Pokemon Legends: Arceus - What We Know So Far

The Pokemon Company and Game Freak are going all-out to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Pokemon. Not only can fans expect New Pokemon Snap and remakes of Pokemon Diamond and Pearl in 2021, but a new spinoff is poised to possibly change the series forever. During the Pokemon Direct broadcast on Feb. 26, 2021, Pokemon Legends: Arceus was announced.

Pokemon Legends: Arceus is an action-RPG set in the Sinnoh region. While folks who have played Diamond and Pearl are likely familiar with the Sinnoh region, Arceus takes place a long, long time ago, well before the setting of Diamond and Pearl. Because of this, the official Pokemon Twitter account has playfully referred to Pokemon Legends: Arceus as a "pre-make" of those games. 

With such an interesting new take on the Pokemon series, you might be wondering how it will play and when it will be available. Read on to find out everything that has been revealed about Pokemon Legends: Arceus.

The game's release window may be easy to miss, especially since the trailer for Pokemon Legends: Arceus is so exciting. While a specific release date hasn't been nailed down for Pokemon Legends: Arceus, the end of the trailer tells fans that it will be launching in "Early 2022." That may seem like a long wait for Trainers who are itching to get out and explore ancient Sinnoh, but there is some good news: the trailer also specifies that this will be a worldwide launch. 

That means that players in other territories won't have to wait on pins and needles for a release after the game comes out in Japan. Previous entries in the series, such as Pokemon Sun and Moon, have had staggered releases in various parts of the world. Luckily, gamers will all get to experience Pokemon Legends: Arceus on the same date. 

The announcement trailer for Pokemon Legends: Arceus gives fans a pretty good feel for the new game. The trailer opens on an old storybook, which is situated by a set of what appear to be wooden Poke Balls. As the book opens, viewers are introduced to the male and female protagonists of the game. The two trainers make their way out of their respective towns and into the vastness of the Sinnoh countryside, where they finally encounter wild Pokemon.

Viewers get a few quick glimpses of Pokemon battles, but the majority of the trailer is spent showing off the lush fields and cozy villages that make up Sinnoh. After revealing the game's Starter Pokemon, the book closes, seemingly signaling the end of the trailer.

However, players are in for one last surprise, as the eye of the Legendary Pokemon known as Arceus flashes open. Floating above the clouds, Arceus lets out a wild cry — and the title is revealed. Arceus is the most powerful Pokemon in existence, so this should immediately give fans an idea of how important its role is in the new game.

As glimpsed in the trailer, Pokemon Legends: Arceus presents players with a vast open-world version of Sinnoh to explore. In addition to being able to sneak up on Pokemon by hiding in the tall grass, players will have a few new forms of movement at their disposal, including a little tumbling move that can help them stay out of sight. Also, with the toss of a Poke Ball, Pokemon can be caught outside of battle, unlike many of the mainline games in the series. Of course, traditional battling will also be an option. According to the official website of the game, throwing a Poke Ball containing your own ally Pokemon will trigger the start of a battle.

Pokemon Legends: Arceus appears to encourage players to get up close and personal with the Pokemon they seek. There are multiple shots in the trailer of the trainers either approaching or kneeling next to wild Pokemon. This would seem to indicate that there's more than one path to becoming a Pokemon Master in the world of Arceus. Now all you need to do is decide which of your favorite Starter Pokemon you'll choose: Rowlet, Cyndaquil, or Oshawott.