Pokémon Legends Z-A: finding quiet in lumiose city.

Lately I’ve needed small worlds that don’t ask much of me. Pokémon Legends: Z-A became that world.

It isn’t really a game about wandering far. It’s about the life inside Lumiose City and the moments that make it feel real. Even here, I find small pauses with my Pokémon that feel strangely human. The little details stand out, from the hilarious and sometimes dark dialogue of NPCs to the way Pokémon themselves seem to have more personality than ever before.

I’ve been back into Pokémon for a while now, but Legends: Z-A hits differently. It showed up at a time when work has been rough and my head’s been heavier than I’d like to admit. Somehow, this world gave me a bit of light again. There’s something peaceful about running through Lumiose City at night, not sure what you’ll stumble across next.

The story takes place five years after X and Y, during an urban redevelopment plan in Lumiose City (based on Paris, France), which aims to create a place where people and Pokémon can coexist. Because I took French in high school and always felt drawn to French culture, exploring a city built on that idea feels oddly familiar. That mix of nostalgia and familiarity makes Lumiose feel less like fiction and more like a memory I can walk around in.

It’s not perfect, and maybe that’s what makes it feel like watching the rain through a window, quiet, simple, and grounding.

One of my favorite things is how natural it feels to interact with your team. You can toss out your Pokémon, stand beside them, or take a seat on a nearby bench just to hang out. It sounds small, but it adds warmth. It makes the city come alive in a way most games don’t.

Outside the main streets, wild Pokémon roam freely through designated zones, while the battle arenas come alive at night. Trainers can take on contracts to earn money through fights, giving the city a rhythm that feels structured but still breathing. The battle system stays engaging even when the rhythm repeats.

Many players mention that the graphics look too uniform, and I get it. It wouldn’t hurt if the visuals were updated a bit more, especially for a 2025 release. I’ve even seen people joke that Lumiose City looks fine as long as you don’t stare too hard, since it starts to feel like the same JPEG pasted everywhere. Looking at a building near one of the Pokémon Centers, I counted three rows of six identical windows. The first floor had a different one, and a few buildings throw in maybe one or two other styles, but they’re still flat. It’s giving Toontown.

Still, the life is in the Pokémon. That’s what keeps it from feeling empty. It took twelve years to reach this point, but it was worth it. The replay value is strong, and every time they improve the graphics or animations, it feels like a small reward for sticking with the series.

The dialogue adds even more life. The NPCs have genuine personalities, funny, awkward, and sometimes surprisingly deep. One line from an old man stuck with me: “Go where you want, die where you must.” First of all, mood. But it also fits a city inspired by France, poetic, a little dark, and perhaps not meant to be taken too seriously, yet it lands that way anyway.

Other lines hit the same tone. I’ve seen things like, “Some people age like good cheese, but most age like... bad cheese.” There are dozens more like that. They’re funny, but they sound like real people, tired, self-aware, trying to make sense of life. Maybe that’s why they work so well. Maybe Lumiose City doesn’t have antidepressants.

And then there’s the hunt, one of the reasons I keep coming back to these newer games. The open worlds and free camera control give you more freedom to shiny hunt, which is a big part of why so many players return. I also love the return of the shiny sound and sparkle when one’s nearby. It’s easier to spot, but it’s also a solid accessibility feature. Sometimes I wonder how many shinies I’ve walked right past without noticing, especially with how faint some of their colors are.

Some people think shiny Pokémon are only liked because they’re rare, and that might be true for some players. But for a lot of us, the fun’s in the process. It’s still a challenge to find one compared to the regular version, and most of the time we just enjoy the colors. They don’t hold any real value, they’re just pixels. But finding one after hours or even days brings a small thrill that never really fades.

my shiny Fennekin.

It took hours to find my shiny Fennekin. I didn’t catch it until almost 11:30 p.m., right before bed. But earlier that evening, I’d taken a break and wandered back through Zone 18, and there it was, a female shiny Alpha Lopunny. I would’ve preferred a Fennekin, but beggars can’t be choosers.

Next up is shiny Tepig, a hunt I’ve been saving for once I earned the Shiny Charm. Emboar's blue flames on both the regular and Mega evolution make it one of the best-looking shinies in the series. With the DLC arriving this December, I’m hoping for more wild zones, more Pokémon to fill the Pokédex, and maybe even some new outfits.

My Switch 2 has already given me a lot of joy this year, but Legends: Z-A stands out. It reminds me that comfort doesn’t have to come from anything significant. Sometimes it’s enough to sit beside your Pokémon, pause between battles, and let the glow of Lumiose City feel like home for a while.

Originally posted November 3, 2025. Edited on November 11, 2025.