WhilePokemon Legends: Z-Ais set to return to Kalos with a focus on Lumiose City and its teased urban redevelopment plans, there’s a case to be made that a futurePokemonor even aPokemon Legendsgame could revisit another metropolitan hub from previous generations. Unlike its predecessor,Pokemon Legends: Arceus, which reimagined the Sinnoh region as a newfound feudal frontier,Pokemon Legends: Z-Agained interest when it confirmed its different yet equally experimental setting. Centered around Lumiose City instead of the rest of Kalos,Legends: Z-Awill be one of the firstPokemongames set in a single city.
Thanks to the most recent trailers and showcases forLegends: Z-A, more has been revealed about how this city backdrop will be incorporated into its story and gameplay, such as the role Quasartico Inc. will have in Lumiose City’s redevelopment and how players willbattle trainers via the Royale Z-A. But beyond the upcoming 2025 launch ofLegends: Z-A, should its single-city setting prove its creative potential, this could open the door to future games. WhilePokemon’s Gen 10 might look ahead to an entirely new region, it’s possible that anotherPokemon Legendscould revisit Gen 5’s own Castelia City.
Pokemon’s Castelia City Set The Stage For Lumiose City
As the last generation of 2DPokemongames before the mainline series shifted to 3D withPokemon XandY, Castelia City was arguably one of the defining landmarks ofPokemon BlackandWhite. Due toGen 5’s ambitions to revampPokemongames, such as an almost entirely new Pokedex orPokemon’s first-ever direct sequels withBlack 2 and White 2, Castelia City broke from the series' usual approach of small-scale cities. While Unova was based on New York City overall, it was Castelia City that best embodied the city that never sleeps with its towering skyscrapers, sweeping bridges, and bustling harbors.
From Gen 5 onwards, Game Freak appeared to embrace these metropolitan cities even more, as beyondLegends: Z-A’s return to Gen 6’s Lumiose City, futurePokemongames would include sprawling cities likePokemon SwordandShield’s Hammerlocke and Wyndon orPokemon ScarletandViolet’s Mesagoza and Levincia. However,Pokemon’s latest large-scale cities have benefited from improvements in hardware with consoles like the Switch, something that Lumiose City can benefit from inLegends: Z-Aafter its original 3DS debut. But locations like Lumiose City may never have existed were it not for Gen 5’s Castelia City serving as a proof-of-concept for metropolitan hubs in future games.
Pokemon Legends: Z-A’s Lumiose City Can Return The Favor For Castelia City
Ahead ofLegends: Z-Arelease later this year, Game Freak has revealed a map of Lumiose City alongside initial gameplay to demonstrate how the game will utilize its single-city setting, such as wild Pokemon appearing even on rooftops and arework ofPokemon’s traditional day-night cycle. Additional trailers have also potentially hinted at howLegends: Z-Awill feature Zygarde and its cell-collecting into Lumiose City’s design, especially as the game appears to be the spiritual successor to Gen 6’sXandY. However, leading up toLegends: Z-A’s announcement,Pokemonplayers had anticipated the upcoming game to be set in a different region.
Between the expectation ofBlackandWhiteremakes and rumors that the nextPokemonLegendsgame would focus on either Gens 2 or 5, the specific reveal ofLegends: Z-A’s Lumiose City setting had been a surprise. But looking back, this could be part of Game Freak’s long-term strategy to break from its remake cycle and instead return toUnova in a futurePokemon Legendsgame. CombiningLegends: Arceus' historical backdrop withLegends: Z-A’s single-city approach, the nextPokemon Legendsgame might adapt New York City’s Gilded Age to revisit the rise of Castelia City, as seen inBlackandWhite.
