Pokémon Legends: Arceus is an action RPG with the first dedicated open-world style game in the Pokémon series. Building off of the Wild Area feature used in Pokémon Sword and Shield, it appears that Pokémon Legends: Arceus will actively display Pokémon models within the tall grass and allow players to explore without being bound to certain paths. Pokémon Legends: Arceus takes place in Ancient Sinnoh, though its storyline and many other gameplay features have yet to be revealed. The game is set to release at some point next year, but should Game Freak be looking to include abandoned features from other Pokémon games, it has many options to pick from.
Pokémon has had many main and spin-off games with their own unique charms, so naturally, some features have been lost along the way. Pokémon Legends: Arceus has already embraced a Breath of the Wild-style world, which was met with a mixed reception by fans who found themselves disappointed with the overall look and performance of the game. Embracing the nostalgia surrounding Sinnoh was an excellent first step, as the region is rich with lore and beloved Pokémon designs, but there are more than a few features that Pokémon Legends could take advantage of to further enhance gameplay.
One of the most popular features that players have requested to be revived is the ability to have a member of their Pokémon party following behind them. This feature was a trademark of Pokémon Yellow, Soul Silver, Heart Gold, and Let's Go, Pikachu! and Eevee!, with the feature eventually returning in the Isle of Armor DLC for Pokémon Sword and Shield. Being able to see a favorite Pokémon up close, show off a Shiny, or interact more directly with Pokémon crafts a more personable experience for players. Allowing players to release one of their Pokémon to walk alongside them could also introduce a protection mechanic against wild Pokémon in the area. If a player is charged by an enraged Bidoof, their Shinx could jump to their protection and scare the attacker off.
Pokémon Legends: Arceus Could Introduce Past Features
Since Pokémon's first games, players have maintained a level of importance when it comes to the safety and security of the region they inhabit. Defeating criminal organizations, calming Legendaries on the brink of calamity, and being a hero of prophecy are just some of the roles that Pokémon trainers can inhabit. One of the ways these heroics could return to Pokémon Legends: Arceus would be the inclusion of Shadow Pokémon. Shadow Pokémon are corrupted creatures that can be purified through various means, usually resulting in a buff to their power level. Pokémon Go reintroduced Shadow Pokémon, a concept utilized in Pokémon Colosseum and Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness. Being able to purify Pokémon would add a level of selfless heroism to Pokémon Legends: Arceus and introduce resource collection as an integral mechanic. The game's open-world could be full of herbs, flowers, fruit, and other resources that need to be collected to purify and heal Pokémon corrupted by shadows.
Pokémon's Safari Zone did not appear in the latest Pokémon games: Sword and Shield and Let's Go, Pikachu! and Eevee! in favor of including the Wild Area and the Pokémon Go Park. Being able to explore an area and capture Pokémon without the use of a party introduced a new and exciting challenge to the systematic style of collecting Pokémon. With the open world, it would be nice to be able to explore and interact with Pokémon on one's own. Dodging an enraged Pokémon's attacks, or tossing a Poké Ball at a creature that's been lured close enough through the use of food would be an amazing addition to the game's experience.
Another feature that was abandoned in the series after its debut into the Pokémon series was the Pokéathlon competitions from Soul Silver and Heart Gold. Courses of strength, agility, and skill were just some of the many trials players could compete in. Though it had a short lifespan, it was exhilarating to participate in athletic contests against other Pokémon teams. The Pokéathlon allowed players to take direct control of their Pokémon to go head-to-head against some of the strongest, fastest, and most skilled opponents outside the battlefield. By reintroducing this feature to Pokémon Legends: Arceus in some primitive form, players would have another competition in which to test their skills.
Pokémon Legends: Arceus Could Have Base-Building & IVs
Pokémon would be incomplete without IV training. Pokémon Sun and Moon introduced a method to increase the stats of Pokémon on the bottom screen of players' consoles while other goals were pursued. There are many ways that passive IV training could be accomplished, whether through implementing a training Daycare where Pokémon could be left to level-up, or through the use of an item similar to an EXP Share on a Pokémon in the party. The Nintendo Switch's singular screen eliminates the possibility of mirroring Pokémon Sun and Moon's hyper training system, but the concept behind passive training could cut down on some miserable grinding in Pokémon Legends: Arceus.
One of the most useful features to bring back to Pokémon Legends: Arceus would be rideable Pokémon. The ability to ride Pokémon was present in the Let's Go games and Pokémon Sun and Moon, which sped up travel through Kanto and Alola. Given Pokémon Legends' open world, utilizing rideable Pokémon could allow players to traverse difficult terrain and travel around the map much quicker than on foot. The Pokédex has expanded to encompass numerous Pokémon used for travel and hauling cargo (like Rapidash or Tauros), with Pokémon like Gyarados and Lapras being useful for water travel.
Base building had extreme popularity in Pokémon, originally introduced in Ruby and Sapphire, and returning in their remakes. The mechanic also returned in the original Sinnoh games, only increasing the reasons why building and decorating bases should return in Pokémon Legends: Arceus. With an open world, trainers should be able to have a place in the wilds to call home. Adding a mechanic to heal Pokémon in bases, construct different decorations, and create a base in different biomes would only increase the amount of time players spend in the game. Perfecting homes and bases in video games has always been a welcomed feature throughout many franchises, and Pokémon Legends: Arceus reviving this feature could add another level of nostalgic enjoyment to the Pokémon series.
Thanks to Pokémon's many entries, Pokémon Legends: Arceus has a vast number of features to choose from to enhance gameplay and fill the hours players will spend in Ancient Sinnoh. While little is known about the game, Pokémon Legends: Arceus has successfully shaken up some of the core mechanics of the Pokémon series. Reviving abandoned Pokémon features from previous games could help players gain their footing more comfortably, as well as work to fill the vast world of Sinnoh. Pokémon Legends: Arceus is slated for a 2022 release on Nintendo Switch.