The release of Pokémon Legends: Arceus is quickly approaching, and the latest 13-minute gameplay preview revealed more about the new features and unique mechanics the game will be introducing to the franchise. Legends: Arceus is the series' first semi-open world game, allowing players to explore the ancient Hisui region during a time before people and Pokémon became partners. Rather than training to become Pokémon League Champion, players will observe and catch Pokémon roaming freely in their natural environment, compiling their research to complete the Hisui region’s first Pokédex.
The gameplay preview showcased more of the Hisui region’s environments and ecosystems but focused primarily on the Obsidian Fieldlands and Jubilife Village, which appear to be some of Pokémon Legends: Arceus’ starting areas. Player characters Akari and Rei traverse the Hisui region with their partner Pokémon, battling wild Pokémon, gathering materials, and completing missions as part of the Galaxy Expedition Team. Like the modern-day Sinnoh region many players are familiar with from Pokémon Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl, Mt. Coronet stands in the center of the Hisui region, providing players with a landmark wherever they venture in this vast land.
This trailer may be the last glimpse of gameplay that players get to see before the release of Pokémon Legends: Arceus on January 28. The game is currently available for pre-order, and players can receive a variety of special pre-order bonuses for Pokémon Legends: Arceus from different retailers such as GameStop and The Pokémon Center. With just days left before players are able to experience Hisui for themselves, this gameplay trailer gives fans a deep look at what’s in store for this ancient adventure.
Pokémon Legends: Arceus Changes Up Wild Pokémon Encounters
For the first time in the Pokémon franchise, Pokémon Legends: Arceus will allow players to interact with Pokémon as they roam freely throughout the Hisui region, adding new layers of complexity to Pokémon’s familiar turn-based combat. Not only will players have to strategically approach Pokémon based on their temperament and strength, but Pokémon can now attack the player directly, and trainers will drop some of their items if they blackout. However, not all Pokémon are aggressive, and some will either flee or ignore the trainer entirely when they approach. Players will also be able to use items to make Pokémon in Legends: Arceus easier to catch, such as the Berries shown in the gameplay trailer, which distracts Pokémon so players can sneak up on them while they’re eating.
Pokémon Legends: Arceus’ Pokédex Requires Survey Reports To Complete
In order to finish Pokémon Legends: Arceus’ Pokédex, players will have to catch wild Pokémon and observe their behaviors in the wild, such as what moves they use and what foods they eat. By completing survey reports and handing them into Professor Laventon, players can update their Pokédex and increase their rank in the Survey Corps. In addition, since it’s unlikely that players will be earning money from trainer battles as they did in Pokémon games of the past, Professor Laventon will pay players for their field research when they hand in a completed survey report. Pokémon Legends: Arceus will also allow players to ride Wyrdeer, Hisuian Braviary, and Basculegion as mounts, which can be called on to carry players across land, sky, and sea as they conduct their field research to fill the Pokédex.
Pokémon Legends: Arceus Lets Players Gather Materials & Craft Items
As Pokémon Legends: Arceus players explore the Hisui region, they’ll be able to collect a variety of materials that can be used to craft useful items for their expeditions. Raw materials like herbs can be found on the ground, and partner Pokémon can help break rocks and shake trees to gather materials from them as well. Wild Pokémon will also drop materials when caught or beaten, and trainers can take what they’ve gathered back to base camp to craft lures, smoke bombs, Poké Balls, and more to prepare them for their next adventure.
Jubilife Village Is Pokémon Legends: Arceus’ Quest Hub
The Jubilife Village is the home base of Arceus’ Galaxy Expedition Team, and players will return here to receive missions and requests. Missions are assigned by the Galaxy Team and progress the game’s story, while requests are side quests obtained from residents of the Hisui region. Players can keep track of their missions and requests on the Arc Phone, which also provides them with a map that tracks their locations.
The player’s own lodgings can also be found in Jubilife Village, along with several vendors and services like the clothier, craftworks, and hairdresser. The clothier and hairdresser provide players with a variety of customization options, including clothes, hairstyles, hair colors, and eyebrow color. The craftworks, on the other hand, sells materials as well as crafting recipes so Pokémon Legends: Arceus players can prepare for their next adventure. Jubilife Village also has a trading post where players can trade Pokémon with other players.
Pokémon Legends: Arceus Refreshes Pokémon Battles With New Mechanics
Pokémon Legends: Arceus’ latest gameplay trailer also showed a more in-depth look at the mechanics of its Pokémon battles, which players can initiate by throwing one of their partner Pokémon near a wild one. If trainers are able to sneak up on a Pokémon and surprise it, it may be too shocked to move its first turn, giving players an extra chance to attack. Hisui is also home to Alpha Pokémon, which are larger and more aggressive than others of their species and have glowing red eyes, and players will have to strategize to take down or capture them.
Battle Styles are a new mechanic in Pokémon Legends: Arceus and trainers can choose to execute moves with either Strong Style or Agile Style to gain the upper hand against an opponent. Strong Style will increase the move’s power, allowing the Pokémon to hit harder, but doing so will reduce their attack speed. Agile Style, on the other hand, reduces the move’s power but increases the Pokémon’s speed. Using either style consumes more PP, so trainers will have to use Battle Styles strategically to win, especially against tougher foes. The full gameplay preview for Pokémon Legends: Arceus can be found below:
The Survey Corps in Pokémon Legends: Arceus has also been recruited to help calm the Noble Pokémon, who have mysteriously become frenzied, and the gameplay preview showcased the new mechanics of these battles with Kleavor, Lord of the Woods. In order to quell their rampage, players will have to throw balms made from the Nobles’ favorite foods, then battle with their Pokémon when the Noble lets its guard down. However, since the frenzied Nobles will attack players directly and aggressively, they’ll have to dodge attacks and act strategically to avoid blacking out before the Noble is calmed. In the absence of Pokémon Gyms that mark players’ progression through the game, these Noble Pokémon seem to be the boss battles that advance the story of Pokémon Legends: Arceus.
