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Get ready to catch ’em all this ancient era of Pokémon.
Published: Monday, 17th January 2022 at 5:48 pm
The much-anticipated release date for Pokémon Legends: Arceus is here in a couple of (hopefully) short weeks and fans of Game Freak’s creature-capturing RPGs are likely counting down the days until we get to play it.
And part of the excitement is that this is a totally different time period in the Sinnoh region than we have seen before. It takes place many years ago when hunting Pokemon was still in its infancy and, as such, look for some changes to the design and to the gameplay.
This is not the only Sinnoh fun we have had of late as we also got to experience the Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Pokémon Shining Pearl games all over again. But this is the game that’s had us the most intrigued for a while now.
Here are all the essential details on the Pokémon Legends: Arceus release date!
Pokémon Legends: Arceus release date
The release date for Pokémon Legends: Arceus has been set for 28th January 2022. On that date, you’ll be able to jump into this Sinnoh prequel for the first time and experience a whole new era of critter-catching fun. Bring it on!
Can I pre-order Pokémon Legends: Arceus?
You sure can pre-order Pokémon Legends: Arceus! All the usual places to buy your AAA games should have it in stock. So that includes GAME who have it for £49.99 and Amazon who currently have it listed a tad cheaper at £44.99. We’ve seen one price better than that, too… see below!
Best Pokémon Legends: Arceus deals
There’s a particularly good Pokémon Legends: Arceus deal at Currys at the moment – if you use the code ARCEUS15 at checkout, you’ll get 15 per cent off the price, making your pre-order cost a very tempting £38.24.
We’ll update this section of this article if we see any better deals prior to the game’s launch!
Which platforms and consoles can play Pokémon Legends: Arceus?
In news that should come as a surprise to nobody, you will need to be the proud owner of a Nintendo Switch if you want to play this – that’s because Pokémon Legends: Arceus will be released exclusively on Nintendo Switch consoles, much like every other AAA Pokémon release since that console was launched.
We’d expect the game’s luscious landscapes to look particularly good on the incoming Nintendo Switch OLED but it’ll also work on older Switch models as well as the Switch Lite.
Pokémon Legends: Arceus gameplay
Nintendo’s Pokémon Presents live stream in August 2021 provided heaps of new details regarding Pokémon Legends: Arceus gameplay, and some of these details are major changes to the franchise’s pre-established formula. You can watch the relevant segment of that live stream in the video embedded here:
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In terms of gameplay changes, there will be more action elements here than you’ve ever seen in one of these games before, with the player-character physically having to dodge attacks from enraged Pokémon with red eyes – these wild encounters look something like JRPG boss battles, which is certainly a change from the norm.
As you journey around the Hisui region (a prototype version of the Sinnoh region from Pokémon Brilliant Diamond/Shining Pearl), you’ll be able to catch wild Pokémon and partake in a fresh form of battles.
Breaking from the tradition of totally turn-based bouts, here there will be an extra element of tactics in your battles – you can choose between Agile Style and Strong Style attacks. Agile moves might allow you to attack multiple times in quick succession, but Strong Style moves will do greater damage in a single blow.
You main goal will be compiling a Pokédex, but that’s not all you’ll be doing – it also looks like you’ll be picking up survey/research tasks for a number of characters. These jobs, almost like side missions, will require you to observe certain behaviour or catch specific critters.
There will also be changes to the Pokéballs, with the one seen here now being made of wood, and a successful catch will see them blowing out steam and old-school fireworks instead of the usual sparkles.
As for your starter Pokémon, you can pick from Rowlet, Cyndaquil and Oshawott – that is a first for the main games, as they are three Pokémon which all come from different generations and regions. In a lot of ways, then, this will be a fresh take on what a Pokémon RPG can do.
Which Pokemon will be in Pokémon Legends: Arceus Pokédex?
Get ready for a long list, but here is every Pokemon that is included in the Pokémon Legends: Arceus Pokédex – with more potentially added after release.
- Cyndaquil
- Quilava
- Oshawott
- Dewott
- Rowlet
- Dartrix
- Pichu
- Pikachu
- Raichu
- Clefairy
- Clefable
- Vulpix
- Ninetales
- Zubat
- Golbat
- Crobat
- Psyduck
- Golduck
- Growlithe
- Abra
- Kadabra
- Alakazam
- Machop
- Machoke
- Machamp
- Tentacool
- Tentacruel
- Geodude
- Graveler
- Golem
- Ponyta
- Rapidash
- Magnemite
- Magneton
- Magnezone
- Onyx
- Steelix
- Voltorb
- Rhyhorn
- Rydon
- Rhyperior
- Happiny
- Chansey
- Blissey
- Tangela
- Tangrowth
- Mime Jr
- Mr. Mime
- Scyther
- Kleavor
- Elekid
- Electabuzz
- Electivire
- Magby
- Magmar
- Magmortar
- Magikarp
- Gyarados
- Eevee
- Vaporeon
- Jolteon
- Flareon
- Espeon
- Umbreon
- Leafeon
- Glaceon
- Munchlax
- Snorlax
- Bonsly
- Sudowoodo
- Aipom
- Ambipom
- Yanma
- Yanmega
- Murkrow
- Honchkrow
- Misdreavus
- Mismagius
- Gligar
- Gliscor
- Heracross
- Teddiursa
- Ursaring
- Swinub
- Piloswine
- Mamoswine
- Remoraid
- Octillery
- Mantyke
- Mantine
- Stantler
- Silcoon
- Beautifly
- Cascoon
- Dustox
- Ralts
- Kirlia
- Gardevoir
- Gallade
- Nosepass
- Probopass
- Budew
- Roselia
- Roserade
- Chingling
- Chimecho
- Snorunt
- Glalie
- Froslass
- Spheal
- Sealeo
- Walrein
- Wyrdeer
- Wurmple
- Turtwig
- Grotle
- Torterra
- Chimchar
- Monferno
- Infernape
- Piplup
- Prinplup
- Empoleon
- Starly
- Staravia
- Staraptor
- Bidoof
- Bibarel
- Kricketot
- Kricketune
- Shinx
- Luxio
- Luxray
- Cranidos
- Rampardos
- Shieldon
- Bastiodon
- Burmy
- Wormadam
- Mothim
- Combee
- Vespiquen
- Pachirisu
- Buizel
- Floatzel
- Cherubi
- Cherrim
- Shellos
- Gastrodon
- Drifloon
- Drifblim
- Buneary
- Lopunny
- Glameow
- Purugly
- Stunky
- Skunktank
- Bronzor
- Bronzong
- Chatot
- Spiritomb
- Gible
- Gabite
- Garchomp
- Riolu
- Lucario
- Hippopotas
- Hippowdon
- Skorupi
- Drapion
- Croagunk
- Toxicroak
- Carnivine
- Finneon
- Lumineon
- Snover
- Abomasnow
- Rotom
- Uxie
- Mesprit
- Azelf
- Dialga
- Palkia
- Heatran
- Regigigas
- Giratina
- Cresselia
- Phione
- Manaphy
- Darkrai
- Shaymin
- Arceus
- Petilil
- Basculegion
- Rufflet
- Braviary
- Goomy
- Bergmite
- Zorua
- Zoroark
As for the different forms of Pokemon, we believe that Hisuian form will be included, but we are unsure whether that will also apply to the likes of Alolan and others. We’ll let you know if we hear more.
Pokémon Legends: Arceus trailer
Yep, there is indeed a trailer for Pokémon Legends: Arceus, and it sets the tone nicely for this unique prequel to the Pokémon RPG series! And if you want to watch that trailer for yourself, here it is for your viewing pleasure!
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