Current Events > Pokemon Z-A has an 81 on metacritic

(+) Yeah! (+)

Surprised. It's just the S2 version tho

So excited. But I gotta admit that I'm still kinda worried about the battle gameplay. Pokemon was always my chill, take my time kinda game. But now without the turn based it's gonna be different for sure.

Needs more water

Pokemon is the only series that can release an early PS2 game in 2025 and people eat that shit up.

I watched the comparisons between S1 and S2 version and honestly it is clearly designed with the S1 first and foremost. The upgrades don't look too considerable (other than some better textures and 60FPS of course)

Legends Arceus settled at 83 metacritic so this is pretty close in line with that.

ZAs trailers and overview videos leave me wondering if the gameplay loop is as good as Arceus, and i wasnt planning on getting this because I was kind of lukewarm on Arceus as it is.

SwayM posted...

Pokemon is the only series that can release an early PS2 game in 2025 and people eat that shit up.

As they should. Gaming would be better if this was the average mindset.

Ya'll gotta stop saying "early PS2." It makes it too obvious you're trolling.

Gotta atleast say early PS3.

considering arceus was fucking awful and got slightly better reviews, i'm not optimistic

82 in video game reviews is like 11/100 in book reviews.

I loved Legends Arceus and consider it my favorite Pokemon game
if ZA is even close to as good as Arceus then I'm totally down for it.

SwayM posted...

Pokemon is the only series that can release an early PS2 game in 2025 and people eat that shit up.

people who say this really are weird

PiOverlord posted...

As they should. Gaming would be better if this was the average mindset.

as long as the game is fun and well optimized i don't mind them not chasing the whole ''realistic graphics'' cuz my primary concern in a game is if it's fun which is why i mostly play indie games and older gen games i missed

gikos posted...

people who say this really are weird

as long as the game is fun and well optimized i don't mind them not chasing the whole ''realistic graphics'' cuz my primary concern in a game is if it's fun which is why i mostly play indie games and older gen games i missed

Its not about realism and never has been. Graphics can be good or bad completely independent of how realistic they are.

Pokmons graphics the last few gens have been both bad and honestly uninspired as far as art/world design goes, while at the same time also not optimized well. Thats why it gets so much shit. It being the biggest IP on the planet and still doing these things does not help either

People still play Pokemon despite everything (and yeah they're legitimate complaints) because the foundation itself is that damned good.

Seriously, it's warranted fun despite everything

ssb_yunglink2 posted...

Its not about realism and never has been. Graphics can be good or bad completely independent of how realistic they are.

Pokmons graphics the last few gens have been both bad and honestly uninspired as far as art/world design goes, while at the same time also not optimized well. Thats why it gets so much shit. It being the biggest IP on the planet and still doing these things does not help either

i get that since my last pokemon game was sun on 3ds and i didn't feel the hook i felt from diamond back in the day when i first played it on my 3ds too along with other gems from DS on it
it's just the people throwing the whole early ps2 game are just people wanting pokemon games being a ''realistic graphics'' slop

YoungMutual posted...

People still play Pokemon despite everything (and yeah they're legitimate complaints) because the foundation itself is that damned good.

Seriously, it's warranted fun despite everything

This.

Underneath the visual and technical issues S/V are quite good.

Yeah, who cares about realistic graphics? It's Pokmon, nothing is realistic. I'd be down for a Pokmon game that looks like the anime, though.

Bass posted...

Yeah, who cares about realistic graphics? It's Pokmon, nothing is realistic. I'd be down for a Pokmon game that looks like the anime, though.

I just want them to find an actual art style. My biggest issue with Pokemon graphics arent even necessarily how technically bad they are (theyre bad tho), but its how soulless everything feels.

Theres no unique choices being made and that makes everything look and feel incredibly bland

Flop

Well, this is a nice surprise. Maybe Ill end up getting it after all.

HashtagSEP posted...

Ya'll gotta stop saying "early PS2." It makes it too obvious you're trolling.

Gotta atleast say early PS3.

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/forum/f/f631611d.jpg

Literally a PS2 game.

Bass posted...

Yeah, who cares about realistic graphics? It's Pokmon, nothing is realistic.

No one said anything about wanting realistic graphics. Use common sense. There are hundreds of games that don't go for a realistic graphic style and still look amazing. It's not rocket surgery. They hire quality people who can create amazing looking worlds with proper style and art direction. This isn't some indie company, it's the most profitable franchise in literal existence. There is literally zero excuse for these games to look so shitty.

People have really memory holed what ps2 games looked like.

Dancedreamer posted...

People have really memory holed what ps2 games looked like.

Nah, they know. It's just lazy trolling.

SwayM posted...

Literally a PS2 game.

No, that screenshot is from Pokemon Z-A which is available for Switch and Switch 2 only, it's not available on PS2.

https://youtu.be/BFjSbg-SLmI?t=85

It's not just graphically that I'm calling it a PS2 game.

Look how small these environments are.

At best it looks like a remaster of a PS2 era game.