AlthoughPokémonis the highest-grossing media franchise in the world,it’s at a bit of a crossroads, suffering from the poor reception of recent titles and relative lack of excitement for the next entry. Part of this is due toPokémon Legends: Z-Anot introducing a new generation, instead being a spin-off title that takes players back to Gen 6’s Kalos region. Another aspect is that the game looks a little lacking in many areas, especially in its earlier trailers that showed off choppy frame rates on the Nintendo Switch.
Luckily, the Nintendo Switch 2 seems to fix these performance issues, and previousPokémongames, likeScarlet & Violet, already run a lot better on the new system. That doesn’t change the fact, however, that these games have been disappointing for some time. This hasn’t stoppedPokémongames from selling well, because the name carries such weight, but with plenty of fans being critical of what’s shown thus far, it doesn’t feel like there’s much hype. Still,Pokémonhas the chance to change this on July 22nd.
A Pivotal Pokémon Presents Is Coming July 22
Likely The Last Pokémon Presents Before Legends: Z-A
Pokémon Presents acts as a periodical presentation by thePokémoncompany, and there are typically two a year, although the dates can frequently vary. WithLegends: Z-Aaiming for an October launch and February already hosting a Pokémon Presents, it stands to reason that the one on July 22nd is the last one beforeLegends: Z-A’s release. The showcase will hopefully have more of the game to show to paint a better picture before release.
Z-Ais the second title in theLegendsspin-offs, following upLegends: Arceus.
The lastPokémon Presents in Februarygave players a showcase ofLegends: Z-A’s combat and its potential evolution of thePokémonseries, although not a lot of it was shown. Despite only appearing twice a year,Pokémon Presents tend to be quite short and have a lot of ground to cover, from showing off gameplay footage of new titles to new cards for the TCG. That broad scope doesn’t mean Pokémon Presents isn’t important for the future success ofLegends: Z-A.
Pokémon Will Have A Final Shot At Selling Legends: Z-A To Fans
And Showing More Of The Game On The Switch 2 Will Help
AfterPokémon Scarlet & Violet’s lukewarm reception, which was followed by a similar reaction toSword & Shield, getting as many people as possible excited is critical . Some people will still buy the nextPokémonbecause of the name, but the franchise’s continued success will eventually require an actual rejuvenation of interest. While the game’s setting and scale aren’t as ambitious as many would like, the direction of the combat is, at least for Game Freak.Game Freak’s upcoming gameBeast of Reincarnationhighlights what the company can do outside ofPokémon, andZ-Acould tap into that potential.
As the last presentation beforePokémon Legends: Z-A’s release,July 22nd’s Pokémon Presents needs to show the gamein the best possible light. Showcasing it on the Switch 2 with a better framerate will certainly help, but the game itself needs to impress to get the hype train going. The community seems quiet and skeptical aboutPokémon’s latest title, despite how massive the IP is, and with Game Freak showing what it can do with Xbox, it should be time forPokémonto take the next big step forward.
