Pokemon Legends: Z-A has been panned by fans, with the game receiving extremely low ratings

The recently released Pokemon Legends: Z-A has sparked a heated reaction among players. While critics have generally praised the game, praising its experimental approach and fresh ideas, fans have reacted with noticeable irritation.

On Metacritic, the game's user rating has stalled at 4.6 out of 10, while on OpenCritic, it's only 40 out of 100. While these aren't the worst scores in the franchise's history, audience disappointment is clear. Most complaints center on outdated graphics, repetitive gameplay, a lackluster storyline, and the unreasonably high price of $70.

Players note that Pokemon Legends: Z-A feels like a low-budget indie game being sold at full price, and emphasize that the lack of a demo only heightened the feeling of being cheated. They believe that if fans had been able to try the game before its release, many would have decided against purchasing it.

Despite the barrage of criticism, there are also some positive responses—some players acknowledge that the experimental structure and new battle system are worth exploring. However, the overall sentiment remains negative: most consider Pokémon Legends: Z-A a step backwards compared to previous installments in the series, such as Scarlet, Violet, and Arceus.