Pokémon Legends: Arceus, the game's characters are far more developed and personable than in previous titles. Since most core series Pokémon games feature short quests that barely contribute to each Town's lore or character development, Legends: Arceus' gameplay loop places characters at the center of each Research Task and main quest.
Pokémon Legends: Arceus takes place in Ancient Sinnoh, also known as Hisui, where the player character is sent back in time to fulfill Arceus' wish and meet every Pokémon. To earn their keep in Jubilife Village, the player s the Galaxy Expedition Team's Survey Corps. As the game progresses, players unravel the mystery behind Hisui's frenzied Noble Pokémon and the space-time wormhole above Mount Coronet. Along the way, they must catch and study several hundred Pokémon in the region, raising their Research Level to ten.
As one of the few established colonies in Hisui, Pokémon Legends: Arceus' Jubilife Village maintains a relatively consistent roster of inhabitants, ensuring players can quickly learn names, personalities, and locations. In addition, many characters offer players repeat quests or feature questlines that continue unique storylines and further develop the in-game world and leave other Pokémon games in the dust. In many titles, it appears that the world stops functioning or doesn't progress at all when the main character leaves, but Legends: Arceus changes character position at different times of day and uses quests to advance the lives of other characters.
Legends: Arceus' Noble Pokémon Have Personality
Pokémon Legends: Arceus features Noble monsters descended from creatures blessed by Arceus, which maintain influential positions in the Diamond and Pearl Clans. While these creatures may seem like cheap, Legendary Pokémon, players aren't allowed to catch them. However, a select few can be summoned and assist in traversing Pokémon Legends: Arceus' Hisui region. Additionally, unlike the many monsters that occupy Legends: Arceus' free-roam areas, these Noble Pokémon have personalities and unique stories. For example, in the Cobalt Coastlands, the Noble Arcanine's pup hasn't evolved into a Growlithe nor gotten over its fear of water and must be encouraged to do so when faced with extreme danger.
However, Pokémon Legends: Arceus' Nobles aren't the only monsters that turn into characters, with dozens of creatures featured in side quests alongside endearing humans. Players can encounter everything from thieving Aipom duos to a starving, picky Piplup. Some creatures are even essential to setting up camps and exploring the Hisuian region, such as the Bronzor that approaches humans to help its stranded friend. Players can even help characterize some monsters themselves, such as assisting a Security Corps member name his Wurmple. These small details help fill Pokémon Legends: Arceus' world with personable features that make each save file meaningful.
Wardens Have Iconic Personalities And Reappear In Legends: Arceus
Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl's Gym Battles and Gym Leaders proved that the franchise's character formula is inherently flawed. Despite having amazing designs, unique personalities, and unlimited potential, many characters became flashy battles and nothing more. In fact, many players don't bother returning to these gyms for anything other than rematches, as the Gym Leaders don't offer anything besides repeated dialogue. Gym Leaders in Pokémon Sword and Shield became more memorable with Gym Challenges and later appearances during the campaign but failed to cement themselves as important characters with an interesting arc. Thankfully, Pokémon Legends: Arceus proved that the Pokémon franchise could develop meaningful characters, even if their presence was still temporary.
Pokémon Legends: Arceus' Wardens are of the Diamond and Pearl Clans that watch over the Noble Pokémon throughout their territories. Players encounter each Warden as they navigate the Hisui region's different areas and meet new monsters. Unlike Gym Leaders from past games, each Warden has a unique personality and deep flaws that become apparent in cutscenes, conversations, and quests. Additionally, their presence in the game encomes amazing storylines, despite not always featuring battles. For example, Ingo, another Legends: Arceus character from the present, suffered amnesia after his trip through the wormhole and struggles to his life. Meanwhile, Iscan and Palina have a forbidden romance despite their Clans' conflict. Iscan suffers from social anxiety and Palina sticks to her ideals and loyalties to her Noble Growlithe despite growing pressures from the Pearl Clan.
Pokémon Legends: Arceus Features A Twist Villain
Pokémon Legends: Arceus' Diamond and Pearl Clans aren't villain teams - contrary to popular belief when the groups first revealed themselves. This is a significant departure from Pokémon's traditional villainous teams, as the Clans don't provide a criminal plan that threatens Hisui and its inhabitants. Instead, players experience Legends: Arceus' story without the presence of a main antagonist for most of the game. This allows Trainers to explore the region without pressure or restrictions from other villainous teams. Instead, they focus on more minor threats like the Bandit Sisters and the raging Noble Pokémon in their territories. By shifting the focus away from villainous groups, Legends: Arceus can spend more time developing its friendly NPCs, Clans, and other recurring characters to connect to.
Volo is revealed as Pokémon Legends: Arceus' villain, the wandering Ginkgo Merchant that meets and battles players at different points in the story. He holds an intense interest in the Plates that players receive from the Noble Pokémon, which eventually feeds into his obsession with discovering Arceus' true identity. Unfortunately, Volo's twisted morals and ideals drive him to summon Giratina instead of Arceus, unknowingly unleashing a monster without the means to control it. Despite his eventual shift to madness, Volo provides players with a cheery traveling companion that helps them along their journey. His Cynthia-like appearance, combined with a similar role to Sinnoh's future Champion, makes him the perfect unsuspected candidate during the main story and proves Game Freak and Nintendo can write clever, twist villains without cheapening the story.
Legends: Arceus' can inspire Pokémon Scarlet and Violet's story and designs, hopefully by introducing more complex characters that are more important than sprites in battle. Though a settling like Jubilife Village probably won't appear in the sequels, hopefully, Game Freak can continue the trend of developing meaningful characters to accompany players. For now, players should replay Pokémon Legends: Arceus to their heart's content until Generation 9 releases.
