Pokémon Legends: Z-A: Fans Decipher Connections to Other Games

This morning, we were treated to an extensive first look at Pokémon Legends: Z-A, Game Freak's latest venture into a futuristic Pokémon world set within the iconic Lumiose City from Pokémon X/Y. The trailer showcased exciting features like rooftop running, changes to battling mechanics, and the return of Mega Evolution. However, it left us with many questions about the game's timeline and the potential return of beloved characters to Lumiose City.

That's where the community's detective work comes into play.

For context, while most Pokémon games are standalone adventures, the first Pokémon Legends game introduced time travel and featured familiar locations from Pokémon Diamond and Pearl set centuries in the past, along with characters who were ancestors of those in other games. Given this precedent, fans are eager to understand the timeline of Pokémon Legends: Z-A, whether it involves time travel, and which familiar faces might appear in Lumiose City.

Since the trailer's debut, fans have been meticulously analyzing it for connections to other Pokémon games, uncovering a wealth of intriguing links. The most direct connection is the presence of AZ, a character who was granted immortality 3000 years before the events of Pokémon X and Y. In Z-A, AZ appears to be running a hotel in Lumiose City, looking much happier now that he's reunited with his beloved Floette.

az taller than a mf giraffe
byu/sam90 inpokemon

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But the connections go deeper. One of the most exciting discoveries is the potential presence of the Looker Bureau in Z-A. Looker, a fan-favorite detective who first appeared in Pokémon Black and White, has made appearances in several other games. Fans have noticed that an office in the trailer closely resembles the Looker Bureau from past games, suggesting that either Looker or his protégé Emma might be in Z-A's Lumiose City.

Looker confirmed for Legends Z-A?
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Another wild theory circulating involves the game's protagonists, who resemble Ethan and Lyra from Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver. This has led to speculation that Legends: Z-A might feature a time-travel scenario where Ethan and Lyra are transported from Johto to a futuristic Lumiose City.

am i going crazy or the new mcs are literally ethan and lyra
byu/God-Kotsu inpokemon

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Alternatively, some fans believe the protagonists might be related to Kalos characters Professor Sycamore and Grace, the mother of the protagonist in Pokémon X and Y. While this theory stretches a bit, it's fascinating in light of the Legends series' focus on ancestry.

ZA protagonist relatives
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What's intriguing is that these theories could coexist. The timeline of Pokémon Legends Z-A remains a mystery, with Pokémon games often featuring loosely sequential timelines, alternate realities, and time travel. Given AZ's immortality and the futuristic look of Lumiose City, the game could be set hundreds of years after Pokémon X and Y, with the protagonists and Looker Bureau characters being distant descendants of those they resemble.

ITS A SEQUEL?!?
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One character that has captured fans' attention is a mysterious woman in the key art, resembling a Hex Maniac from Pokémon X and Y. This trainer type is linked to an ongoing Pokémon mystery: the Ghost Girl. In Pokémon X and Y, a Hex Maniac appears in a building in Lumiose City, delivering a cryptic message before vanishing. The presence of a similar character in Legends Z-A has fans hopeful that this mystery might finally be resolved, especially if she's a ghost haunting the city for centuries.

New hex?
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In the coming days, more discoveries, easter eggs, and connections are sure to emerge from the footage, art, and news about Pokémon Legends: Z-A. With a release planned for "late 2025," fans have plenty of time to delve into the new information. You can catch up on everything announced at today's Pokémon Presents, including Legends Z-A news, mobile gaming updates, and more, right here.