Pokémon Legends: Arceus, which will soon be the newest game in the series, is taking a vastly different approach to the Pokémon games than ever before. The game’s current release date is January 28, 2022, and many fans of the series are excited by the prospect of an entirely new kind of game.

PL: Arceus takes place in the Hisui region, which is geographically the same region as the generation 4 Sinnoh, however many years in the past. Your goal in the game is to create the very first Pokedex of the region, and the story is closely tied in with the mythical deity Pokémon known as Arceus.

While many new features will be coming into the series, there are also many returning features, some of which are being updated to have a new feel. While there are still only two playable characters, one being male and the other female, it has already been confirmed via a pre-order outfit that character customization, at least to some extent, will be in the game.

PL: Arceus will also continue with the use of the 3d visuals seen in the more recent games like Pokémon Sword and Shield. While some fans might prefer the classic 2d graphics of the older games, the use of 3d graphics can more accurately showcase the Pokémon that are so important to the series.

Something entirely different from every other game in the series is the new system for battling and catching Pokémon. In previous games, by going into a battle with a wild Pokémon, you would fight using your own team of Pokémon in a turn-based battle, and could use a pokeball in order to attempt catching the Pokémon you’re fighting.

In the new battle system, there is no turn-based battle, but instead you can fight and catch Pokémon in the overworld. You can attempt to catch Pokémon without even initiating a battle, but it seems unlikely that it will be very easy, as otherwise there would be little reason to battle Pokémon.

Typically, in the beginning of a Pokémon game you are given a choice between three starter Pokémon, which are all brand new to the generation. In this new game however, the three starters will not only be old, but they will all be from different generations.

The water Pokémon, Oshawott, from generation 5, the fire Pokémon, Cyndaquil, from generation 2, and the dual type grass and flying Pokémon, Rowlet, from generation 7. Having a dual type starter Pokémon is also pretty interesting as this will be only the second generation to ever have a dual starter, the first being generation 1 with the dual grass and poison Pokémon, Bulbasaur.

While the release is still quite far away, we already have a large amount of information on the game, and fans are looking forward to the new installment. As long as PL: Arceus doesn’t turn out like the issue-plagued Sword and Shield, the game will be quite successful.