It is clear that Pokémon Legends: Z-A will be a landmark game for the franchise in several ways, but it could also establish an exciting new trend for future titles. It will be very interesting to see how Legends: Z-A will influence the franchise as a whole with its own approach to even fundamental aspects of the franchise. Notably, at least one such design decision would have an immense effect on future Legends titles if it is carried forward.

As Generation 10 Pokémon games' own gameplay. More importantly, even with only the broadest strokes known about Legends: Z-A's gameplay, there is one detail that should affect not only the direction of Gen 10, but likely many future Generations as well.

Legends: Z-A’s Use Of Mega Evolution Is A Welcome Return

The Popular Mechanic Has Not Been Used In The Core Games For A Long Time

In many ways, the revival of Mega Evolution in Legends: Z-A is simply a natural course of action for the game. After all, any game set in Kalos would inevitably bring up the question of how it will handle the region's signature battle gimmick. It would be far stranger if a new Kalos-based Pokémon game did not feature the mechanic to some extent. Nevertheless, as Mega Evolution will have been absent from the core games for around seven years by the time Legends: Z-A reaches shelves, it is still a welcome sight for those who are fans of the mechanic.

Of course, Legends: Z-A will most likely not only retread old ground, but build upon previous depictions of Mega Evolution with its own additions. In addition to those Mega Evolutions already confirmed for Legends: Z-A, it would be far from surprising for the game to also introduce a number of brand-new Mega Evolution forms. Naturally, the most obvious candidates for this will be the evolved forms of the game's starter Pokémon, but any number of other species could likewise enjoy the same treatment.

Future Pokémon Legends Games Should Revive Other Gimmicks

Legends Games Provide The Perfect Opportunity For These Mechanics To Be Explored Once More

As Pokémon Legends titles continue to revisit previous regions, then they should arguably also follow in Legends: Z-A's footsteps and revive other major battle gimmicks like Z-Moves and Dynamaxing. These features will soon be absent for longer in the core games than Mega Evolution itself has been, despite being as equally as worthy of being revisited. It can be very frustrating for these gimmicks to effectively define a Generation (with the exception of Mega Evolution, which was prominent in both Gen 6 and 7) before then effectively being abandoned by the franchise in favor of a new concept.

Even if future core paired games are reluctant to use older settings, doing so is also clearly one of the core aspects of a Pokémon Legends game. Mega Evolution sparked a major trend for games to include the option of having a major power-up once per battle, and there has been a striking variety of battle gimmicks in Pokémon as a result. This means that there is an impressive backlog of interesting mechanics that could be given new life in Pokémon Legends games.

As the series progresses, Gen 9's Terastallization will most likely soon be similarly set aside in favor of Gen 10's own defining gimmick, and as a result may not be used again for many years.

If reviving battle gimmicks does become a trend for Pokémon Legends titles, then doing so would undoubtedly become one of the subseries' greatest appeals. Even if each may not appeal to the same person equally, all of these mechanics collectively have countless fans, offering everything from incredible visuals to new strategic angles to explore. As such, making use of them once more when the other games have effectively abandoned them would be a perfect way to keep these gimmicks relevant.

Legends Games Are Arriving Quicker Than Remakes

The Subseries Would Be Able To Bring Back More Battle Gimmicks Sooner

It is also worth noting that Pokémon Legends games are being produced quicker than the franchise's customary remakes, making the subseries the quickest way to bring back old battle gimmicks. Between Legends: Arceus and Z-A, there will soon be two Pokémon Legends games released since 2022. However, the last remakes, Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, were released in 2021, demonstrating a much slower pace. Furthermore, any remakes of Pokémon Black and White would not even include any major battle gimmicks in the style of Mega Evolution (although Gen 5 did introduce the concept of triple battles).

The return of Mega Evolution in Legends: Z-A proves that older battle gimmicks are not necessarily consigned to past Generations, or even their remakes. Entirely new games can and will make use of them as well, something that seems particularly fitting for the Pokémon Legends titles. As such, Pokémon Legends: Z-A could prove to be the starting point for an new trend of the subseries reviving these mechanics, and if this development does come to it would undoubtedly be well-received by all.