203: Pokémon Legends: Z-A (with Kenneth Shepard)

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The Pokémon franchise got a long-awaited shakeup with 2022's Legends: Arceus, changing the game structure, catching and battling mechanics and setting. But now that Legends has become its own subseries with 2025's Legends: Z-A, all eyes were on its own innovations and changes, such as the new real-time battle system and one-city setting. Check out the discussion for our thoughts on all of it!

Guest info: Kenneth Shepard (he/him)

Check out Ken's work at Kotaku https://kotaku.com/author/kennethshepard

Check out Normandy FM podcast https://soundcloud.com/normandyfm

Follow on BlueSky https://bsky.app/profile/shepardcdr.bsky.social

TIMESTAMPS

0:00 Title Card

0:22 Introductions

4:15 Our Histories with Pokémon

7:10 Opening Thoughts about Pokémon Legends Z-A

16:56 Story Setup & Connections to X&Y

21:29 Our Starter Pokémon, Wild Zones & Lumiose City

43:04 New Battle System, Mega Battles and Battle Zones

1:02:47 Ken's Work at Kotaku and Normandy FM

1:05:52 Spoiler Wall and Patron Thank-Yous

1:08:26 Spoiler Section- Our Final Teams & Connections to Certain Pokémon

1:13:52 Dungeons and Story Chat

1:29:57 Endgame and Ending

Music used in the episode has a large ensemble of composers and no individualized credits at this time. All credits to Game Freak and The Pokémon Company. Tracks used: Lumiose City (Day), Battle Zone, Trainer Battle, Lumiose City (Night), Hotel Z, Battle! Vs Trainer (Z-A Royale)

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Cover art by Jack Allen- find him at https://linktr.ee/JackAllenCaricatures Support Tales from the Backlog