New reveals for Pokemon Legends: Arceus have been rolling out at a consistent rate. While fans have known about the game for a while, the past few months have seen new content videos and the announcements of new Pokemon every few weeks. The most recent of these have focused on two new Hisuian forms in Pokemon Legends: Arceus; Hisuian Zorua and Hisuian Zoroark. While the two Pokemon will receive a unique typing that hasn’t been present in the series before, Hisuian Zorua and Hisuian Zoroark also continue Pokemon Legends: Arceus’ trend of touching on the darker aspects of the Pokemon franchise.
With their unique dual-typing of Ghost and Normal, Hisuian Zorua and Hisuian Zoroark are game-changers that will fill a gap in the Pokemon franchise for both the general fan and competitive players. The lore behind the typing of these Pokemon, however, draws on the grimmer style that Pokemon Legends: Arceus has been using. This is highlighted with other new Pokemon like Basculegion, which evolved after being possessed by the souls of other Basculin in its school that didn’t survive their upstream migration.
Hisuian Zorua's Tragic Backstory
Similarly to Basculegion, Hisuian Zorua comes into being because of migration and death. The adorable fox Pokemon that is Zorua is said to have traveled to Hisui after being shunned in its homeland for conjuring illusions. While this type of sad abandonment of Pokemon in the franchise is nothing new (even Ash’s Charmander in the original anime series was a rescue), the consequences of Zorua’s migration are jarring.
In Hisuian Zorua's heartbreaking origins, after migrating to the Hisui region Zorua, the Pokemon unfortunately dies because they're unable to thrive in the harsh conditions that the region is known for. Still, the spirit of Hisuian Zorua survives and manifests itself out of pure spite into the Pokemon form that was recently introduced to players, Hisuian Zorua. In terms of Pokemon lore and entries for different Pokemon, this isn’t necessarily the most disturbing that can be found, but it is one of the strongest breaks away from the traditional cute and timid nature that many people associate with Pokemon in recent games.
Hisuian Zorua’s lore shows that Pokemon Legends: Arceus is doing more than just adding new Pokemon and mechanics to the Pokemon franchise. It demonstrates that along with more difficult gameplay, Pokemon Legends: Arceus is also trying to deliver content that is a bit more mature. Even though these types of grim and unnerving lore entries are nothing new, the way they’ve been brought front and center highlights how the approach to Pokemon Legends: Arceus seems to differ. Especially when compared to the cute and aesthetically pleasing style that the Gen 4 remakes, Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, are using.
Hisuian Zoroark
Staying in stride with this theme, the Hisuian form of Zoroark has a lore entry that carries the dark tone set by its pre-evolution as well. Having evolved into the Baneful Fox Pokemon, Hisuian Zoroark is an isolationist that doesn’t seem to trust many other beings besides itself. While it will protect those it does trust, particularly young Hisuian Zorua, other Pokemon and people will be met with the terrifying illusions that are projected from its fur.
This was demonstrated in the Pokemon’s found-footage style reveal for Hisuian Zorua and Hisuian Zoroark, when the person holding the camera was ambushed. While it highlights one of the more horrendous aspects of Hisuian Zoroark’s traits, the terrifying images that others see when Hisuian Zoroark is encountered can’t be understated.
Other fan favorites, like the Mythical Pokemon Darkrai, are known for inflicting terrible nightmares or other unwanted psychic phenomena on people. However, the idea that Hisuian Zorua can drive people to madness just by being perceived takes a dark and Lovecraftian step that isn’t common in the Pokemon franchise. It gives both Hisuian Zorua and Hisuian Zoroark defined lore, and frames them as extreme examples of hurt and pain, in a region and time full of uncertainty.
Pokemon Legends: Arceus releases on January 28, 2022 for the Nintendo Switch.