Pokemon Legends: Z-A’s City Comes To Life Through Its Strife

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At the beginning of Pokemon Legends: Z-A, the imposing figure of AZ delivers a somber warning: While Lumiose City appears lively with both Pokemon and people, he reveals a deep sadness hidden underneath its vibrant surface.

Exploring Lumiose City, which is clearly inspired by Paris, it’s easy to feel the worry and confusion caused by massive changes happening there. Beneath the surface of catching Pokémon and striving to be a champion, Pokémon Legends: Z-A really asks a central question: how can a city overcome its challenges?

Five years after the incidents with Team Flare caused chaos in the region, Lumiose City saw many residents leave and property prices dropped significantly. To address this, the city launched a plan to rebuild and revitalize itself, partnering with the powerful tech company Quasartico Inc. to lead the project. Quasartico quickly gained immense control over the city’s systems and decision-making, effectively turning Lumiose into a city run by a tech-focused elite.

At the same time as the city’s big rebuilding project, Lumiose experienced a huge increase in wild Pokemon, which quickly became the biggest problem. To deal with this, Quasartico put up holographic walls, creating designated “wild zones” – areas where Pokemon could roam freely, even if they used to be public spaces. As with any major city change, this had a variety of effects on the people living there.

Public transportation has been disrupted, as the goat-like creatures previously used as shuttles are now behaving erratically, leading to taxi services taking over. Scientists are struggling to keep up with research due to a lack of funding and resources, and the head of the city’s Pokemon lab blames the mayor for prioritizing a redevelopment project. Both the police and ordinary citizens are now responsible for cleaning up damage, litter, and waste left by Pokemon. The amount of construction in the city is so extensive that scaffolding has become a makeshift playground.

Listening to people around town, you quickly notice many long-time and returning residents are unhappy with how the city has changed, fondly remembering the ‘old days.’ Lumiose is definitely experiencing that feeling of a neighborhood losing its character. It’s a common issue for growing cities – everyone has strong opinions about new construction, the wild areas, and the increasing Pokemon population.

Many people, especially younger generations, are excited about the idea of living more closely with Pokémon. However, others are frustrated that important issues like affordable housing and job security seem to be overshadowed. The game even touches on these complexities – one storyline involves moving a group of smelly Pokémon away from a restaurant, and a worker points out that truly living with Pokémon means understanding boundaries and knowing when to keep a respectful distance.

Living in a major city means you quickly notice how big projects can spark a lot of debate and get people talking. Playing a game recently reminded me of a plan to build a new arena for the Philadelphia 76ers basketball team right in the center of my hometown, next to Chinatown. Predictably, the idea caused a strong and divided reaction from the community.

The plan to rebuild in Philadelphia led to years of intense debate, as different groups fought for what they believed was best. Supporters – including construction unions, city council members, and the mayor – argued the project would create jobs and improve a struggling shopping area. However, Chinatown residents worried the arena would force people and businesses to leave, damaging the neighborhood’s culture and way of life. People quickly organized to oppose the plan, creating groups, holding events and protests, and often speaking out at city council meetings. For years, the arena seemed to be the main topic of conversation in Philadelphia; it was hard to avoid hearing opinions on the project.

Pokemon Legends: Z-A shows a city undergoing major changes, and it’s a hot topic in Lumiose. One group, the Fist of Justice, is protesting the areas designated for wild Pokemon, believing Pokemon and humans should live together peacefully. They’re even offering self-defense classes to help people feel safer around wild Pokemon. Meanwhile, members of the Lumiose Safety Group are demanding answers from the CEO of Quasartico about the sudden increase in wild Pokemon appearing in the city.

In the game, the main characters form Team MZ, dedicated to improving life in Lumiose City. They believe the best way to do this is to excel in the Z-A Royale, a nightly competition run by Quasartico. The team leader – either Taunie or Urbain, depending on who you choose to play as – hopes that by climbing the ranks, they can get Quasartico’s notice and use the company’s power to fix the city’s problems. Reaching Rank A in the tournament is especially rewarding, as Quasartico will grant a wish to those who achieve it.

The idea of battling it out in a brutal competition just to get a corporation to help solve a city’s issues feels more like a grim, futuristic movie like ‘The Running Man’ than a typical Pokémon game. It’s a pretty unsettling solution.

It’s disappointing to see Taunie/Urbain, a character known for always helping others—often missing important story moments while doing so—completely back Quasartico without ever questioning what they’re up to. They even rush to the defense of Quasartico’s CEO when protestors from the Lumiose Safety Group get angry. Unlike many stories, Quasartico isn’t revealed to be evil; they stay genuinely helpful throughout the game. This creates a hopeful picture of a tech company truly serving a community, which is a stark contrast to what often happens in the real world, where companies might prioritize things like energy-draining data centers, impractical projects, or automation that costs people jobs.

This is a Pokémon game for kids, so it’s not meant to be a gritty, realistic drama like The Wire. Pokémon Legends: Z-A doesn’t delve into the complicated problems facing cities. The story doesn’t focus on improving people’s lives; it’s about defeating a huge monster that fires lasers into space.

While Legends: Z-A’s story isn’t particularly complex, it excels at bringing Lumiose City and its people to life. The city feels real, with citizens freely sharing their thoughts and a cast of unique, often eccentric characters. However, beneath the surface, many residents are struggling with sadness and a sense of loss – a ‘terrible grief,’ as one character puts it. Several people are openly depressed, often due to loneliness or disappointment, and one character reveals she relies on Pokémon battles just to make ends meet, highlighting the city’s difficult economic realities.

Although Taunie/Urbain and Team MZ tend to follow orders without question, they add depth to the Legends: Z-A narrative by genuinely caring about their community and striving to improve the lives of those around them. The most impactful moment in the story’s dramatic finale isn’t about power, but about ordinary citizens from all backgrounds uniting and taking matters into their own hands, while those in charge are absent.

Pokemon Legends: Z-A doesn’t really offer a solution to the central question of how a city deals with its problems, and it seems to suggest that conflict, specifically Pokemon battles, is the most probable outcome. The game realistically portrays how many real-world city issues aren’t actually solved – they’re simply postponed for future generations to handle.

Remember the proposed new arena in Philadelphia? Despite getting the City Council’s okay, the Sixers ultimately decided to remain at their current location earlier this year. This was a victory for those who opposed the new arena, while those who supported it were left disappointed. Although another attempt to build a new arena in Philly might happen in the future, the important thing about this recent effort was that people actively voiced their opinions and got involved.

I’ve lived in a few places, and even when things are tough, people always have a real connection to where they’re from – a sense of pride that makes them want to make things better. Playing Pokemon Legends: Z-A really hit me with that same feeling. The game is all about constant battles, and honestly, life feels that way sometimes too! But even when the fight never truly ends, it’s always worth giving it your all.

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2025-10-28 20:14