Pokémon Fans Are Frantically Trying to Work Out How Pokémon Legends: Z-A Connects to Other Pokémon Games

Pokémon Legends: Z-A Unveiled: A Deep Dive into Fan Theories and Mysteries

This morning's Pokémon Presents gave us an extended look at Pokémon Legends: Z-A, Game Freak's futuristic take on the Pokémon X/Y setting of Lumiose City. While the trailer showcased rooftop running, battle adjustments, and Mega Evolution, many questions remain about the game's placement within the Pokémon timeline and the potential return of familiar characters.

Unlike most standalone Pokémon titles, the first Legends game incorporated time travel, revisiting locations from Pokémon Diamond and Pearl centuries in the past. This precedent fuels speculation about Z-A's temporal setting, potential time-travel elements, and the appearance of known characters in Lumiose City.

The trailer's most prominent connection is AZ, whose immortality (established 3000 years prior to Pokémon X/Y) makes his presence plausible regardless of the game's timeline. In Z-A, he appears to operate a hotel, seemingly happier after reuniting with his Floette.

Reddit users have unearthed subtler links, including a possible Looker Bureau presence. The resemblance of an office in the trailer to the Bureau in previous games suggests the involvement of Looker or his protégé, Emma.

A particularly intriguing theory proposes the protagonists' resemblance to Ethan and Lyra from Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver, hinting at a time-travel scenario. Alternatively, their similarity to Professor Sycamore and Grace (the protagonist's mother in Pokémon X/Y) suggests a generational connection, echoing the Legends series' ancestral themes.

Interestingly, these theories aren't mutually exclusive. The game's placement within the often-flexible Pokémon timeline, which includes alternate realities and time travel, allows for multiple interpretations. AZ's presence suggests a post-Pokémon X/Y setting, potentially centuries later, given his immortality. Lumiose City's futuristic, expansive design in Z-A further supports this, implying decades of development. This could mean the protagonists and Looker Bureau personnel are descendants of the characters they resemble.

Another captivating element is a mysterious woman in the key art, resembling a Hex Maniac from Pokémon X/Y. This evokes the unsolved mystery of the "Ghost Girl" from Pokémon X/Y—a Hex Maniac who appears briefly in Lumiose City, uttering cryptic words before vanishing. Her reappearance in Z-A fuels speculation about the resolution of this long-standing enigma.

With Pokémon Legends: Z-A slated for late 2025, anticipation builds. The wealth of details revealed in the Pokémon Presents trailer promises further discoveries and connections in the coming months, keeping fans engaged until the game's release. Stay tuned for more updates.