The latest Pokémon Legends ZA game offers extensive character customization options, a complete turnaround for the series. In previous Pokémon games for the Nintendo Switch, character customization options were so limited that they sometimes felt like they were added at the last minute.
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While there were plenty of hairstyles and outfits to choose from in Sword/Shield, Legends: Arceus placed more emphasis on standard outfits that made your trainer look more like an NPC than the hero of their own story. Things got even more monotonous in Scarlet/Violet, where almost every character wore one of two school uniforms, making it seem like Game Freak didn't think players would care that much about in-game fashion.
It was hard to know what to expect from Pokémon Legends: ZA, the first title in the series to be released on both the original Switch and Switch 2. But after spending some time exploring the new game's character customization menus, it became clear that Legends: ZA would be for those who have always wanted to see versions of themselves in the Pokémon world.
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Unlike previous Pokémon games that allowed you to explore vast swaths of the fictional world, Legends: ZA takes place entirely in Lumiose – a massive city located in the center of the Kalos region. While the geographical similarities between Kalos and the real-life France were evident in Pokémon X/Y, ZA takes things to another level by emphasizing the parallels between Lumiose and Paris even more. The city is filled with huge buildings, cafes, and parks where you can find wild Pokémon to battle and capture.
What immediately stands out about Lumiose's version of ZA is how well-dressed all of its residents are. In ZA, your character is a tourist who shows up with a flashy default outfit, but soon after you arrive, the game gives you plenty of options to give them a distinct look. Almost every part of your character's outfit is customizable, whether it's shoes, socks, pants, tops, jackets, and various accessories like earrings. There are plenty of shorts and pants, dresses and skirts, and each garment comes in a variety of colors or patterns.
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One of the biggest differences in Pokémon Legends: ZA compared to previous Pokémon games is that you can equip any item of clothing regardless of the gender you choose when the story begins. The sheer variety of clothing options that Legends: ZA gives you makes this version of Lumiose, like Paris, feel like a city where fashion is valued as a form of artistic and personal expression. The game doesn't immediately give you access to a huge wardrobe, but it does give you another reason to participate in the city's ZA Royale competition. Defeating other Trainers in battle is one of the main ways to earn the game's virtual currency.
