Pokémon can’t stop being an odd duckling, or perhaps an odd Psyduck . When fans demanded something truly fresh from the catch-monsters-and-battle formula, Nintendo and developer Game Freak crafted a game that’s surprisingly familiar despite changing everything about how you play minute to minute.

I spent a little more than an hour with Pokémon Legends Z-A on the Nintendo Switch 2 a few weeks ago. Based on my demo, it could be the twist that the series’ diehard fans will use to justify purchasing Nintendo’s sequel handheld—even if that means gamers who demand more depth will still be left waiting.

See Pokémon Legends Z-A at Amazon

See Nintendo Switch 2 at Amazon

Pokémon Legends: Z-A is the first game in the series to honestly try real-time battles, and no, I don’t count Pokké

See Full Page