Pokémon Legends: Arceus's Connection to Other Games Baffles Fans

This morning, we got our first extensive look at Pokémon Legends: Z-A, Game Freak's futuristic Pokémon game set in the familiar Lumiose City from Pokémon X/Y. While the trailer showcased features like rooftop running, revamped battles, and Mega Evolution, many questions remain about its placement within the Pokémon timeline and the potential return of familiar characters.

The community is already hard at work piecing together the puzzle. The first Pokémon Legends game involved time travel and featured locations and characters from Pokémon Diamond and Pearl, set hundreds of years in the past. This precedent has fans eager to uncover Pokémon Legends: Z-A's temporal setting, any time-traveling elements, and potential returning faces in Lumiose City.

Since the trailer's release, fans have uncovered numerous connections to other games. The most obvious is AZ, explicitly mentioned in the trailer. Given his immortality (granted 3000 years before Pokémon X and Y), his presence, seemingly running a hotel in Lumiose City, is plausible regardless of the game's timeline. He appears much happier, reunited with his beloved Floette.

Subtle connections abound. One compelling theory points to the Looker Bureau's potential presence. Looker, a popular detective from Pokémon Black and White, has appeared in subsequent games. Fans have noted a striking resemblance between an office in the trailer and the Looker Bureau, suggesting the presence of Looker or his protégé, Emma, in Pokémon Legends: Z-A's Lumiose City.

Another intriguing theory revolves around the protagonists. Their resemblance to Ethan and Lyra (Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver) has sparked speculation about a time-traveling scenario involving them being transported from Johto to a futuristic Lumiose.

Alternatively, another theory suggests the protagonists might be related to Professor Sycamore and Grace (Pokémon X and Y), the protagonist's mother. This connection, particularly the link to Grace, is less concrete but still intriguing given the Legends series' focus on ancestry.

Interestingly, these theories aren't mutually exclusive. The game's exact placement within the Pokémon timeline remains unknown. The series' history includes a loosely sequential timeline with alternate realities and, as seen in Legends: Arceus, time travel. AZ's presence suggests a post-Pokémon X and Y setting, potentially centuries later due to his immortality. Lumiose City's futuristic scale also suggests a significant time jump. If true, the protagonists and Looker Bureau personnel could be descendants of the characters they resemble.

Another character captivating fans is a mysterious woman in the key art, resembling a Hex Maniac from Pokémon X and Y. This is particularly intriguing due to the unsolved mystery of the "Ghost Girl" in Pokémon X and Y. This Hex Maniac's appearance in Pokémon Legends: Z-A reignites hope for solving this long-standing enigma.

Undoubtedly, more discoveries and connections will emerge as fans dissect the new footage, art, and news. Pokémon Legends: Z-A is slated for release in late 2025, leaving ample time for speculation and anticipation. Stay tuned for more updates.