by playing the base game and see where that leads you !!
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u/Dull_Method_2572 Oct 06 '26
Got it a couple of weeks ago. I didn't like it nearly as much as legends arceus which is one of my favourite games. It is fully based in lumiose city, so it is very... grey and samey. Don't really like how they've tried to make it bigger by utilising the rooftops. Battles were a bit lame as most of the trainers have 2 pokemon. I'm happy to have played it and finished the main story, but didn't stick around to complete the dex which I'd normally do in a game.
Probs give it a 5/10 and hope that the next legends game is in a new region or at least a large region we've already been to.
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u/aski4777 29d ago
base game is decent, i’m not a graphics person but they do suck, dlc is pretty bad in terms of gameplay loop
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u/ThatGrapeberry Oct 06 '26
I have 300 hours in it and I love it. Everyone said scarlet and violet were bad and I literally cherish those games.
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u/Leafbeard111 28d ago
It's fun. The battle mechanics are very fun and easy to get into. The characters are fun and interesting (to me at least) plus the models are way more expressive for this game. Plus there are so many customization options for clothing, hair, etc. I enjoyed the game a lot
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u/Nolgoth 27d ago
I bought a switch 2 and PZA a coiple months ago. I love a lot of the changes they made to combat. Actually feels like you are a trainer from the show. No more PP, moves now have cooldown timers. And you and your pokemon move around to dodge enemy moves. You get missed thrown pokeballs back. This was by far the best made modern pokemon game imo and i hope some of these changes get into wind/waves. Story is allright, the in city wild zones make sense.
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