The release of Pokemon Legends: Z-A is fast approaching, and many fans of the beloved franchise are itching to get their hands on it. That should come as no surprise, given how much Nintendo and the Pokemon Studio did to promote the game and raise anticipation for it.
As someone who has played nearly every mainline entry, I can say they've done a good job in getting me excited about the idea of returning to the Kalos region and one of its most popular destinations, Lumiose City. However, this makes sense for longtime fans like myself, but what about those who've only recently gotten into the Pokemon games or are planning to make the ninth-generation title their entry point into the franchise?
Some say that those people should play Pokemon X and Y before Pokemon Legends: Z-A, and I would have to agree. Should you be wondering why, it's because the upcoming game will likely be a huge love letter to fans of the sixth generation.
Given the premise of Pokemon Legends: Z-A, it won't be surprising if it's just that. Both Nintendo and Pokemon Company will likely make numerous callbacks to the game of the past, all of which will be meant to ignite that feeling of nostalgia and joy for those who've played X and Y.
Great as that may sound, they won't have much of an impact on those who have never touched the sixth generation, and given that there will likely be many, it would be such a waste. I don't want anyone to miss out on that feeling of awe you get when exploring Lumiose City for the first time, and then again when returning to it, which is why I believe playing Pokemon X and Y is a necessity.
If that reason isn't convincing enough, then perhaps the idea of not knowing or understanding the significance of the returning characters will be. The sixth generation gave fans a good amount of interesting storylines, and some of the participants in them grew on to become the most memorable figures of the Pokemon franchise.
The best example I can give is the returning character, AZ, and many newcomers will likely only see him as an old man whose role is to help you from time to time. I witnessed that man's story, and given what he has done for the Kalos region and what he's gone through, I am overjoyed that he's playing a supportive role.
Not knowing who these returning characters are and what they did means missing out on witnessing how much they have grown, which can lessen whatever impact they may have on the new narrative they're a part of. So, it's best to take some time to get close to them now, which means doing at least one playthrough of Pokemon X and Y.
You'll be doing yourself a disservice if you choose to ignore the sixth generation and jump straight to Pokemon Legends: Z-A, so I heavily suggest that you don't. There's still some time before the next mainline entry's release, so at least consider going back to Pokemon X and Y so that you'll have more to appreciate once the upcoming mainline entry releases.
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