Pokémon Fans Are Frantically Trying to Work Out How Pokémon Legends: Z-A Connects to Other Pokémon Games

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 features like 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 community is already hard at work uncovering clues. Unlike most standalone Pokémon games, the first Pokémon Legends title incorporated time travel, revisiting locations from Pokémon Diamond and Pearl centuries in the past and featuring characters who are ancestors of those in other games—or, in one memorable instance, a character from Pokémon Black and White inexplicably transported to the past. This precedent fuels speculation about Pokémon Legends: Z-A's timeline, potential time travel elements, and returning faces in Lumiose City.

Since the trailer's release, fans have unearthed numerous connections to other Pokémon games. The most prominent is AZ, explicitly mentioned and depicted running a hotel in Lumiose City, seemingly happier after reuniting with his Floette. Given AZ's immortality, predating Pokémon X and Y by 3000 years, his presence is plausible regardless of the game's setting.

More subtle connections abound. Fans have noted a striking resemblance between an office in the trailer and the Looker Bureau from previous games, suggesting the presence of Looker or his protégé, Emma, in Lumiose City.

Intriguingly, theories link the protagonists of Pokémon Legends: Z-A to familiar characters. Their resemblance to Ethan and Lyra from Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver has sparked speculation about a time-traveling scenario involving them. Alternatively, their likeness to Professor Sycamore and Grace (the protagonist's mother in Pokémon X and Y) suggests a potential ancestral connection, echoing the Legends series' focus on lineage.

Remarkably, these theories aren't mutually exclusive. The game's exact placement within the often-flexible Pokémon timeline, with its instances of alternate realities and time travel, remains unknown. AZ's presence suggests a post-Pokémon X and Y setting, possibly centuries later, considering his immortality. Lumiose City's futuristic, expansive design supports this, implying decades of development. This would place the protagonists and the Looker Bureau representative as descendants of the characters they resemble.

Another point of fascination is a mysterious woman in the key art, resembling a Hex Maniac from Pokémon X and Y. This is particularly intriguing due to the unresolved mystery of the "Ghost Girl" in Pokémon X and Y, a Hex Maniac who appears briefly and inexplicably in Lumiose City, leaving players with unanswered questions. The woman's presence in Legends: Z-A reignites hopes for an explanation.

The coming days will undoubtedly reveal further discoveries and connections within the newly released footage and art. While Pokémon Legends: Z-A is slated for a "late 2025" release, the abundance of intriguing details provides ample material for speculation until then. You can find all the latest announcements from today's Pokémon Presents, including news on Legends: Z-A, mobile games, Pokémon Champions, and more, [ttpp]here[/ttpp].