Pokemon Legends: Arceus is arguably one of the best games the franchise has ever released, and it dramatically changes the formula in many ways. Among the biggest changes made to the typical Pokemon formula, Pokemon Legends: Arceus makes players hide in tall grass from wild Pokemon so they can sneak up to catch them, which is a big departure from tall grass random encounters. Furthermore, a player's progress is not measured in Gym badges or becoming the regional Champion, rather it comes in Galaxy Team ranks and Noble Pokemon quelled.
Pokemon Legends: Arceus also lets go of abilities, held items, and breeding, which have been staples for a very long time to influence modern games' competitive scene. Yet, one of the biggest improvements in Pokemon Legends: Arceus is that players can fully immerse themselves into the wild regions of Hisui by listening to its fantastic remixed soundtrack and sound effects that the game offers, including Pokemon cries and boss battles. However, the emphasis on sound for Pokemon Legends: Arceus also means that it's hard to play the game and not miss out on something if players turn their audio off or lower the volume, which can be an even bigger accessibility concern.
Why Pokemon Legends: Arceus' Sounds Being So Good Can be Bad
The fact that there are a few different soundtracks across the sub-regions of Hisui, combined with all the various Pokemon cries, battle effects, and changes in tone with story bits or harder encounters, makes players more dependent on audible cues. An example of this is that some Pokemon will make a specific sound when alerted to the player's presence, or when they're taking a closer look at their surroundings and are more attentive. This is a big part of Pokemon Legends: Arceus' experience, and it manifests itself in many ways.
When players approach Alpha Pokemon, whether they know about them or are randomly exploring the area, Pokemon Legends: Arceus' music will shift from the more upbeat tones of the regular soundtrack to tense music. This is something that can alert players of these difficult fights, and because Pokemon Legends: Arceus' graphics are 3D rather than the classic top-down 2D view, players can miss important details based on proximity.
These sounds make the world feel more alive because players immediately sense how dynamically it shifts based on their actions, such as galloping the vast plains on Wyrdeer's back or sneaking in tall grass. While this is a fantastic change for Pokemon Legends: Arceus and the franchise as a whole, it also poses problems with mechanics like overworld shiny Pokemon and catching the sound cues produced whenever they spawn. Putting such an emphasis on sounds is both a blessing and a curse.
Because shiny Pokemon are rare and Pokemon Legends: Arceus is all about exploration - be it in the skies, in bodies of water, or on the ground - not seeing a shiny critter likely isn't a rare occurrence. Sound cues for shiny Pokemon are so important for a game like this, that way players have two ways to notice these rare creatures when they appear and not miss out. Playing Pokemon Legends: Arceus with the audio off or with low volume is doable, but it's undeniable that it takes something away from the experience and what players can achieve with its beautiful sense of depth.
Pokemon Legends: Arceus is available now on Nintendo Switch.
