Establishing a consistent timeline for the pokemon universe has never been easy, not even considering manga and anime adaptations. A few main games serve as direct sequels, such as Pokemon Gold and Silver set a few years later Red and Blue. However, this is not consistent Ultrazone and Ultra Moon are alternative retellings of Sun and Moonthe story; let alone Ruby and SapphireThe 3DS remakes are set in their own unique universe with access to Mega Evolution. Pokemon Legends: Arceus seemed like a simple prequel at first glance, but this was not the case.
Early marketing for Legends: Arceus sold it several decades prior to historical events for the Sinnoh (then Hisui) region Diamond, Pearland Platinum versions. Ancestors of popular characters from modern times pokemon titles appear, both for Sinnoh residents and visitors from afar – such as Lian resembling Unova Gym Leader Clay. Yet historical accuracy is thrown out the window thanks to people and items moved by space-time distortions, which could lead to Legends: Arceus the beginning of a new branching timeline. Spoilers for Pokemon Legends: Arceus forward.
How Pokemon Legends: Arceus Introduces Anachronistic Elements
Lots of discussions to follow Pokemon Legends: Arceus‘ release in January in the midst of a possible subseries that retells historical events in other regions. For example, a Pokemon Legends game in Kanto and Johto can depict events surrounding the destruction of the Burned Tower in Ecruteak City. Meanwhile, a Hoenn-based Pokemon Legends game could do more with the ancient Draconid tribe based in Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire.
Another interesting route Game Freak might consider when developing a sequel is to trace the widespread consequences of an altered history. It’s unclear if fans are meant to take Legends: Arceus as canonical in the world of games like Brilliant diamond and Shining Pearl, where players can find a book called “The Sea’s Legend” in Canalave Library that is a direct harbinger of how to catch Manaphy in Hisui. Still, there are plenty of anachronisms that would theoretically change the course of history.
For starters, the game is an Isekai story – an entry into an established trope in which typically average, modern characters are sent to an alternate world. Legends: Arceus opens with the titular Mythical Pokemon sending a teen with a cell phone back in time to capture every monster in the region, and Unova Battle Subway Boss Ingo becomes a guard after being sent back the same way. More importantly, distortions are occurring across the region due to a larger space-time gap ripping Volo into the sky with Giratina. These distortions cause items and Pokemon from the past and future to appear, explaining how trainers can catch Fossil Pokemon like Cranidos and technological marvels like Porygon.
Pokemon Legends: Arceus could change the future
The appearance of Porygon is where problems start to crop up. Professor Laventon, who writes Legends: Arceus‘ Pokedex entries, expresses bewilderment at Porygon’s functioning despite the lack of a heartbeat and breathing. Every other game describes Porygon as a man-made creation using advanced programming code intended to help humanity explore outer space, something impossible to imagine in the time of Legends: Arceus; yet it had to be included because Sinnoh introduced a new evolution called Porygon-Z.
Likewise, industrial items like the Electivire and Magmarizer had to appear so Sinnoh evolutions Electivire and Magmortar could too. Players can also unlock Rotom’s forms by purchasing mechanical items from Ginter, head of the Ginkgo Guild. Even if the player and Ingo character adapt perfectly to their new environment, people would eventually come up with ways to make sense of anachronistic items and Pokemon like Magnemite many years before they were intended.
In the long arm of history, the introduction of future technology could have a snowball effect. Perhaps Porygon’s intent to help space travel was achieved a century earlier, leading to even more advancements resulting in a Sinnoh beyond recognition of what fans expect to see in Diamond and Pearl. If so, Game Freak could be running with the leaked concept of Scarlet and purple‘s Paradox Pokemon through an all-new game set in a technologically advanced world due to Legends: Arceus.
Pokemon Legends: Arceus is now available for Nintendo Switch.
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