Pokémon Legends Arceus is coming – here’s everything we know and what we’d like to see.
Pokémon Legends: Arceus is the highly-anticipated Pokémon game that marks a new direction for the series and its January 2022 release date is almost here. Pokémon Legends: Arceus is looking like it could be a game that breaks new ground for the series, with a historical setting and some new mechanics. Confirmed for Nintendo Switch, it will act as a prequel to the main series, taking players to a much older version of Pokémon Diamond and Pearl’s Sinnoh region (known here as the Hisui region), where Pokémon roamed freely, and they’ll be charged with completing one of the region’s first Pokédexes. Pokémon Legends: Arceus is scheduled to launch worldwide on January 28,2022 but, in the meantime, we’ve gathered together everything we know about the game right here for your perusal. [Update: Some new Pokémon Legends: Arceus trailers have given us a better look at the game in action before its release. Watch them for yourself below.] Pokémon Legends Arceus will release on January 28,2022, for Nintendo Switch. The Pokémon Company revealed the new Pokémon game’s release date with a tweet back in May 2021. Pre-orders are live now. A new kind of adventure A 50-second trailer for Pokémon Legends: Arceus released in January 2022 promises an « all new Pokémon experience » in which players will « traverse highlands, forests and ancient ruins. » Gameplay overview trailer A January 2022 gameplay overview trailer has given us a few more tantalizing glimpses of the world that we’ll be exploring in Pokémon Legends: Arceus. Take a look for yourself below: 6 minutes of gameplay In a January 2022 trailer uploaded to the Nintendo Japan YouTube channel you can get a look at some of the gameplay you’ll experience in Pokémon Legends: Arceus. The trailer spans six minutes, giving a look at in-the-wild interactions with Pokémon, the new catching mechanic, some of the locations to explore in the game and character customization options. Take a look for yourself below: Diamond and Pearl clans Nintendo’s Twitter accounts posted a trailer showcasing some new features that tie into the recently released Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl remakes. Pokémon Legends Arceus will feature the Diamond Clan and the Pearl Clan, two rivalling groups who have conflicting opinions on a deity known as Sinnoh, assumedly named after the region the game takes place in. The main two figures here look to be Adaman of the Diamond Clan and Irida of the Pearl Clan, and judging by the trailer, both groups will play in integral role in the overarching story. The trailer finishes with a look at a third group, the Gingko Guild, merchants who’ll you encounter across your journey. You can even buy various items such as berries from them. As such, frequent visits to these merchants are likely crucial to getting by in the new open world. New Hisuian Pokémon forms A brand new trailer for the game released in October shows two new Hisuian Pokémon forms: Zorua and Zoroark. Zorua is a Ghost/Normal type, known as the “Spiteful Fox Pokémon”. According to an official description, Zorua “migrated to the Hisui region after being driven from other lands by humans, who shunned the Pokémon for manifesting uncanny illusions. But the Zorua perished, unable to survive the harsh Hisuian environment and strife with other Pokémon. Their lingering souls were reborn in this Ghost-type form through the power of their malice toward humans and Pokémon.” Zoroark is also a Ghost/Normal type known as the “Baneful Fox Pokémon”. It’s described as “ferociously hostile and aggressive toward people and other Pokémon”. The “spiteful power emitted from Hisuian Zoroark’s long, writhing fur projects terrifying illusions—and can also inflict physical harm upon foes, damaging their bodies from both inside and out. And the illusions that Zoroark projects have expressions of such utter malice toward every last thing upon this world that those who see them are said to be driven mad by the terror.” Mysterious footage An October trailer for Pokémon Legends Arceus takes a creepier approach than we’re used to, showing a Pokémon professor exploring the wild just as players will before appearing to come under attack from what appears to be a wild Zoroark. Frenzied Nobles trailer Released on September 28,2021, this Pokémon Legends Arceus trailer shows off new gameplay features, such as being able to ride Pokémon in the wild across land, air and bodies of water. You can even pull off trick shots with Pokéballs while riding to catch wild Pokémon. New characters, known as Wardens, are introduced. It’s unclear as to how these characters will impact the game, but they seem integral to elements of the story. A new Pokémon named Cleavor will appear as what the game is calling a ‘frenzied noble’. These Noble Pokémon act as boss fights, and it seems like the player trainer will have to calm them down through battle in order to catch them. Finally, character customization has been confirmed, and players are able to dress their trainer in period-appropriate attire, as well as change up their hairstyles back in the hub area of Jubilife Village. Gameplay trailer Debuting at the August 18, 2021 Pokémon Presents livestream, this trailer gave us a more in-depth glimpse at what we can expect from Pokémon Legends Arceus. We got a better look at exploration, and how wild Pokémon can interact with the playable trainer.
