The release of Pokemon Legends Z-A's Mega Dimension DLC marks the fifth time that Game Freak released an official paid additional content in addition to the main game. The first two were for Pokemon Sword and Shield (Isle of Armor & Crown Tundra, respectively), while the next two happened during Pokemon Scarlet and Violet (The Teal Mask and The Indigo Disk, respectively).
But even with the hype teasers and trailers released for the Mega Dimension DLC of Legends Z-A, I never found myself excited for it, and a lot of my hunches were proven right when the DLC released.
Why Are Old Pokemon DLC Better Than The Pokemon Legends Z-A Mega Dimension DLC?
There's plenty of reason to think that the DLCs of Pokemon Scarlet / Violet and Pokemon Sword / Shield are better than the Mega Dimension DLC, and one of those is the overstay in Lumiose and exploring the same map all over again.
Another one is the Mega Dimensions allergy to innovation or the lack of new and interesting characters. Is Pokemon Legends Z-A's DLC your favorite thing right now? Keep reading and let me change your mind.
Too Much Lumiose City
When the first teaser for the Mega Dimension DLC was released online, I was honestly excited. I mean, an eerie, mirror-dimension of Lumiose would be a delight to visit. Then the next trailer was released, then the next one. I was starting to worry because it seemed the whole DLC was just the Hyper Space Lumiose. The worst part? I was right.
The Mega Dimension DLC only has one gimmick, and it's the Hyper Space Lumiose, a monochromatic version of Lumiose that you enter by feeding Ansha's Hoopa so that it can have the power to open entrance portals. Great, now I get to travel Lumiose all over again, but this time, in white! That's it, it's just Lumiose with new Pokemon, white everything, and a space-ybackground.
The Sword and Shield DLC took you to two entirely new maps with very intricate design and lore-heavy themes. There's The Isle of Armor with its own cave systems, dojos, new terrain, and islands. The Crown Tundra is filled with Legendary mausoleums, a giant mythical tree, an abandoned kingdom, a sleepy village, and so much more!
Pokemon Scarlet / Violet DLC gave us the same exciting new areas to explore with Kitakami and the Blueberry Academy. This is DLC as it must be done, an entirely new place to explore, heavy with story, new gameplay mechanics, content, and of course, Pokemon. Legends Z-A, though? Too obsessed with Lumiose City.
Chores, Chores, And More Chores
Yes, there are new Pokemon and new Mega Evolutions in the Mega Dimension, but the trade-off? More things you need to do. I used the term need correctly because it is true. You need to collect Survey Points by finishing extremely repetitive and tedious tasks like catching an x number of Pokemon, destroying an x number of Poke Ball statues, or burning an x amount of brambles, to progress the story. It starts with collecting 7,000 survey points and later on, needing to collect 50,000.
With the old Pokemon DLCs, it may be "go from point A to point B," but at least the progression is natural and makes sense. It doesn't disrupt the flow of the game by forcing you to finish menial work.
Lack of Innovation
Want to know what new cutting-edge innovations were added from the Mega Dimensions DLC? Absolutely none. Just elevated difficulty, more Pokemon, and new Mega Evolutions. Still no roller skates, jump mechanics, or cooperative multiplayer.
At least with the Sword / Shield DLC, there were new features like the Cram-O-Matic and the Dynamic Adventures. Same with Pokemon Scarlet's / Violet's, Ogre Oustin' minigame, giving Koraidon or Miraidon the ability to fly, and the Synchro Machine added flavor to the titles. Legends Z-A DLC really believes more tasks, more dialogue, and more Pokemon is the future.
The Same Uninteresting Faces
Another missed opportunity for the Mega Dimension DLC is the lack of new, interesting characters. Total number of new characters in Mega Dimension: 1. Just one, and her name is Ansha. And she is far from interesting, as all she does is push you to help her find Rayquaza and look for more butter.
The Isle of Armor, Crown Tundra, The Teal Mask, and The Indigo Disk each had their own new set of characters filled with intrigue, growth, and emotion. I mean, Kieran from The Indigo Disk DLC is the pinnacle of edge lord teenage angst while Calyrex is the embodiment of hope, walking and talking you through Crown Tundra's DLC story.
In conclusion, the 30-dollar price tag for the Mega Dimension DLC cannot be compared to the 15-dollar price of the older DLCs. The Mega Dimension DLC focused too much on new Megas and side missions while sacrificing lore, world-building, and innovation.
Simply put, the old DLCs just did it better with their lovable characters, new ways to play, and new places to get lost in.