The upcoming Pokemon Legends: Arceus is taking things back to the beginning. Set during the Sinnoh region's infancy, players are tasked with constructing the region's very first Pokedex. With the apparent emphasis on exploring the origins of the Sinnoh region, it's only appropriate that Pokemon Legends: Arceus' namesake is the original Pokemon itself.
Arceus stands out from other legendary Pokemon thanks to its crucial role in the series' lore. Sinnoh folklore claims Arceus created the entire Pokemon world, and that it actually predates the universe itself. As the alleged creation deity of the Pokemon canon, Arceus has an air of mystique that few other Pokemon have; its unique abilities and relationship to the Pokemon world at large make it perhaps one of the most fascinating Pokemon to ever be revealed.
Arceus In Pokemon Diamond and Pearl
Arceus was first introduced in Pokemon Diamond and Pearl, but players couldn't encounter it in normal gameplay. Game Freak had planned to distribute an in-game item, dubbed the Azure Flute via a special event, which players would use atop the Spear Pillar to form a path leading to the Pokemon. Players would then battle it out with the creator of the universe. Unfortunately, this item was never officially released. To this day, the only way to acquire the Azure Flute and catch Arceus in this manner is through using cheats. Despite the Azure Flute's omission, the Pokemon itself was still distributed via various events held during Generation 4's heyday.
However, with the upcoming release of Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, it's possible that Arceus could be primed to make its first, official appearance as a catchable in-game Pokemon. As the last entry in Generation 4's Pokedex, it's pretty much a given that Arceus will be in the game in some capacity; the manner of its inclusion is what remains to be seen. Hopefully, developer ILCA does the legendary Pokemon justice in the remakes by restoring the boss encounter it was previously supposed to have.
Throughout Pokemon Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum, players can read up on various myths regarding the Sinnoh region, and one tale aptly titled "The Original Story" covers not only the details of Arceus' birth but also its links to other notable legendary Pokemon. The myth explains that in the beginning, Arceus created time (Dialga) and space (Palkia), before spawning the lake trio of Uxie, Azelf, and Mesprit. Arceus also created the Renegade Pokemon, Giratina, but Giratina's dark power forced Arceus to cast it to another dimension as punishment.
Gameplay-wise, Arceus stands out thanks to its malleable type. On its own, Arceus is a normal-type Pokemon, but should players equip it with an elemental plate, Arceus' type can change at will. There are 17 unique plates, one for every type, which means Arceus can be whatever type a player deems fit. It should go without saying that this special property makes Arceus among the most versatile Pokemon in Generation 4.
Arceus In Other Pokemon Media
Arceus is at the center of Pokemon Conquest, a tactics-based spin-off of Pokemon that also served as a crossover with the Nobunaga's Ambition series of strategy games. The game depicts an everlasting conflict between characters who each seek to conquer the entire Ransei region to bring about the return of Arceus, who is recognized as the region's creator.
When the player succeeds in conquering the region, Arceus is summoned, but the game's villain Nobunaga tries to destroy Arceus to put an end to the legend and halt any further fighting between kingdoms. In the end, the protagonist stops Nobunaga and receives words of encouragement from Arceus before the legendary Pokemon departs into the nether, entrusting the Ransei region to the peaceful-minded protagonist.
The Pokemon progenitor also made its Pokemon anime debut in the series' twelfth movie, Arceus and the Jewel of Life. In contrast to its peaceful portrayal in Pokemon Conquest, the film depicts Arceus as a spiteful villain who seeks to take vengeance on humanity after being wronged by a human long ago. However, this fate is ultimately averted following some time-traveling shenanigans from Ash and the crew brought on by Dialga, Palkia, and Giratina's involvement in trying to stop Arceus' wrath.
Arceus also appear in the Pokemon Adventures manga, once again as an antagonist. Here, Arceus' elemental plates are explained to be the result of humanity stealing Arceus' power and concentrating each type of power into a different plate. As a result, the Pokemon harbors a deep resentment towards humanity. However, Arceus' faith in the species was restored upon seeing one of the manga's protagonists, Gold, exhibit a loving, one-of-a-kind bond with his Pokemon.
Pokemon: Legends Arceus - What Could Arceus' Role Be?
Aside from a pre-rendered promo shown at the end of Pokemon Legends: Arceus' reveal trailer, there hasn't been any footage of the game depicting its titular Pokemon. At present, it's not exactly clear what Arceus' involvement will be, but considering what's known about the game, and factoring in how other media has portrayed the Pokemon, it's easy to imagine a few possibilities.
Given the game's objective of constructing the first Pokedex, it's likely the discovery and documentation of Arceus will serve as a major milestone in doing so. As the final Pokemon in Generation 4's Pokedex, it's almost certain the Pokemon won't be documented in full until towards the very end of the game.
However, the question of what this depiction of Arceus' temperament and attitude will be is a little harder to answer. Within mainline games, Arceus hasn't shown much personality, if any at all thanks to its unavailability outside of giveaway events. Besides Pokemon Conquest, nearly every other piece of Pokemon media that prominently features Arceus portrays the Pokemon as a mad villain with the power of a literal god.
The antagonistic take on Arceus seems to be the prevailing one, but it would be refreshing to see the upcoming Pokemon Legends: Arceus, with all that it is doing to innovate and rethink the classic Pokemon formula, try to offer a unique interpretation of the Alpha Pokemon. Rather than focusing on the Pokemon's ability to destroy, it would be delightful to see the game lean into Arceus' capacity for kindness and creation. One such way this could be reflected through gameplay is by having Arceus slowly create more towns to access, landscapes to explore, and even Pokemon to capture as the player progresses throughout the story.
Despite its prominence in the series' canon, Arceus has hardly had a sizeable role in the games. Hopefully, its inclusion in Pokemon Legends: Arceus can remedy that by expanding on the already intriguing lore surrounding the character in ways that cast the legendary Pokemon in a different light when compared to its previous portrayals.
Pokemon Legends: Arceus will release on January 28, 2022, for the Nintendo Switch.