Get to Know the New Region in Pokemon Legends: Arceus

Fans are still on a high from Nintendo’s Christmas release of Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, but unlike the publisher’s remakes of classics, Pokemon Legends: Arceus will push the franchise to a new frontier.

We previously discussed the game’s estimated play time, and now, we introduce you to the new region on offer, filled with wildlands, history, and new mechanics to become acquainted with. 

Pokemon Legends: Arceus will be set within an ancient expanse of the Sinnoh region, where your task will be to “survey, catch, and research the wild Pokemon of the long-gone era” and complete the Pokedex at hand with a handful of new mechanics to set this game apart from the classics.

• More: All Pokemon Legends: Arceus Hisuan Forms and Their Types

Get to Know the New Region

Pokemon Legends: Arceus is set in the ancient Hisui region, which is an area that later developed into the Sinnoh region that we know from Pokemon Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum.

Pokemon fansites, such as Bulbapedia, state that the Hisui region derived its name from the Japanese word for ‘arcane,’ which correlates to Sinnoh’s meaning of ‘mysterious.’

Existing during a historical period before Generation IV, Hisui is made up of various locations of interest, including Mount Coronet, Obsidian Fieldlands, and Jubilife Village – the place where you will begin your adventure in Pokemon Legends: Arceus.

Additionally, fansites also state that the Hisui region was designed after the real-life Japanese island of Hokkaidō, formally known as Ezo. 

Hisui’s Technology

In addition to adding the aesthetic of a Pokemon game set in Japan’s mid-1800s, this historical region also integrates a more mechanical approach to Pokemon tech.

The Poke Balls of Pokemon Legends: Arceus have been an intriguing feature during the game’s promotion, sporting a more archaic design and running on what appears to be steam power.

This new chapter removes the glossy exterior of Poke Balls we’ve come to know and love and the narrative exists long before lasers and super-shrinking. Instead, Hisui Poke Balls are wooden and have gears to open and close the ball, complete with a puff of steam that releases the lock.

• More: Pokemon Legends Arceus Team Builder & Planner Tool to Plan Your Run

The First Reviews are In! 

Many sources have already announced their scores for Pokemon Legends: Arceus, when the embargo lifted yesterday, January 26, 2022, and Metacritic has already released the game’s initial, impressive 85 average.

Comicbook.com awarded the game a 10 out of 10 score for a title that is “easily the strongest Pokemon game made in recent memory.”

Dexerto gave a 9 out of 10 score and was “blown away by how many lore-specific elements are tackled.”

Lastly, VG247 gave the game four stars and spoke about its bold, fresh take on the franchise:

“It’s the 3D Pokemon adventure that I imagined back in the 90s that never came. It’s fresh. It feels new, exciting, and like a powerful new beginning for the series.”

By Jo Craig – [email protected]

Pokemon Legends: Arceus releases Friday, January 28, 2022.