The “Pokémon” game franchise began its 25th year in 2022 with the release of “Pokémon Legends: Arceus,” a reinvention of the standard formula for mainline Pokémon games. 

“Legends: Arceus” has the same setting as the recent remakes, “Pokémon Brilliant Diamond” and “Pokémon Shining Pearl,” but with a fresh twist: the game takes place hundreds of years prior to the modern Pokémon timeline, making it the earliest game in the series to date. 

Turning back the clock on the Sinnoh region (the setting of the game) has allowed for the Pokémon Company and developer Game Freak to bring long overdue innovation and a breath of fresh air to the beloved franchise, which even diehard fans have grown frustrated with in recent years. Without the constraints of modern towns, roads and gyms that players are used to, we’re introduced to a series of unexplored open-world environments filled with familiar Pokémon and new regional variants roaming their natural habitats, as well as formidable Alpha and Noble Pokémon to be conquered. Being able to sneak up on a Pokémon, aim and throw a pokéball, and catch the Pokémon without going through the typical encounter cues and subsequent slow battle is a fan’s dream finally realized. Of course, there are times when battles with wild Pokémon and other trainers are required, but the mechanics have been refined to a point that the mundanities of the series are now as exciting as the first time one experiences Pokémon before knowing how repetitive the games can be. 

While “Legends: Arceus” is certainly groundbreaking for Pokémon, the game still leaves a bit to be desired. The story is perhaps the weakest point of the game, as tends to be the case with most of the mainline games in the series, but it is sufficiently enticing enough to get the player to want to explore the world, which is the real selling point. Additionally, there is no excuse for the poor graphical quality of the game. There are several better looking open-world games on the Nintendo Switch, and the Pokémon Company has no shortage of resources to put towards making a more beautiful game. Despite this, “Legends: Arceus” made this reviewer excited to catch a Bidoof for the first time in 15 years, which is no small feat. This game is the booster shot that Pokémon needed and is a good omen for what’s to come.