Z-A Isn't the First Pokemon Game With Bad Mega Evolutions

Pokemon fans are not happy with the design of the new Mega Evolutions in Pokemon Legends: Z-A. When Pokemon Legends: Z-A was first announced, not everyone was happy about the possibility of no new species in the game. Still, many fans were pleased with a game dedicated to the most beloved gimmick in the franchise — Mega Evolution. The concept was introduced in Gen 6, repeated with new Mega Evolutions in Gen 3 remakes, and even returned in Gen 7 before being dismissed for a long time. Now that Megas have returned and are supposedly here to stay, thanks to Pokemon Champions, players are comparing Z-A‘s new designs to the old ones, and the results are mixed.

Some Mega Evolutions are clearly more favored by players across the board, to the point that they are also quite high in usage in every game they’re available in. Others are niche and don’t really have an established fanbase, whereas the likes of Charizard X and Charizard Y always end up receiving a lot of attention in every discourse about the topic. Pokemon Legends: Z-A‘s new Mega Evolutions are not all a success, but history proves that this was never the case, and some Megas erred more on the side of fun experiments as opposed to designs that would surely steal fans’ hearts.

Pokemon Legends: Z-A Mega Evolution Puts One Old Myth to Bed

The latest trailer for Pokémon Legends: Z-A may have added yet more evidence debunking a decades-old theory with the reveal of Mega Dragonite.

Some Old and New Pokemon Mega Evolutions Never Were Great to Begin With

A Reddit user by the name of Embrace_Wind shared a post about the old Mega Evolution designs vs. the new ones, citing as examples Mega Ampharos and Mega Blastoise from Gen 6 and the new Mega Golurk and Mega Froslass. Mega Ampharos was not well-received upon launch, despite its being an interesting concept, and Mega Blastoise became a bit of a meme within the community because it swapped two back cannons for a huge one, while gaining small arm water cannons with shells resembling those found in Super Mario games.

Mega Venusaur is often another example of bad Mega Evolution, as it mostly gets more leaves and vines and a flower on its head. One could easily argue that Gigantamax Venusaur is miles better than Mega Venusaur, and they’re not too far off from one another in terms of concept.

Pokemon Legends: Z-A‘s Mega Feraligatr is a case of modern designs being bad and received poorly. For example, it was called “skibidi toilet” when its design was leaked online — a nickname that persisted over the months. Many fans wished that Mega Feraligatr’s big, red Totodile head wasn’t just a gimmick when using some physical moves, but rather a permanent part of its design. Likewise, Mega Pyroar was immediately hated for its goofy-looking mane, incorporating both the male and female Pyroar designs. The same happened with Mega Starmie, which became a meme due to its having quite literally just longer legs than the original.

This is not all about the base game either, as the DLC’s Mega Scovillain was criticized for being too similar to the original, and the two Mega Raichu were described as just two more Pikachu clones. As for the original batch, critters like Mega Audino didn’t sit well with fans due to its design being called bland compared to the base Pokemon. Another example is how Mega Glalie looked like it dislocated its jaw and grew a beard all at once, so it wasn’t as popular.

Gen 6’s and Pokemon Legends: Z-A’s Mega Evolutions Are Not All Bad

Yet, there are some very cool Mega Evolutions from Gen 6 and Z-A alike, and some are still considered the best among fans. Mega Charizard X’s color palette and flames coming from the side of its mouth are often cited as great choices for the Pokemon, much like Mega Gardevoir’s big gown and shiny color palette immediately resonated with fans. Pokemon Legends: Z-A‘s Mega Froslass is often cited as one of the best in the game, but Mega Greninja from Season 1 and Mega Baxcalibur from Season 4 are also frequently picked as some of the best designs in the game. Not everyone agrees, but that’s part of what makes Pokemon designs great, regardless, as each Pokemon truly is someone’s favorite.