Pokemon Legends ArceusThe franchise’s first, near-open world game has just arrived, but there are plenty of other legendary beasts that could star should this spin-off get a follow-up.
Legendary Pokemon aren’t just the posters of the games. They are meant to be significant obstacles, a mark of your mastery as a coach, and intrinsic elements of the games natural world. Game Freak went straight to the top shelf when they picked the focus for Pokemon Legends Arceusas the titular creature is technically the creator and almighty deity figure of the world, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t other legendaries who could take the lead role if/when we get “Pokémon Legends 2”.
Given that Pokemon Legends Arceus is set in the Sinnoh region’s distant past, we’re looking for other legendaries who might fit into that prequel vibe while approaching the overall importance of Arceus as the creator of the world. And of course, we avoid those that have already been used as mascots for a game, or are directly connected to a cover monster, like Rayquaza and Kyurem. Here are our suggestions:
5) Darkrai
While Darkrai also debuted in Sinnoh, a hypothetical “Pokemon Legends 2″ would double Gen IV legendaries. However, it is also possible to explore the time between “Hisui” and the Sinnoh we know from Pokemon Diamond and pearl– bridging the gap between the origins of cohabitation between humans and pocket monsters and a modern world where this synergy is integrated into society at all levels.
Moreover, just like Pokémon Platinum changed the formula by moving into the “world of warp”, Darkrai’s power over nightmares could create mind-boggling dream dimensions to explore later in the game.
4) Celebi
Celebi belongs to this unique subclass of “mythical Pokémon”, usually those that were only available through event distributions in the beginning. However, his time-traveling powers offer another path to a future. Pokemon Legends Arceus suite to visit the creation of the Pokédex of another region. In this case, that would likely involve Johto, where Celebi got her start in Generation II, which opens up the possibility of visiting an old open-world Kanto in the post-game as well. Maybe we could even pass a few different times along the way.
Plus, come on, Celebi is definitely cute enough to run a marketing campaign. Plus, it comes from far enough in the series’ early days to inspire nostalgia among stale fans, and its previously rare availability would help drive sales.
3) Regigigas
To a extent, Pokémon Sword and Shield has already given us an updated look at the history of Regigigas and its lesser cousins, adding two more offshoots to the family. Titans have already appeared in many other games in the main series, and some people may be a little exhausted.
But what if we could go back to creating the temples where these sleeping giants are normally found? This potential follow-up Pokemon Legends Arceus could really dive into the story behind the Regigigas mythos. Did it really move the continents, just as our own continents separated from Pangea? Why have other regions never heard of Regidraco and Regieleki? And did Regigigas have another form that wasn’t just a Normal type, so that would be much cooler?
2) Mewtwo (or Mew)
Mewtwo might be a little overplayed at this point, and its origin certainly doesn’t go too far back in the Pokémon timeline. But after all the various hints of its origins in the games, as well as various animated storylines – sometimes involving Ryan Reynolds – a definitive version of the psychic monster might be the thing to follow in Arceus’ wake.
Admittedly, the creation of Mewtwo occurs a few years before the events of any Kanto-based game, so Game Freak hasn’t Pokemon Legends ArceusThe “create the region’s Pokédex” angle to work with. However, it would be a great opportunity (and forgive me for recklessly speculating for a while) to remake Kanto in the new pseudo-open world style and refine the engine even further before moving to a truly open gen IX. the let’s go games and the reliance of Kanto anniversary events reveals how tired many fans are of revisiting the land where it all began, but it would be a new way to see Red’s playgrounds.
Conversely, focusing on the Legends of Mew would be a great setting for visiting an ancient Kanto, for many of the same reasons as Celebi, and would certainly be a more interesting use for the original Mythical Pokemon than sticking it in Pokéball peripherals. .
1) Keldeo and the Swords of Justice
If it’s dramatic storytelling potential Game Freak is after, however, there’s perhaps no better choice than Generation V’s legendary band Cobalion, Terrakion, Virizion, and Keldeo – known as swords of justice – are strongly inspired by Alexandre Dumas. The three Musketeers, all sharing combat as a secondary type and several sword-based signature moves. They were central to their own film and would make for a compelling film Pokemon Legends Arceus following.
Explore the ancient past of a region and create its Pokédex? Check it out – and for bonus points, Unova also happens to be the next region due for a remaster in a few years, now that Gen IV has had a modern rework. The games that made the region known, Pokemon Black & White and their sequels, remain dear to the hearts of many fans, often cited as a franchise high point. And if the focus is on Keldeo, the youngest of the group and aspiring member, the narrative potential increases.
Again, forgive me for speculating with abandon here, but a hypothetical “Pokémon Legends Keldeocould have Trainer not only building Unova’s Pokédex, but working alongside the aspiring Sword of Justice to meet and impress the other three, and earn him a spot on their roster.
Will Game Freak, Nintendo and the Pokémon Company keep the Legends nickname at arm’s length and stick to its more traditional formula? Or will the open world become the norm for the main series, eliminating the need to unearth an underutilized legendary and promote it to main duty? Time will tell, but as things stand, there are plenty of Bench-warming Mythical Beasts who could be ready for the big time.
(Read the CGMagazine review on Pokemon Legends Arceus here.)
