This morning, we got our first extensive look at Pokémon Legends: Z-A, Game Freak's futuristic Pokémon game set in the familiar Lumiose City from Pokémon X/Y. While the trailer showcased rooftop running, revamped battles, and Mega Evolution, many questions remain about its placement within the Pokémon timeline and the potential return of familiar characters.
The Pokémon Legends series, unlike most standalone Pokémon games, incorporates time travel. Legends: Arceus featured locations from Pokémon Diamond and Pearl, set hundreds of years in the past, alongside ancestral versions of characters or even characters directly transported from other games. This raises anticipation for Legends: Z-A's temporal setting, potential time-travel elements, and returning Lumiose City faces.
Since the trailer's release, fans have been diligently searching for connections to other games—with surprising results. The most obvious is AZ, directly mentioned in the trailer. His immortality, established 3000 years before Pokémon X/Y, makes his presence in Z-A, regardless of the game's setting, plausible. In Z-A, he appears to run a Lumiose City hotel, seemingly happier after reuniting with his Floette.
Subtle connections abound. One intriguing discovery is the possible presence of the Looker Bureau. Looker, a popular detective from Pokémon Black and White, has appeared in subsequent games. Fans have noted a striking resemblance between an office in the trailer and the Looker Bureau, suggesting Looker or his protégé, Emma, might be in Z-A's Lumiose City.
Another compelling theory links the protagonists to familiar characters. The protagonists' art bears a striking resemblance to Ethan and Lyra from Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver, sparking speculation about a time-travel scenario where they're transported from Johto to a futuristic Lumiose.
Alternatively, another theory proposes the protagonists are related to Professor Sycamore and Grace (the protagonist's mother in Pokémon X/Y). This theory, particularly the Grace connection, is more speculative but intriguing, considering the Legends series' focus on ancestry.
Interestingly, these theories might coexist. The game's timeline remains unclear. Pokémon games have a loosely sequential timeline with alternate realities and time travel (as seen in Legends: Arceus). AZ's presence suggests a post-Pokémon X/Y setting, potentially centuries later due to his immortality. Lumiose City's futuristic scale in Z-A further supports a distant future setting. This would make the protagonists, and potentially the Looker Bureau representative, descendants of the characters they resemble.
Another character capturing fan attention is a mysterious woman in the key art, resembling a Hex Maniac from Pokémon X/Y. This is particularly intriguing due to the unsolved mystery of the Ghost Girl in Pokémon X/Y. This Hex Maniac's presence raises hopes of finally solving this long-standing enigma.
In the coming days, more discoveries and connections will undoubtedly emerge from the newly revealed footage and art. While the game's release is slated for late 2025, the abundance of new information provides ample material for speculation.
