Pokémon Legends: Arceus - A Franchise Milestone

Sep 11
3 min read

Let's talk about Pokémon Legends: Arceus.

This game is, for me, one of the most exciting moments in the entire franchise. And I don't say that lightly: Pokémon was my first video game at the age of 4, and since then I've played absolutely every installment, from the legendary ones to the ones that left much to be desired.

Arceus is not just another title: it's the answer to decades of criticism and the door to a new way of experiencing the Pokémon world.

The Stagnation of the Pokémon Formula

For years, Pokémon was accused of not evolving. Its mechanics were solid, but linear: we all traveled the same path, with little chance to break the structure and venture beyond the defined.

Yes, there were attempts to vary with Detective Pikachu, Pokémon Ranger or Pokémon Café, but they never managed to hold up as pillars of the franchise (Detective Pikachu 2, I'm still waiting for you). They felt like cute spin-offs, but without the soul that makes us all get excited, scream or cry every time we raise a glass or meet our first shiny.

The Breaking Point

That's how at some point Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee arrived, an interesting experiment that played with the Pokémon Go phenomenon and tentatively tested the semi-open world. It was a rehearsal... but the masterpiece was still missing.

Then Pokémon Legends: Arceus appeared. A title that decided to look to the future, but at the same time took a look back to the past of the Sinnoh region, known here as Hisui, to tell the origin of the human-Pokémon coexistence, the fear, the adventure, the exploration, the science, the how it all began.

The Story: Between Mythology and Time

In Pokémon Legends: Arceus you embody a mysterious traveler, apparently sent by Arceus to the past, to help found the first foundations of what, centuries later, will be the strongest bond in the Pokémon world: friendship.

The narrative explores the primitive relationship with these creatures, seen more as forces of nature than as companions. And little by little, with your help, humans begin to wonder: what if Pokémon were more than tools or unknown monsters? What if they were part of our lives?

The story is riddled with references: the origins of the Pokédex, the first teachers, the ancestors of iconic characters, and even the beginnings of organizations that in the future will become powerful and unstoppable. (Until a 10-year-old boy stops them.)

The Gameplay: Real Freedom

For the first time in the saga, we're talking about a real open world. If you want to ignore the main mission to explore, you can. If you want to waste hours hunting, researching or just enjoying the scenery, the game allows it and rewards you for it, unforgettable landscapes, ruins to explore, mysterious caves and fantastic encounters are just a taste of what awaits you.

Mounts are one of the best mechanics ever introduced: creatures adapted to your exploration style, whether flying, swimming, climbing or running. They are pure freedom, you don't ride to get through the game fast, you ride to explore, have fun and feel free.

Also, battles against Alpha Pokémon (territorial bosses) are a real challenge, and collecting shinies becomes a delightful obsession, as well as focusing more on human vs. Pokémon hunting, rather than bug and pet battles.

The Sensory Experience

Visually, although it is not a title that competes with AAA productions in graphics, the artistic design is impeccable: landscapes inspired by feudal Japan, cities in formation and a style that conveys living history.

The music is another strong point: melodies that combine nostalgia, tradition and epic. Each chord transports you to Sinnoh's past and reinforces the feeling of being on a unique journey.

Performance and Optimization

And here's an important fact: while later games like Pokémon Scarlet and Purple have been criticized for their performance, Arceus runs smoothly even on a Nintendo Switch Lite. That shows a much more solid optimization job, fps are maintained, animations are kept intact and epic encounters make you cry with emotion.

Conclusion

Pokémon Legends: Arceus is not only a successful experiment: it's a rebirth for the franchise. It's a title that grabs you, that makes you feel like the first Pokémon trainer, that makes you a pioneer of a relationship that changed the fictional world... and ours as gamers.

This game is freedom, excitement, nostalgia and novelty.

For me, it's the best thing Pokémon has done in many years.

If you haven't played it, go buy it or borrow it, but don't miss out on one of the best experiences in the franchise.