The Pokémon series has changed drastically over time, from new battle mechanics to new forms for existing Pocket Monsters. Many of the core aspects of the main series games, however, have remained similar. With The official Pokémon YouTube channel's Pokémon Presents, which took place on August 18, revealing new information regarding Legends: Arceus, it is now clear that this game has the potential to alter the way main series Pokémon games are played moving forward.
Although it is uncertain whether or not the gameplay features of Legends: Arceus will make their way into other Pokémon games, there is a possibility, depending partially on the reactions fans have to these new features.
Battle Styles
One thing fans learned from the new Legends: Arceus trailer is that Pokémon have the ability to change from a standard battle style to the Agile and Strong styles. These two styles come with their own modifiers to a Pokémon's speed and power, adding an additional element of strategy to fighting. If this new feature is received well by the game's audience, it could become a mainstay for the franchise. This would change not only standard gameplay but also the competitive landscape drastically. However, it appears that Legends: Arceus will not include ranked battles, so the competitive nature of this new feature may not be known for some time.
Catching Pokémon Without Entering Battle
A feature for which the Pokémon series is well known is the wild encounter sequence. Legends: Arceus finds a way around this, allowing players to choose to either throw an initial Pokéball or battle the Pokémon before catching it. This flexibility allows for potentially more efficient gameplay, but fans may also want to keep the traditional aspect, as it is a staple of the franchise. Whether developers will want to implement this into future main series Pokémon games remains to be seen, but there is the possibility that it will become the norm.
Riding Pokémon
The ability to ride Pokémon in some capacity has been available in several main series games, including via Soaring in Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire and riding certain Pokémon in Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee! Riding Pokémon in these games, however, seems to be limited compared to Legends: Arceus, which heavily features Pokémon mounts.
The most drastic example, it appears, comes with Hisuian Braviary, which carries players over the vast wilderness on a smaller scale than Soaring. This allows the character to traverse smaller distances, perhaps surpassing obstacles along the way. This feature, if it were to be kept moving forward, could allow for easier traveling in Pokémon games.
Future Legends Games Being In The Main Series
When Legends: Arceus was first announced, it appeared that it may be a side game, rich in lore but relatively unconnected to the main series. However, with the introduction of new Hisuian forms, it appears that the game is a part of the main series. This opens the door for other Legends games, which are already being anticipated, to also be a part of the main series. With so many Mythical Pokémon with incredible lore in the franchise's universe, it seems that games taking place in the past will become standard for Pokémon.
Research Levels
To create the Hisui region's first Pokédex in Legends: Arceus, players must catch Pokémon and document them doing specific activities multiple times, which increases research levels. Completing the Pokédex is a standard gameplay feature in main series games, but normally, each Pokémon needs to be obtained only once to be registered. With this new feature, however, documenting behaviors multiple times can be an interesting way to expand the Pokédex in the main series. Depending on the reception it receives, this may become a standard way to complete the Pokédex.
No Enemy Organization
Main series games always feature an opposing organization. While they each have varying levels of malice, they always encounter player characters at various points throughout their journeys, attempting to halt their progress. Legends: Arceus, however, does not seem to have an enemy organization.
The game focuses on exploration and discovery, with few human characters seen in the trailer outside Jubilife Village. Although fans will need to wait to see if there are any human antagonists in the game, the potential of this being the case opens the door for future Pokémon games to do the same, by instead having players encounter other obstacles.
Nuanced Pokémon Behaviors
One of the most advertised features of Legends: Arceus is the behaviors that Pokémon exhibit around humans. An RPG element that Legends: Arceus introduces to Pokémon is the possibility of the creatures attacking player characters. While differing Pokémon behaviors are a part of Sword & Shield, many Pokémon in that game fall into similar behavior categories. Legends: Arceus expands on this feature, with each Pokémon seemingly having its own unique behavior, such as Starly flying away from the protagonist. The nuanced personalities make the world feel more real, helping players' immersion into the environment.
Team-Based Journey
While each main series Pokémon game features characters who help the protagonists in their journeys, the player characters are never a part of a team with NPCs. In Legends: Arceus, however, they are a part of the Galaxy Expedition Team, which sends them on missions in the Hisui region. It would be interesting to see this premise introduced into a future main series Pokémon game. Although it is traditional for players to progress through the game relatively on their own, it would be an interesting change to see a plot revolve around a team, with other elements of the story branching from there.