Following the breakout success ofPokemon Legends: Arceusas a spin-off to the main series, Game Freak should consider continuingPokemon Legendsas a series alongside its ongoing remakes, starting withPokemon BlackandWhite. With the stage set for DLC releases in 2023 and the finish line in sight forPokemon ScarletandViolet,fans are already speculating about the series' future ranging from Gen 10 theories to the tradition ofPokemonremakes. But questions are being raised about whether Game Freak will again passdevelopment ofBlackandWhite’sremakesto a third party, and whether this could make a follow-up toPokemon Legends: Arceuspossible.
Given the popularity andsuccess ofPokemon Legends: Arceus, it would be a missed opportunity on Game Freak’s behalf not to capitalize on its latest spin-off similar toPokemon Mystery DungeonandPokemon Ranger. Not only can the series explore the history ofPokemonand shed new light on each region’s myths and origins, but it would allow Game Freak to continue working on new ideas and content instead of dedicating valuable time to remaking its older games. So just asPokemon Legends: Arceusexplored Sinnoh’s past alongsidePokemon Brilliant DiamondandShining Pearl, the same could be done forBlackandWhite.
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Pokemon Legends Supports The Series Remakes
Though the announcement thatDiamondandPearl’sremakes would be developed by ILCA was met with a mixed reception, it became clear that the decision ultimately allowed Game Freak to redirect its attention to otherPokemonprojects. While it’s possiblePokemon Legendswas a trial run of transitioning the series to a larger open-world design with free-roaming Pokemon, the unique historical setting and deep dive into the series' past became key selling points that madePokemon Legends: Arceusso successful. However, instead of being released as stand-alone games, both the spin-off and the remakes balanced each other using the same regional backdrop.
SincePokemonremakes have become a tradition for the series, Game Freak could have landed on a new winning formula that offers the best of both worlds. Not only can it continue to release remakes alongside its newest games, but it can ease the challenge of creating an all-new generation by revisiting previous regions to explore their history in greater detail. As seen withPokemon Legends: Arceus, very few new Pokemon were introduced beyondHisuian forms and evolutions, yet it was still able to deliver a story-rich experience that played into fans' nostalgia and provided context for modern games set within the same region.
Pokemon B/W Remakes Would Benefit from a Pokemon Legends Tie-In
While there are manyregions for a secondPokemon Legendsgameto explore, revisiting Unova and exploring its past would not only be the perfect tie-in toBlackandWhite’sremakes, but Unova itself has a rich history already established for Game Freak to delve into. For instance, the origins of the mascot legendary Pokemon Zekrom, Reshiram, and their third counterpart Kyurem are a critical part of Unova’s past, especially ifPokemon Legendsactually confirms the original dragon Pokemon these three were created from. Not only that, butBlackandWhitehas many characters and events it could explore, from Team Plasma’s origins to Unova’s civil war.
Additionally,Pokemon Legends: Arceusalready has an odd connection toBlackandWhitewith Ingo. Many ancestral characters feature inPokemon Legends: Arceus, some directly such as Volo to Cynthia, while others are implied like Peselle’s likeness to Nurse Joy, but Ingo is explicitly confirmed to be the same version seen inBlackandWhite. This could have been Game Freak’s insurance so that it can lead fromPokemon Legends: Arceusto a second game in tandem withBlackand White’s inevitable remakes, and by extension, a secondPokemon Legendsgame set in Unovacould help these remakes navigate the continuity of theirBlack 2andWhite 2sequels.
Pokemon Legends: Arceusis available now for the Nintendo Switch.
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