Highlights
- After the success of Pokemon Legends: Arceus , a sequel or series of games in the same style is highly likely, potentially featuring past versions of different regions and their unique creatures.
- A Pokemon Legends game set in the Kalos Region could provide the lore expansion that fans have been hoping for, as the previous Gen 6 games didn't receive a third version.
- The thematic elements of 19th-century France, such as aristocratic society, high fashion, and the Industrial Revolution, would make for a great story and design in a Pokemon Legends Kalos game, with potential starters like Snivy, Litten, and Quaxly fitting these themes well.
After the success of Pokemon Legends: Arceus, it seems highly likely that Game Freak would be planning a sequel or even perhaps a series of games in the same style, visiting past versions of different regions and exploring the unique creatures found there. Since Pokemon Legends: Arceus featured the starter trio of Rowlet, Cyndaquil, and Oshawott, three starters originally from different generations, it's likely that a sequel will follow the same format. Although current leaks and rumors suggest a Pokemon Legends Unova game is in the works, there is a great case to be made for a Pokemon Legends Kalos with its own trio of past gen starters.
Many fans were disappointed that the Kalos Region's Gen 6 games Pokemon X and Y never received a definitive third version in the form of a Pokemon Z during that generation, and that a lot of the lore surrounding the region wasn't as fleshed out as a result. Since Pokemon Scarlet and Violet has seemingly missed a chance to bring players back to Kalos, a Pokemon Legends Kalos game would be the perfect opportunity to give the region the lore expansion it deserves. There are also some existing starters from previous generations that would be perfect for players to choose from in this type of game.
The Pokemon Most Likely to Be Starters in a Legends Kalos Game
The Kalos Region is based on real-world France, which has a lot of history and culture behind it that could make for a great story set over a hundred years in the past. Nineteenth-century France is associated with aristocratic society, high fashion, and the Industrial Revolution, making a game set in the Pokemon world's version of this time period likely to incorporate some of those elements into its design. With these themes and design inspirations in mind, there are a few critters that would be likely to appear as starters in this game since they could fit into these themes quite well.
The clear choice when considering the thematic elements for a Grass-type starter in a Pokemon Legends Kalos game is Gen 5's Snivy. With France's history of monarchy and aristocratic society, Snivy and its evolutions fit that theme perfectly, since Serperior is designed to look like a monarch and is even classified as the Regal Pokemon. It would also be a great opportunity to give Serperior a regional variant that becomes a Grass/Poison type in reference to the toxicity and underhandedness of French aristocratic society and figures like Marie Antoinette, despite most species of snakes found in France being non-venomous.
For a Fire-type starter in a game based on 19th-century France, the best choice is Gen 7's Litten since cats are often associated with sophistication and elegance. Stray cats are also associated with urban environments, and an Industrial Revolution-era design for Lumiose City could be the perfect home for wild Litten to roam free. The duality of these associations would make for an interesting design for a regional variant of Incineroar who could potentially incorporate elements of an industrial steelworker that follows a rags-to-riches story, potentially becoming a Fire/Fighting type as a result.
Sticking with the themes of French nobility and the 19th-century industrial revolution, the ideal Water-type starter for a Pokemon Legends Kalos game is Gen 9's Quaxly. The coiffed hair of Quaxly fits right in with the theme of French fashion and is reminiscent of the classic depiction of powdered wigs worn by the wealthy elite of French society. Quaxly is also the ideal Water-type starter because its final evolution Quaquaval could get a regional variant based on France's emperor during this time period, the infamous Napoleon Bonaparte, which could warrant the mon gaining a Water/Steel typing as a result.
Pokemon Legends: Arceus is available for Nintendo Switch.
