Pokemon Legends: Arceus was a huge departure from the "norm" when it came to a Pokemon game. Not only did the game completely change how catching and cataloguing Pokemon worked, but it also brought sweeping changes to many parts of the traditional Pokemon formula - some for the better, and some not. Everything from the basic framework of Pokemon battles all the way down to basic catching mechanics received some form of changes to fit the brand-new style that came with Pokemon Legends: Arceus. With Pokemon Scarlet and Pokemon Violet on the horizon, it's worth looking back on some of the best features from Pokemon Legends: Arceus and highlighting the ones that should make a return in future Pokemon titles going forward.
While Pokemon Scarlet and Pokemon Violet seem to be returning to a more "traditional" style of Pokemon game, it does not mean that some of the best features from Pokemon Legends: Arceus have to fall to the wayside and be forgotten for future generations. The Pokemon franchise is notorious for leaving game gimmicks in the past, but that is not necessarily true for quality-of-life changes and mechanic overhauls. With that being said, here are some of the best features from Pokemon Legends: Arceus that should be series mainstays in future generations.
Side Quests and NPC Interactions
In Pokemon Legends: Arceus, the player can take on Missions (the main quest line) and Requests (Side Quests from NPCs around the map). With Pokemon Scarlet and Pokemon Violet are taking a more open-world approach compared to Pokemon Legends: Arceus, there is plenty of room to bring back and adapt the Requests mechanic. The Requests in Pokemon Legends: Arceus ranged in scale from something simple like showing an NPC a Shinx all the way up to finding all the Spiritomb wisps around the map. Giving the players small quests along their grander journey not only makes the NPCs feel more important, but it can also incentivize players to talk to everyone and explore not only the routes, but the towns and cities around the region as well.
Depending on the scale of Pokemon Scarlet and Pokemon Violet's new region, which is likely drawing heavy inspiration from Spain, it would be perfect to scatter requests throughout the region so players have reasons to explore far and wide, and to return to earlier areas of the region later in the game. In the more linear mainline games, there was little reason to double back to earlier routes and towns, but with a more open design, requests could help funnel players throughout the region in a more dynamic and natural way instead of just falling back into linear progression.
Mass Outbreaks
Mass Outbreaks in Pokemon Legends: Arceus were a perfect way for trainers to increase their chances at finding shiny Pokemon as well as just increasing the number of specific Pokemon caught for the Pokedex entry. When arriving at the location of the reported outbreak, there would be a handful of one specific Pokemon (and perhaps one or two of another in the same evolution line) for players to quickly catch.
Even if Pokemon Scarlet and Pokemon Violet do not bring back the sneak-and-catch style of Pokemon encounters, being able to have multiple Pokemon spawning in one area will still be a great way to chain-catch Pokemon for shiny hunting or looking for high stat Pokemon. Pokemon Legends: Arceus also introduced Massive Mass Outbreaks that spawn multiple outbreaks across the map, and players had a limited amount of time to catch as many Pokemon as possible. These outbreaks could evolve and spawn a new outbreak as well, so these could perhaps also make a return.
While not exactly the same as the Mass Outbreaks, Pokemon Legends: Arceus also featured Space-Time Distortions which allowed for special Pokemon to be caught that could not be caught otherwise. Being set in the distant past, Pokemon Legends: Arceus did not naturally feature Pokemon like Porygon or Scizor, but these Pokemon were able to be found through the Distortions. Considering the speculation surrounding Scarlet and Violet's possible themes of Past and Future, perhaps a similar mechanic to this can make a triumphant return (but hopefully it will be much easier to spawn).
An Evolving Pokedex with Rewards
.jpg?q=50&fit=crop&w=1500&dpr=1.5)
Easily one of the biggest changes to Pokemon Legends: Arceus was the Pokedex. Instead of a simple "one and done" catch for a Pokedex entry, Pokemon Legends: Arceus required players to catch multiple of (most) Pokemon, as well as see them perform certain tasks or use specific moves. Bringing this feature back, but perhaps with a little less grinding, would make it the Pokedex a much bigger deal and make it even more satisfying to complete it. Making the Pokedex an actual challenge to complete makes it all the more rewarding to actually finish it, and it rewards those players who really go all-in on the series' signature "catch 'em all" mentality. Dialing it back just a tad from the level of grind in Pokemon Legends: Arceus wouldn't be a terrible idea, though.
Overworld Shiny Pokemon
It cannot be overstated how huge this quality-of-life change is, especially coming from someone who is an avid shiny hunter. Being able to hear an audible notification when exploring the world whenever a shiny Pokemon spawns is a lifesaver when traveling with a ride Pokemon, and being able to identify the shiny just by sprite along without initiating a battle is a huge time saver. With the potential removal of breeding being tossed around, players may revert to shiny hunting in the wild, and making overworld shiny hunting more seamless is never a bad thing.
The Evolution Revolution
Last but certainly not least comes the suite of changes Pokemon Legends: Arceus brought to Pokemon evolution. First, Pokemon evolutions are not an automatic thing that happens at a certain level. Instead, players can go into their menu to tell the Pokemon to evolve once the level is reached. This means the days of pressing the cancel button whenever a Pokemon starts to evolve are no more, and that there is no more wasting an item slot on an Everstone. Second, Pokemon Legends: Arceus made trade evolutions optional thanks to the introduction of the Linking Cord - even though Pokemon Legends: Arceus did have a trade mechanic.
Further, there were a good number of new evolution methods outside simply leveling a Pokemon up to a certain level. For example, Wyrdeer could be obtained by Stantler using Psyshield Bash in the Agile Style several times. More creative evolution mechanics (especially when hinted at through Pokedex challenges) are always a welcome introduction and should be continually added as the Pokemon series itself evolves.
Pokemon Legends: Arceus introduced some sweeping changes that shook up the Pokemon formula, and while some features may not make a comeback in other mainline games, there are several quality-of-life features that should absolutely make a return going forward. Whether it be the fantastic changes to evolution methods, the Requests from NPCs, or the more involved Pokedex, there is a lot to learn from Pokemon Legends: Arceus that would make the series as a whole much better. However, fans still have a little way to go before learning what Game Freak and The Pokemon Company have in store with Pokemon Scarlet and Pokemon Violet when they launch later this year.
Pokemon Scarlet and Pokemon Violet launch November 18, exclusively for Nintendo Switch.